Tempted Wins Top Trophy at International Cider Challenge

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– Ireland’s Most-Awarded Cider Wins Again –

15 May 2018:  Craft cider brand Tempted Cider has won the top Trophy in its category at the International Cider Challenge 2018. One of only seven ciders to win a Trophy out of 200 entries, this is the first year Tempted Dry has entered the awards and was the winner in the New World Style category for ciders with more acidity and frutiness than other styles.

 The International Cider Challenge has been set up to recognise the diversity and range of packaged products within the dynamic and growing cider category and is in its second year.  Cider expert Gabe Cook, known as The Ciderologist, Chairman of the judging panel, describes it as his mission to “celebrate the diversity and quality of cider across the globe.” 

  Commenting on the win, founder of Tempted Cider, Davy Uprichard said: “Another weekend, another award for ‪Tempted Cider!  We’re delighted to be awarded an International Cider Challenge Trophy for Tempted Dry and many congratulations to all the winners.”

He says, “Tempted Dry is where our Tempted journey started. Not being able to find a dry cider that I liked, we blended this fruity, fresh and floral cider to suit my own. Tempted Dry delivers a crisp, refreshing taste and with provenance being vitally important to us, every care is taken to select only the finest hand-picked apples from the Orchard County of Armagh, in Northern Ireland.”

Inspired by founder Davy Uprichard’s childhood memories making wine as a hobby with his father, Tempted Cider was established in 2009. Davy, a horticulturist by trade, set up a small cidery at the family home and began pressing apples. This humble hobby kick-started a mission to make the world’s most-loved and enjoyed craft cider and now, Tempted Cider is the most-awarded cider in Ireland with five styles in its full range and Davy’s passion for celebrating and sharing local apples poured into every, single drop. 

Tempted Cider’s award-winning range is available in all good licensed retailers and select licensed venues across Northern Ireland and is expanding into the UK and internationally.

For more information visit temptedcider.com. To share in the conversation, visit @TemptedCider on social media. 

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Launches #BlackBushStories

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A CAMPAIGN SHOWCASING BREAKTHROUGH IRISH TALENT WHO ARE CREATING WAVES

Unrivalled character. Undeniable flavour. Unmistakably Black Bush. The Old Bushmills Distillery has been crafting whiskey since King James I granted the distillery the world’s first license to distil in 1608.  When most people in Ireland were farming or making linen, Bushmills® Irish Whiskey was challenging the status quo and defining the unique taste and character of its triple distilled Irish whiskey.

That spirit of innovation, passion and independence is how the brand still lives and breathes some 400 years later and, this year, Bushmills Irish Whiskey is partnering with talent across the island of Ireland who are driven by those same progressive traits, and who share the courage to follow their passion and forge their own path.

Inspired by the distinctive and rich taste of Bushmills® Black Bush®, #BlackBushStories is a unique collaboration series, featuring the stories and crafts of independent, spirited and extraordinary Irish individuals who challenge traditional thinking in their fields and live outside the box. The campaign will take the form of an immersive event series in venues across Ireland over the coming months.

Bushmills Black Bush will explore the worlds of photography, leather making and charcuterie to showcase those who are making their mark and pioneering their craft with great success. Highlighting the unrivalled character of each of the collaborators, #BlackBushStories will inspire others to follow in the footsteps of these creative spirits and embrace their own talents.

The soon-to-be-revealed collaborators are disrupters, experimenters and innovators in their fields who have taken risks, tried new options, failed, succeeded and have been guided throughout by their own creativity and passion. #BlackBushStories is dedicated to that independent spirit – to people who stand out from the crowd to revolutionise their industry.

Held in Ireland’s leading venues, the eclectic mix of events will include an interactive lesson in mobile photography, a leather-making workshop and a meat curing masterclass hosted by the people who are currently creating waves in their industries, inviting consumers to embrace their own passion and creativity.

Guests at each event will be guided through the Black Bush experience by Bushmills Ambassador Paul Rocks who will introduce whiskey lovers to the premium malt blend and its undeniable flavour. Specially-created Bushmills Irish Whiskey serves showcasing the signature rich, fruity notes and velvety smooth character of Black Bush will be exclusively available to attendees, including the blend’s signature serve, Black Fashioned – Black Bush served over ice with a twist of orange.

More information about the Bushmills Irish Whiskey #BlackBushStories event series and the local talent involved can be found at blackbushstories.com. To join in the conversation and keep up to date with the #BlackBushStories series, follow Bushmills Irish Whiskey on social media.

Taste of Ulster members impress at RAI Awards

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A plethora of Taste of Ulster members have taken home awards from the RAI All Ireland awards. It took place at a gala dinner at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin on Monday 14th May.

Top of the Ulster regional winners included Best Newcomer for Clenaghan’s of Aghalee and Best Chef for Chris Magowan from Wine and Brine in Moira. The Best Restaurant category was won by the Muddlers Club in Belfast.

Newforge House in Magheralin took the Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant. The Jolly Sandwich Bar in Enniskillen won Best Café while the best Wine Experience went to OX cave in Belfast.

CEO of Taste of Ulster/Food NI Michele Shirlow said

“Congratulations to our Taste of Ulster winning members who continue to shine the spotlight on our world-class places to eat and drink in Northern Ireland.

“They are all consistently delivering authentic experiences, great service and using our superb local produce. Their success is very well deserved.”

There were more than 90,000 online nominations for the awards which are now in their tenth year.

Mash Direct Wins Big at Free From Food Awards Ireland

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Comber’s family-run farm, Mash Direct are going from strength to strength with another hugely successful evening at the Free From Food Awards Ireland last night. The company received a Gold Award for their New Beer Battered Chips, a Gold Award for their Potato, Cheese and Onion Croquettes, Silver for their Potato Rosti and Merit for their Carrot & Parsnip Fries. This gives Mash Direct a grand total of 156 accolades to their name and puts them in a great position to have another unstoppable year.

The Free From Food Awards recognise and reward the achievements of producers and the excellence of their products as well as celebrating the unique Free From industry in Ireland. Now in their third year, these are the only awards dedicated to Free From products from companies on the island of Ireland. They are organised and administered by a highly dedicated team of food enthusiasts who have an in-depth knowledge of the Free From Food Marketplace so we are thrilled that they love our 100% Gluten Free potato and vegetable side dishes.

Director Jack Hamilton said “Our move to become 100% gluten free started at food shows over 7 years ago.  So many people were coming up to our stand and asking if we could make our croquettes and our cauliflower cheese gluten free so we went to the kitchen to see what we could do. It was at this point that we realised that we could make our whole range gluten free and improve our quality without increasing our prices.  We haven’t looked back.

“It has been a rainy day today overhead but everyone on the farm is walking with a spring in their step after picking up these awards.  This is all down to the hard work of the team here, from the farm to the offices, to make our award-winning range and to make them all gluten free.  Thank you so much to the Free Form Food Awards for these incredible honours.”

Heartland Food and Drink Tour

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New for 2018, the Heartland Food & Drink Tour has been added to the popular and unique Lough Neagh Tours portfolio and will depart Belfast on 12 May, 2 June and 9 June.

Hosted by Lough Neagh Partnership, the Heartlands Food & Drink Tour departs Belfast and takes visitors into the heart of Co Armagh and Co Tyrone on this all day tour which leaves the city at 10.00am and returns at 5.30pm.

Foodies will be impressed by the first stop at the award winning Harnett’s Oils just off the motorway which links Belfast to Dublin. Harnett Oils cold-pressed rapeseed and hemp oils are made from crops grown on the family run farm and are a delicious accompaniment to any salad. Visitors will be met by owner Jane Harnett and you will have the option to purchase some takeaway samples.

If you enjoy a glass of cider, the next stop on the tour will tingle your tastebuds as you sample some Long Meadow Cider. You will be met by owners Pat and Catherine McKeever who will take you on a tour of the business and orchard before letting you loose on samples of ciders, apple juices and cider vinegars.

At Crannagael House, a grade two listed Georgian house, you’ll enjoy a delicious buffet showcasing the produce on the tour.  Owned by the same family today who built it in the mid 18th century, you will be able to wander the gardens at Crannagael House and sample the homemade chutneys and sloe gin.

The last stop on the Heartlands Food & Drink Tour takes in Co Tyrone where visitors will stop off at a real gem of a pub in Moy which has been in the same family for 300 years. At Tomney’s Bar you’ll have the opportunity to pour yourself the perfect pint of Guinness and you might even receive a certificate for your efforts!

Lough Neagh Tours Heartland Food & Drink Tour, on 12 May, 2 and 9 June, priced at £65.00 per person.

  • Whats Included: Return transport, guided tour, food and drink samples.

To book a tour click here

Enjoy a day out in good spirits at The Echlinville Distillery

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The Echlinville Distillery in Co. Down has launched its Summer tour calendar, giving spirits enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the sights and tastes of Northern Ireland’s only field-to-glass distillery.

Based just outside Kircubbin on the scenic Ards Peninsula, just one hour from Belfast, The Echlinville Distillery is home to some of Northern Ireland’s best-known spirits. Its range includes the iconic Dunville’s Irish Whiskey, the Great Taste Award winning Echlinville Gin, the hugely popular Jawbox Gin and Bán Poitín – a reinvention of the legendary spirit that was outlawed in Ireland for more than 300 years.

Incorporating the historic Echlinville Manor House, their state-of-the-art stillhouse and cask maturation hall, and tastings of their premium spirits, an Echlinville Distillery tour is a must for any spirits enthusiast.

Anne-Marie Clarke from The Echlinville Distillery said: “At Echlinville, we are hugely proud of our roots in the Ards Peninsula. That pride of place is the essence of everything we do – from our homegrown barley that is used to distil our whiskey to the locally foraged botanicals that give our Echlinville Gin its award-winning flavour. We are delighted to be able to share our unique field-to-glass story with all those who visit our distillery. Our tours began in April 2016 and since then we have welcomed spirits aficionados from around the world, alongside visitors from across Northern Ireland, to enjoy a great day out in this stunning part of County Down.

“Our guests are welcomed with refreshments in the ballroom of our beautiful Echlinville Manor House. After hearing about the history of the house and the Echlinville estate, guests are taken on a guided tour around our distillery where they get an insight into the production process for whiskey, gin, vodka and poitín. They hear all about our ‘field-to-glass’ approach, which sees our spirits distilled from barley grown, harvested and malted on our distillery farm. We are one of very few distilleries to produce spirit from the ground up, and that is something we are hugely proud of.

“The tour also includes our maturation hall, where our casks of single malt and pot still whiskies are gently ageing to perfection. There, our guests get an insight into the whiskey maturation process and the various casks we use to age and finish our spirit.

“And having worked up a thirst, the tour finishes with a choice of two drinks from our range of award-winning spirits and a browse around our distillery shop. Our Tour and Tasting runs most Saturdays priced at £15 per person and booking is advisable via our website at www.echlinville.com/visit Gift vouchers are also available.”

Located near the shores of Strangford Lough, The Echlinville Distillery is just a one hour from Belfast and ten minutes from Portaferry and the scenic Strangford Lough ferry crossing. A short ferry journey across the lough lies Game of Thrones territory at Castle Ward – the filming location for Winterfell. The nearby town of Portaferry is also home to one of the iconic Game of Thrones doors and Northern Ireland’s only aquarium at Exploris.

With the stunning National Trust property of Mount Stewart, some beautiful beaches and several great restaurants within a short drive, a visit to Echlinville can be combined with any of these local attractions for a wonderful day out in the Ards Peninsula.

Anne-Marie concludes: “In terms of tourism and hospitality, this little corner of County Down has much to offer visitors from all around Ireland and beyond, and we at Echlinville are proud to be a part of it.”

The Echlinville Distillery Tour and Tasting is priced at £15 per person. Tours run on Saturdays and booking is advised. For tour dates, times and booking visit www.echlinville.com/visit or contact the Echlinville Distillery team at info@echlinville.com or phone 028 4273 8597.