Global recognition for RubyBlue Irish Potato Vodka

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Northern Ireland’s RubyBlue Irish Potato Vodka has been awarded a silver medal at the prestigious New York World Wine and Spirits competition at the first entry.

The small batch vodka, which is produced by Hughes Craft Distillery at Lisburn in County Antrim, was launched in May by the company which also produces the successful range of RubyBlue berry liqueurs in four natural fruit flavours; Wild Cranberry, Wild Blueberry, Wild Blackcurrant and Chilli Pepper.

Barbara Hughes, commercial director of Hughes Craft Distillery, says: “Winning a silver medal at the first attempt in such a prestigious international competition is quite an achievement and is also a tremendous boost for our small batch vodka in the global marketplace.

“Since launch in May, we’ve been focusing resources in building international sales. This award will be extremely important as we seek to drive exports forward faster.

“The award is important because it raises our profile in a key market, the US and help us as we seek to build distribution there. It enables us to use the award to gain greater recognition over competitors.”

“It’s the first international award for our vodka and can now join the string of awards and endorsements boasted by our fruit liqueurs. To win such a high profile award on a world stage is a tremendous stamp of approval for our craft distillery.”

Mrs Hughes runs the craft distillery with husband Stuart, the managing director of the small enterprise. The couple began developing RubyBlue liqueurs in 2010 and now export to Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Australia.

The New York competition is associated with the Triple Crown of Competitions -The San Francisco International Wine Competition and The San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The New York World Wine and Spirits Competition hinges on the quality, expertise and probity of the judging panel. They have a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds that facilitates a true, unbiased quality of judging of all brands entered.

For more Information contact:

Barbara Hughes Barbara@HughesCraftDistillery.com

Or Telephone 07780117743

www.RubyBlueLiqueur.com

www.Twitter.com/RubyBlueVodka

www.Facebook.com/RubyBlueVodka

 

SEARCH HOTS UP FOR NORTHERN IRELAND’S HOSPITALITY STARS

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Deadline for Hospitality Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards 2015 Draws Near

The search to discover Northern Ireland’s best pubs, hotels and restaurants is hotting up as the deadline approaches for the Hospitality Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards 2015.

With just one week until entries close on Tuesday 15th September 2015, hospitality businesses are being urged to enter Northern Ireland’s only industry recognised Awards.

In recognition of the widening scope of the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland, a record FOURTEEN Awards are up for grabs, each designed to highlight the very best that the sector has to offer.

With the introduction of three Pub of the Year Awards, recognising the best pubs and bars in rural, urban and city locations, this year’s Awards are set to be the most inclusive ever.

Also new for 2015, three Commitment to Local Food Awards (in partnership with FoodNI/Taste of Ulster) will recognise the growing importance of locally sourced food within Northern Ireland’s best pubs, hotels and restaurants.

With community involvement continuing to be an important focus for the local hospitality industry, 2015 also welcomes the introduction of three Commitment to the Community Awards for pubs, hotels and restaurants.

This year’s Best Hotel Bar category features two accolades with Awards for the Best 1, 2 & 3 star Hotel Bar and Best 4 & 5 star Hotel Bar.

One Award category will invite nominations from the general public. People can nominate their favourite barperson by writing to The Sunday Life, which is joining forces with Hospitality Ulster once again to find out who the public feel should clinch the coveted title of Best Barperson.

The Awards will also recognise the industry’s rising stars and those that have played a vital role in shaping the sector with two new Awards: Hospitality Ulster’s Rising Star (in partnership with Ulster University) and the Industry Legend Award (in partnership with Hospitality Review).

All submitted Award entries, along with public nominations from the Best Barperson and the Industry Legend Awards will be vetted and judged by an independent judging panel comprised of industry experts, before being mystery shopped to ensure they meet industry standards and best practice guidelines.

Commenting on the Pub of the Year Awards 2015, Olga Walls, chair of Hospitality Ulster, said:  “The Pub of the Year Awards celebrate all that is great about our Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry and the Awards are hotly contested each year.

“We have some of the best hospitality venues in the world right on our doorstep and many of these are setting industry standards when it comes to their customer offering and service as well as innovation.  

“As the entry deadline draws in, I would encourage all hospitality businesses to get involved and enter this year’s new and expanded Pub of the Year Awards, as we strive to celebrate the real heroes of Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry.”

The prestigious Awards aren’t all that’s up for grabs; the winners of each Award will be offered an exclusive place at an interactive Masterclass, with one of the UK’s most sought after speakers and trainers, David Meade.

David will guide the chosen few through a host of practical techniques that focus on driving sales by developing their customer experience.  In this unique session, exclusively for award winners, David will reveal the real secrets behind motivating staff and driving sales. Combining his personal interests of popular psychology, consumer behaviour and choice, this innovative workshop will encourage participants to think critically about the challenges around them and how to strive for success in a challenging marketplace.

The Pub of the Year Awards are the only industry recognised awards. This year’s Awards are supported by Britvic, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Dillon Bass, Drinks Inc, Heineken Northern Ireland, Henderson Foods, Molson Coors, Richmond Marketing, Tennent’s NI, and media partners, Sunday Life, Downtown/Cool FM and Hospitality Review NI.

The closing date for entries for Hospitality Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards 2015 is Tuesday 15th September 2015. A final shortlist will be announced by the end of October, revealing the premises shortlisted in each Award. The winners of the 14 Awards will be revealed at a prestigious Gala Dinner on Wednesday 11th November 2015 at La Mon Hotel and Country Club.

For further information about the Pub of the Year Awards and to enter online, visit www.nipuboftheyear.org

Follow the Pub of the Year Awards on twitter: @NIPubAwards and Facebook using the hashtag, #NIPubAwards

Pubs of Ulster

GUILDHALL WILL TAKE ON FLAVOUR OF GENOA FOR NI HEAT OF PESTO CHAMPIONSHIPS

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It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since the Northern Ireland heats of the World Pesto Championship. This time those pestles and mortars will be put through their paces at the Guildhall in Derry-Londonderry as contestants work their magic with basil, pine nuts, oil and garlic.

The Guildhall will take on that Genoese flavour on Tuesday the 10th of November. The competition is open to anyone who thinks they can make a decent pesto. You must use only traditional, authentic and genuine ingredients, which are provided for you on the day.

The winner will take part in the finals in Italy.

If you fancy giving it a bash, please contact info@nigoodfood.com or phone 028 90 249 449

For images of last years event please click here.

Search Twitter with the hashtag #pestoni for all the latest news.

www.pestochampionship.it

pesto

 

 

 

Hospitality Exchange

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13th & 14th October 2015 | Europa Hotel Belfast

The full programme for Hospitality Exchange is now out. Printed versions are in the post today and the website is live with all the exciting details of chefs, speakers and social events.

Take look for yourself at hospitalityexchange.co.uk

Oliver Peyton is just one of the inspirational speakers looking at the Future of Food. Oliver is a renowned restaurateur and Great British Menu judge.Oliver Peyton

Described as the “most wanted chef in Britain”, Ollie Dabbous has a style all of his own and an amazing cook book to match. See him live as part of The Chefs event on Tuesday morning.

Ollie Dabous

Rademon Estate Distillery, makers of Shortcross Gin, begin production of new Irish Malt Whiskey

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The makers of the award-winning Shortcross Gin have announced plans to develop a brand new premium Irish Whiskey.

Rademon Estate Distillery, based in County Down, Northern Ireland has revealed plans to develop a new Irish Malt Whiskey. This summer, the first casks of their new small batch Irish whiskey have been sealed and production is now getting under way, with 100 barrels expected to be casked within the first year. 

This phase of the Distillery development completes a sizeable £1.5M investment to date, while the continued expansion of the Distillery over the next three years will represent a total investment of over £4M, creating up to six new jobs.

Northern Ireland’s first and only craft distillery and the producer of the multi award-winning Shortcross Gin, Rademon Estate Distillery has made a big impact in the burgeoning craft spirits market since its launch.  Founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong, Rademon Estate Distillery is located at the couple’s historic family estate just outside Downpatrick, Co. Down.

To develop the new product, the company has been supported with a £50,000 grant through Invest NI’s R&D Boosting Business scheme to develop the background technology, process and skills to enable the method of production to be developed. Invest NI’s research and development support is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.

Rademon Estate Distillery also plans a further investment in excess of £2.5M to put to work larger Pot Stills and associated equipment that will give the distillery a capacity of 35,000 litres of pure alcohol per annum. They hope to create a unique Visitor Experience Centre as part of this investment as the business expands over the next three years.

Fiona Boyd-Armstrong, Managing Director of Rademon Estate Distillery said: “The research and development behind the creation of our Irish Whiskey has been extensive and the valuable support from Invest NI has helped us reach this exciting stage. We are proud to announce this project and that this will be amongst the first Irish Whiskeys to be distilled in Northern Ireland.”

All aspects of production for the new Irish malt whiskey, from grain to glass, will be performed on site with no third party spirit being used.  The whiskey will be matured in a variety of casks, which the distillery hope will allow new and innovative flavours and aromas to be created and water from the estate’s own well will be used.

David Boyd-Armstrong, Head Distiller and Operations Director of Rademon Estate Distillery said: “I am thrilled we have developed what I know will be a fantastic Irish Malt Whiskey and I’m greatly looking forward to August 2018 when we will be able to sample our first three year old Irish Malt Whiskey. This style of whiskey is a personal favourite of mine due to the complex flavour profile and I feel it is under represented in the market.”

Parties interested in purchase or distribution of Rademon Estate Distillery’s first release of their Irish Malt Whiskey can register their interest by emailing sales@shortcrossgin.com. A number of casks have already been pre-ordered, with additional casks being sold over the coming months.

Over the coming months, Rademon Estate Distillery will expand their team, doubling their current workforce from four to eight employees, with at least a further two posts expected to be created in the future as the expansion of the distillery continues, bringing the total number of employees to 10.Rademon announce Irish Whiskey 4 (1) Rademon announce Irish Whiskey 3 Rademon announce Irish Whiskey 2 (1)

WILD SIKA VENISON RACK WINS GREAT TASTE GOLDEN FORK

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The Great Taste Golden Fork for the best food from Northern Ireland has been presented to Food NI member Baronscourt Estate in Tyrone for its Wild Sika Venison French Rack.

Baronscourt Estate was highly commended for this rich, perfectly gamey and “buttery” venison rack, as the judges were seduced by its “toasty, wild, hay and offal” notes on the palate and the meat’s long lasting “refined” flavour.

Out of 10,000 products entered into Great Taste 2015, the Wild Sika Venison was celebrated as the best tasting product in its region at the Great Taste Golden Forks Dinner held on Monday 7th September at The Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, where over 300 guests from the world of fine food gathered to hear the results of many months of rigorous judging.

venison