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Northern Ireland’s Ruby Blue wins World’s Best Spiced Liqueur Award 2019

RubyBlue, Northern Ireland’s multi award winning producer of fruit infused liqueurs and potato vodka, has won the ‘Best Spiced Liqueur’ in the prestigious World Liqueur Awards 2019.

The highly influential award was for RubyBlue Chilli Pepper Liqueur (17%ABV), produced by Hughes Craft Distillery in Moira, county Armagh. Hughes has been distilling and exporting fruit liqueurs worldwide since 2010 and has won a series of awards for quality and outstanding flavours. The business is owned and run by husband and wife team Stuart and Barbara Hughes.

Commercial director of Hughes Craft Distillery, commenting on the award for Ruby Blue Chilli Pepper, says: “We are thrilled to have won this hugely significant award in such an important global competition. The award will heighten awareness particularly among mixologists seeking to create spicy and warming cocktails.

“The liqueur is made with fresh chilli peppers for a fiery infusion and seductive sweetness that’s ideal for adding a spicy touch to a range of cocktails and desserts. It’s also delicious in hot chocolate,” adds Mrs Hughes.

The World Liqueur Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all the international recognised styles, award and promote the world’s best liqueurs to consumers and trade across the globe.

Chilli Pepper is part of a four-strong range of infused grain spirits distilled by the company. The others are Wild Blueberry, Blackcurrant and Cranberry. In addition to these spirits the company also produces RubyBlue Potato Vodka and RubyBlue Whiskey Cask Aged Vodka.

The distillery operates the successful The Stillhouse gastro pub in Moira and also Northern Ireland’s gin school. It has plans to open a unique liquid deli on the premises. The family business was recently commended by Tourism NI for its ‘Authentic Food and Drink Experience. The StillHouse has been named ‘Pub of the Year’ in Northern Ireland.