I’ve always wanted to be my own boss and I’m a fan of gin

10 August 2016

GIN is the drink du jour and among those adding their name to the burgeoning craft industry is local businessman Gareth Irvine.

The entrepreneurial 23 year-old has set up shop in Saintfield with Copeland Gin — promising a heady mix of raspberries, mint and even rhubarb in his ‘ginfusions’.

This is no traditional set up, however. Gareth is crowdfunding this venture, enticing investors with promises of first batches and gin parties to get the £23,750 he needs to go to market. So far £12,400 has been pledged.

Less than a year ago the idea was born, and it’s been a busy few months as Gareth combines setting up his business with studying part-time at university and working as a business development manager.

“I help a lot of small companies,” she said. “I’ve always fantasised about being my own boss and I’ve always been a fan of gin. The two came together and it just spiralled.”

Gareth said he was influenced by his uncle who was a bit of a home brewer and had enjoyed experimenting with different botanicals.

“For Copeland Gin, Herman Jansen has made a base gin for us; they are the oldest distiller in Europe,” he explained. “We are then adding locally grown produce from the fields of County Down.

“We have created two gin ranges — Rhuberry, which is rhubarb and blackberry, and Raspberry and Mint. We just enjoyed the combinations.”

There are over 200 independent gin distilleries now on the go in the UK, but it’s not a crowded market yet according to Gareth, who believes his creation will be enjoyed by enthusiasts as well as those new to gin as their tipple.

“I wanted to bring a gin to the market that’s something different,” he said. “People would associate gin with a clear liquid but mine is not. At the same time it’s not a sloe gin. You can have it neat or as a cocktail.”

Up to five 60 litre vats will be on the go at the Windmill Business Park, Saintfield, for this craft gin, with the fruit hand turned and mixed every few days.

From Bangor, Gareth has named his creation after the Copeland Islands off Donaghadee’s coastline. He wanted a County Down landmark to reflect the origin of their ingredients, though admits not everyone is familiar with the tiny collection of islands.

“The location of our suppliers is very important to us,” he said. “I wanted to use fruits and berries from local farms and the fruit is all from north Down and south Down.”

And despite his young age, Gareth is confident the venture will get the crowdfunding it needs to succeed by his September 17 deadline.

“100 per cent definitely,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of help, from Invest NI instance. It’s a learning experience every day. But take the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink. It is a growing industry, I have definitely seen it.

“It’s a really exciting time.”

To find out more about getting involved in Gareth’s venture visit: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/copeland-spirits-natural-gin-fusions

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