Renowned Hinch Distillery scoops further accolades

Renowned Hinch Distillery scoops further accolades

16 September 2020

AN award-winning local distillery has scooped more prestigious accolades.

Hinch Distillery — located between Ballynahinc h and the Temple — triumphed at the China Wine and Spirit Awards (CWSA) with its Ninth Wave Gin and its distinctive Irish whiskey range wowing the judges.

The company won the ‘Gin of the Year’ medal with recognition as a CWSA trophy winner the highest honour in the biggest and most prestigious wine and spirits competition in Hong Kong and China. 

In addition, the Hinch Distillery received three other CWSA awards for its distinctive Irish whiskey range which included double gold for its 10 year-old sherry finish whiskey, gold for its 5 year-old double wood and silver for its peated single malt whiskies.

Samples from the distillery underwent the unique ‘CWSA triple blind tasting method’ that the organisation has fine-tuned over 20 years.

The method used does not allow judges to receive any information about the country of origin of the wine or spirit nor does it allow any indication of the brand and forbids communication of findings among the judging panel. 

It is known as one of the strictest blind tasting standards in the sector beckoning award applications from some of the world’s most celebrated brands.

The latest medals rack up a lengthy list of awards bestowed upon Hinch distillery in less than a year since its launch.

The awards follow on from over a dozen other wins this year including gold medals for its Ninth Wave Gin brand at the World Gin Awards, Australian International Sprits Competition and the Canadian Alberta Beverage Awards, where again it was awarded the best gin award for the whole competition, the first ever non-Canadian gin to achieve this accolade.

The distillery, which is set to officially open next month, and visitors centre which opens in 2021, are both nearing completion with much of the distilling equipment, including three hand crafted copper whiskey stills and one gin still, already in place.

Company chairman Dr Terry Cross is delighted with the latest awards for its gin and whiskies.

“Taking our first ever trophy at CWSA 2020 makes the team very proud and is a highlight for us during what is a very surreal year for the trade,” he said.

“To win big during the current climate and at a competition that boasts one of the most stern blind tasting formulas there is, means our products surpass quality tests.”

Dr Cross said the Chinese wine and spirits market has grown massively in recent years, explaining that with its economy growing on average between seven and eight percent  each year, it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

“The latest awards demonstrate that our hard work and technical knowledge is recognised at the highest level and with CWSA recognition, customers and trade members can feel assured that they are serving up the best quality gin and whiskies around,” added Dr Cross.

The distillery says that its wins will help drive forward its goal to further expand its already international client base. 

The company says that both Hinch Whiskey and Ninth Wave Gin are targeting the ever-growing number of consumers who are attracted to premium spirits which deliver in both quality taste and high-level brand values. 

It says these consumers are also attracted to brands which deliver authenticity in their story and a provenance which can only be delivered from distillation at a real working, craft distillery. 

The distillery says that to date, the response to both Hinch Whiskey and Ninth Wave Gin has been phenomenal, with distributors having been signed up in over half the target countries including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, Japan, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, UK, Republic of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.