In less than a decade, Rademon Estate Distillery and their Shortcross Gin have had a major impact on their surrounding landscape. Founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong and located outside Downpatrick, County Down at the couple’s historic family estate, it is Northern Ireland’s first award winning craft distillery.
Shortcross is a classical Gin that was created to represent the terroir surrounding Rademon Estate. David and Fiona foraged wild clover from local sources and also added elderflowers and elderberries to make their recipe. Homegrown green apples create bright aromas and sweet notes. The local ingredients are mixed with juniper, coriander seeds, lemon peel, orange peel, and cassia and added to a wheat spirit base. It is all then cut with fresh water from the estate’s well and then bottled at 46 percent ABV.
Rademon Estate Distillery’s still was custom made to their bespoke specification by German Still makers Carl, combining the best of old and new technology; with a 450L Copper Pot Still as well as two Enrichment Columns. In the end it’s perfect to create the small batches of 200 – 300 bottles of Shortcross Gin that the Estate produces at a time.
On the nose, elderflower and elderberry lift Shortcross Gin’s traditional juniper backbone. On the palate, herbal clover notes present alongside bursts of lemon peel and coriander. The texture is deep and rich, while remaining surprisingly smooth and the finish delivers a pleasant amount of pepper.
It’s a Gin that speaks of the land it comes from and the hard work as well as dedication it took to create. Northern Ireland’s once rich craft distilling scene is back on its way up, after almost completely collapsing. And it’s Rademon Estate Distillery and their Shortcross Gin you’ll have to thank for that.
They also make a Single Malt Irish Whiskey and a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.
