Who makes it?
From Humble Beginnings to a Distilling Legacy
The Copeland Distillery's journey began with a leap of faith in the summer of 2016. What started with a successful crowdfunding campaign, raising £30,000 from over 370 Founders, has grown into a beacon of innovation in the world of craft spirits. These early supporters, who took a chance on the brand's vision, were instrumental in bringing Copeland's first products to life.
After nine months of dedicated construction, the Copeland Distillery opened its doors in August 2019, breathing new life into a historic site in Donaghadee, County Down. The 6,500 square-foot space, once a cinema and bottling company, now stands as a testament to the distillery's commitment to the area's rich maritime and distilling heritage. The 125-year lease on the property underscores their ambition to share this history with both local and international visitors.
The Heart of the Distillery
Within the distillery walls, you'll find three copper stills—Betty, Hessie, and Pam—named in honor of the founder's grandmothers and mother. These stills are the heart of the operation, producing an award-winning range of spirits, including Traditional Irish and Navy Strength gins, along with a soon-to-be-released line of malt and pot-still whiskeys that are currently maturing.
The Copeland Distillery takes pride in its meticulous approach, carefully selecting wild and fair-trade botanicals and locally sourced fruits from the farms of County Down. Their mission is simple yet profound: to create exceptional, great-tasting spirits that surprise and delight, all while reflecting the history and traditions of the local area.
Beyond the bottles, the distillery offers a unique experience. Visitors can embark on a distillery tour to learn more about the production process, and even relax in the onsite coffee shop.
The story of Copeland Distillery is one of community, commitment, and a passion for crafting spirits that are both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition.
How is it made?
Using only highest quality rhubarb and blackberries from local farms in County Down, ensuring they’re fresh when they arrive in the distillery. Copeland soak the rhubarb, blackberries and other botanicals in alcohol for 16-24 hours, then transfer to the pot of the 300L copper column still, adding additional fruit and botanicals. Then the Rhuberry Gin distillation begins
Once distilled, water is added to bring it down to 37.5%, rest for two weeks before hand bottling and labelling.
What does it taste like?
Rhuberry Gin is perfect for a gin & tonic, garnished with a blackberry and a piece of lemon peel. Or add a small measure, together with sugar syrup and lemon juice to a glass of Prosecco
