Business And Leadership, Ireland's Business News Service

The brand story

Cork Dry Gin's unique taste can be traced back over 200 years when the first stone of Cork's Old Watercourse Distillery was laid. It was at the Watercourse Distillery that the recipe for Cork Dry Gin was first documented in 1798 by talented distiller William Caldwell. Here he had access to the finest ingredients: plump grain from the fields of East Cork and exotic botanicals such as juniper berries, angelica root and citrus fruits, arriving at Cork’s thriving international port. 

The Watercourse Distillery also benefited from its location on the Kiln River, a tributary of the River Lee, whose fast-flowing waters contained minerals considered ideal for the production of a gin spirit.

Product range

Cork Dry Gin’s uniquely refreshing taste comes from a complex flavour matrix of juniper oils, coriander, angelica and other rare botanicals combined with the finest quality triple-distilled grain-neutral spirit. Zingy citrus flavours of orange, lemon and lime exist throughout, while in the background a delectable coffee note shines through.

The Cork Dry Gin bottle is very distinctive. But the product was not always packaged in this now-iconic bottle. In 1951, it changed from a round bottle to the current square one.

There’s nothing quite like a refreshing Cork Dry Gin and tonic to hit the spot. An original ingredient in many classic cocktails, gin has recently been making a comeback in the trendy bars. It seems that classic chic is in and it’s our home-grown Cork Dry Gin that is leading this gin-chic revolution.

Over 200 years since its introduction, gin drinkers are still captivated by Cork Dry Gin’s refreshingly different taste.

Little wonder then that, despite the intermittent influx of international gin brands onto the Irish market, Cork Dry Gin remains Ireland’s largest seller.

Innovation

Cork Dry Gin launched a super-premium gin called Cork Crimson Gin in 2005. This gin finds its origins in 1798, when William Caldwell crafted a distinctive small-batch gin at the Watercourse Distillery, mixing exotic botanicals with local-grown ingredients. This gin has an exceptionally subtle and elegant flavour.

Two centuries later, inspired by the original recipe in Caldwell’s rediscovered leather-bound notebook, Cork Crimson Gin has been faithfully reproduced. To recreate it as Caldwell intended, the original pot still was recommissioned. The recipe includes imported botanicals such as juniper berries from Tuscany, sweet orange from Morocco and cassia from Indonesia with locally grown garden mint and bay leaf. It is handcrafted using the same time-consuming batch-distillation method, thus ensuring the historical integrity of the product.

Marketing and promotion

Over the years, Cork Dry Gin advertising has evolved and changed, however the iconic bottle has been a constant feature. Its distinctive shape has inspired campaigns, as well as facilitating interesting photography shots and angles.

“Where good taste prevails” has been an integral part of the label since Cork Dry Gin was created. This is the guiding principle for the brand, and is something Cork Dry Gin stays true to in all forms of communication and promotions.

The new campaign ‘THE GIN’ takes its inspiration from “Where good taste prevails”. The photographic style possesses a strong aesthetic appeal with visual references to classic cinema of the Twenties and Thirties. This use of stylish and sophisticated imagery communicates the positioning of the brand. Extensive media investment supports this campaign.