The Micil Distillery, based in Salthill, co. Galway received the Silver Medal in the ‘Contemporary Style Gin’ category at the London World Gin Awards for its Micil Irish Gin, a luxury Connemara spirit handmade by the Micil Family using local flowers and herbs.
This achievement is all the more gratifying for the family-run business as they only started distilling the spirit back in 2018 after feeling that a unique Connemara gin was a natural progression from making botanical-infused poitín. The event saw more than 400 different gins from all over the world in competition for best gin in their kind. Each gin was tasted in its relevant style by a jury made up of international, leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers and industry experts.
Pádraic Ó Griallais, the founder and director of Galway’s only distillery was thrilled with their success. “We are absolutely delighted with this win! My mantra is that Micil will always be associated with distilling beautifully handcrafted spirits in small batches, using local flowers and herbs. For our dedication to this ethos to be recognised at such a prestigious award ceremony, so early on, is extremely rewarding. It’s a terrific feeling to see our spirit, a reflection of our unique Connemara landscape, sitting comfortably alongside some of the best producers in the world. We are extremely proud to be bringing home this win for everyone in Galway!”
Pádraic, a former schoolteacher and sixth-generation poitín distiller from Inverin in Connemara, established Micil Distillery in 2016. He takes us through the story of this now award-winning gin. “Micil Irish Gin is a true story of place in which Connemara flowers and herbs are to the forefront, as well as the same locally picked Connemara bogbean that my family have been adding to their poitín for over 170 years. The gin also incorporates my great-great-great-grandfather Micil’s signature smoothness which is balanced by a gentle citrus effervescence. It is a creation that I am extremely proud of” says Pádraic.
Micil Irish Gin is a velvet smooth gin which combines citrus with rich floral flavours from the hand-picked Connemara heather, bog myrtle and bogbean. It’s best enjoyed with a premium classic tonic water, generous ice and a wedge of lime. Other recommended Micil Irish Gin cocktails include the ‘Connemara Collins’ and the ‘Micil Gin Sour’.
Following their win, the distillery is now invited to The Gin Magazine Awards 2020 celebrations ceremony in London next month, where the overall World’s Best Gin winner will be announced.
