Introduction
The Boatyard Distillery is located on the banks of Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, North West Ireland. Boatyard is Fermanagh’s first legal distillery since 1890. The story began with a dream in 2013 when founder Joe McGirr envisioned returning to his native Enniskillen. Joe grew up on a nearby dairy farm, and the McGirr family remains integral to Boatyard’s operations. The distillery takes its name from the disused boatyard it was built upon, making it unique as visitors can arrive just as easily by boat as by car.
The Liquid
As a boy, Joe never planned to follow in his father’s footsteps on the farm. Instead, he moved to Edinburgh, where the abundance of Scottish distilleries inspired his dream of one day returning home. A ten-year tenure at The Glenmorangie Company refined Joe’s skills, allowing him to map out his vision. His goal was to create a gin, not just any gin, but one so perfect for Martinis that it would be served in the world’s finest bars and restaurants.
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The Journey
In late 2016, The Boatyard Distillery sold its first bottle at a local festival, achieving part of Joe’s dream. His liquid-first approach led to early success, with the first bar outside of Ireland to stock Boatyard being the then World’s Best Bar, The American Bar at The Savoy. Led by Declan McGurk, who chose the gin after a blind tasting, only to discover it was made near his family’s origins. After developing the world’s best bar, Declan joined Boatyard as Commercial Director.
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The Legacy
From the original vision of creating a gin perfect for Martinis, with a double hit of juniper to stand out in a G&T, Boatyard has attracted top industry professionals to aid in its growth. Now used by many of the finest bartenders worldwide, this endorsement has led to Boatyard being available on multiple shelves globally. Our aim is to be the leading Irish gin distillery, producing sustainable spirits while providing our team with the best possible adventure. The team has demonstrated their capability by becoming the first B Corp certified distillery in Ireland in February 2023.
