Graham Norton launches Irish pink gin

by Amy Hopkins

Television and radio host Graham Norton is capitalising on the craze for pink drinks with the launch of an Irish pink gin.

Norton and New Zealand wine producer Invivo, which makes the TV presenter’s own range of wines, partnered with Ireland's West Cork Distillers to create the new gin. Graham Norton’s Own Pink Gin is a small-batch spirit made with Irish grain and 12 botanicals, including lemon peel, orange peel, elderflower, fuchsia flowers and locally sourced ingredients. The team at West Cork Distillers used rose petals to give the gin its pink hue. Norton will also launch a London Dry style of gin later this year. His pink gin will be exclusively available from Tesco stores at an RRP of £29 (US$38). The presenter and author first teamed up with Invivo to launch a Sauvignon Blanc in 2014, later adding a rosé, Shiraz and Prosecco to his range. He decided to move into gin after celebrating the completion of his recent Sauvignon Blanc and rosé blends with a round of Martinis created with Irish gin. “Great gin is a starting point. Add the right mixers, a favourite glass and a friend or two and you’ve got a recipe for something very special indeed,” Norton said. Pink gin is one of the hottest drinks trends in the UK. The craze helped boost UK gin sales to £1.9 billion in 2018 – the equivalent of 66 million bottles.