Shortcross Gin Small Batch Gin

Shortcross Gin. Rademon Estate Distillery, Crossgar, County Down, Northern Ireland — Ireland's most awarded gin and Northern Ireland's first premium craft gin, distilled in small batches with estate-foraged elderflower, elderberries, wild clover, and apples, using custom copper pot stills with dual enrichment columns unlike any other on the island of Ireland.

Shortcross was founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong on the Rademon Estate, a historic 500-acre property in County Down. Their ambition was to redefine what an Irish gin could be — becoming the first gin to be distilled in Northern Ireland. Every bottle is hand-waxed and hand-bottled at the distillery, and each Shortcross bottle bears a Shortcross penny, a reference to their home village of Crossgar, whose name derives from the Gaelic for “short cross.”

The botanicals are what make Shortcross singular. Elderflowers and elderberries are foraged from the estate's surrounding forests for uplifting floral notes and smooth, sweet flavours. Wild clover from the meadows gives a delicate wildflower essence. Apples are hand-picked from the estate's Walled Garden for fresh aromas and lively sweetness. These estate-foraged ingredients are blended with classic gin botanicals: juniper, coriander, citrus peels, cinnamon, and cassia, all combined with pure fresh water drawn from the historic estate well. The custom still — a 450L copper pot still with two seven-plate enrichment columns, the only one of its kind in Ireland — is designed to enrich more flavour and botanical oils into the spirit than a conventional pot still alone.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Vibrant and floral — citrus, juniper, and elderflower lead with uplifting brightness. Subtle earthy sweetness from wild clover and apple. A bouquet of summer meadow aromas with floral and berry depth.
• Palate: Juniper-forward with a big oily mouthfeel. Elderflower and elderberry notes weave through alongside fresh apple sweetness and bright citrus. Classic gin structure with a distinctly floral, berry-rich character that sets it apart from more restrained London Drys.
• Finish: Long and smooth. Uplifting floral notes with sweet berry and lemon sherbet lingers. The enrichment column-distilled spirit delivers a rounded, aromatic close.

Specs

• Distillery: Rademon Estate Distillery, Crossgar, County Down, Northern Ireland
• Style: Contemporary Irish Gin
• Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, citrus peels, cinnamon, cassia; estate-foraged: elderflower, elderberries, wild clover, apples (Walled Garden)
• Water: Historic Rademon Estate well
• Distillation: 450L copper pot still with dual seven-plate enrichment columns
• ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Shortcross Gin taste like? Vibrant and floral on the nose with citrus, juniper, and elderflower brightness. The palate is juniper-forward with a big oily mouthfeel and estate-foraged elderflower, elderberry, fresh apple, and citrus throughout. The finish is long and smooth with lemon sherbet and floral sweetness.
• What are enrichment columns and why does Shortcross use them? Enrichment columns, fitted with bubble plates, allow the distiller to control reflux during distillation — the spirit vapour interacts with the plates, stripping harsh notes while enriching the aromatic oils and flavour from the botanicals. The result is a smoother, more aromatic spirit than a conventional pot still alone can produce.
• Is Shortcross actually made in Northern Ireland? Yes — it was the first gin to be distilled in Northern Ireland and remains one of the most decorated Irish gins. Every bottle is hand-labelled, hand-waxed, and hand-bottled at the Rademon Estate Distillery in Crossgar, County Down.
• What cocktails is Shortcross best in? The signature serve is a G&T using elderflower tonic, garnished with orange zest and mint — a combination that echoes the elderflower and citrus character of the gin. Also excellent in a Gimlet or a Bee's Knees.
• Why are the botanicals estate-foraged? To create a gin that is genuinely tied to its place. The Rademon Estate's forests and gardens provide elderflower, elderberries, wild clover, and apples that couldn't be replicated by any other distillery — making each bottle a specific expression of this 500-acre Northern Ireland estate.