Shortcross Gin and Historic Royal Palaces – the charity that cares for Hillsborough Castle and Gardens – have announced a new partnership that brings together centuries of heritage and modern distilling excellence. Inspired by the verdant gardens at Hillsborough Castle, the collaboration will see the creation of a limited-edition gin featuring botanicals handpicked from the Castle’s renowned Walled Garden and surrounding parklands.
Distilled at Rademon Estate Distillery, the home of Shortcross Gin, the new expression will capture the character and seasons of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, offering gin enthusiasts a distinctive taste experience drawn in place, provenance and heritage.
The collaboration celebrates the rich botanical diversity cultivated by the expert gardening team at Hillsborough Castle, blending carefully chosen ingredients with Shortcross Gin’s award-winning distilling expertise. The resulting spirit will reflect both the historic significance of the gardens and the innovative spirit of Northern Ireland’s pioneering craft distilling sector.
For Historic Royal Palaces, the partnership represents a unique opportunity to share the stories of Hillsborough Castle’s gardens in an entirely new way, engaging visitors through botanical flavours and craftsmanship. For Shortcross Gin, the project continues its commitment to creating spirits inspired by the landscapes and botanicals of the island of Ireland.
Fiona Boyd-Armstrong Director at Shortcross Gin, said: “We’re incredibly excited to launch this collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces, we both share a mindful appreciation for heritage, storytelling and exceptional craftmanship. Hillsborough Castle’s gardens are truly remarkable, filled with colours, fragrances and botanicals that tell their own story throughout the seasons.As a distillery in County Down, creating a gin inspired by such an iconic local landmark felt like a natural partnership. The result is a botanical gin that captures that unique royal character.”
Emma Saunders, Senior Licensing Manager at Historic Royal Palaces, said: ” The Historic Royal Palaces’ partnership with Shortcross Gin allows us to celebrate the picturesque gardens at Hillsborough Castle in an innovative and engaging way, while showcasing the expertise and the remarkable botanical collection cared for by the gardening team to create this limited edition gin.”
Visitors to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens will have the opportunity to discover the story behind the collaboration through special experiences and tastings at the Castle. The partnership is expected to further strengthen Hillsborough Castle’s reputation as a destination where history, culture, food and drink come together, while introducing new audiences to the unique qualities of locally crafted Irish spirits.
The Shortcross X Historic Royal Palaces Hillsborough Castle Royal Botanical Limited Edition Gin is available to buy now on Shortcross Gin webstore www.shortcrossgin.com