With an ethos embracing both the purity of science and the abundance found in nature, Symphonia’s head distiller Dr Ulrich Dyer captures the wonderful flavours and fragrances of botanicals found in the beautiful Northern Irish countryside using a unique, eco-efficient distilling technique.
We’re already huge fans of Symphonia’s Irish Apple Rum, so we were delighted to have the opportunity to try their award-winning Irish Apple Gin; a gorgeous golden colour with an intense Bramley apple aroma which leads into juniper, and a zingy flavour with a refreshing sweetness.
Why not take advantage of Symphonia’s Black Friday offer, running until 3 December, which gives customers a 33% RRP saving across all four main products; Irish Dry Gin, Irish Apple Gin, Raspberry Gin Liqueur, and Irish Apple Rum. Festive gift sets are also available.
Symphonia Distillery in Moy also offers private events and gin tours.
Symphonia website HERE
Capturing the
Essence of Life.
Remaining true to the purity of science and nature is at the heart of Symphonia’s ethos.
Because unusually, its founder and distiller Ric is also an organic chemist. His life has been spent studying the structure, and properties of molecules – searching for the essence of life.
It is how he revolutionised spirits production. And how Symphonia wins its awards.
He has enjoyed an impressive career in the pharmaceutical industry. With a PhD in Organic Chemistry and driven to use his talent for the greater good, he worked at the cutting edge of anti-viral innovation. On leaving that world, he turned to his other great passion, food and drink, applying his understanding of molecular science to gin – a drink originally invented by chemists.
Now with his own business, his aim is to be consistently mindful about how to reduce the company’s impact on energy and the earth’s natural resources.
In practise, it means harnessing science with nature to create the best tasting spirits possible, capturing the wonderful flavours and fragrances of botanicals in the most eco-efficient way.
It means making spirits that reflect the glory of the Northern Irish countryside. Our commitment to the region is deep: embracing the ‘giant spirit’, we live, work and create in the Orchard of Ireland. It is a rural landscape of rustic natural beauty, rugged coastlines, rolling green hills – and the wildest botanicals and herbs.
With its unique micro-climate, balmy winds of the Atlantic Gulf Stream, peaty soil and nearness to Lough Neagh freshwater lake, it is beautiful land and is much treasured.
Symphonia’s ethos also means giving something back to the country. It inspires, it is home, it is energy and with cutting-edge science it is the reason for our success.
Symphonia Spirits’ sustainability success: energy consumption that uses only 2% of the energy required for traditional distilling.
We created a unique process using three techniques: cold distillation, hydrodistillation, and molecular analysis. These ground-breaking innovations ensure the rich, delicate, flavours of the botanicals are extracted with the maximum efficiency and preserve their taste quality. The carbon dioxide savings that could be realised by the gin industry would be the equivalent of planting over 1m trees every year. *
Woodlab is the only distillery in the world using these combined procedures.
It is how Symphonia has revolutionised spirit manufacture.
*Calculated on figures provided by UK Govt BEIS 2021 Green Distilleries programme.
Symphonia’s Irish Dry Gin
Awards
IWSC Silver (93%), Two Stars Great Taste Awards, World Gin Awards Silver, Reigning Champion of Champions – Irish Gin Awards
Comments
This has an elegant and open nose, with spices and juniper on the first impression. Later on, straw and fresh grass appear. Silky and smooth throughout, this is a real class act. Very elegant, with velvety layers on a creamy and mouth-coating palate. – IWSC Judge
Outstanding – above and beyond delicious. –Great Taste Awards
A sparkling, crystal clear gin with a wonderfully appealing aroma, rounded, integrated, beautifully structured. Takes you on an interesting well-judged journey that allows notes to feature other than juniper with many other aromatics popping up along the way. Rounded, balanced and easy to drink. Works very well with tonic. Irish Gin Awards Judge
This is a very well composed gin with harmonised flavours, bass notes and higher notes. The attention to detail that has gone into the flavour analysis and construction is certainly evident in the gin. The palate carries robust juniper, leafy herbaceous characters, citrus and underlying earthiness and spice, which all lead seamlessly into the finish which sees spice developing and the basil and coriander notes lingering to complete the journey. Smooth, flavoursome, well-balanced and with particularly enjoyable savoury notes. Paul Jackson The Gin Guide
Symphonia’s Irish Apple Gin
Awards
Two Stars Great Taste Awards, Winner of Flavoured Gin Ireland – Gin Guide, IWSC Bronze, World Gin Awards Bronze,
Comments
Interesting golden straw colour with an intense Bramley apple aroma that leads into juniper. On tasting, the sour apple mingles with juniper nicely and ends with a very pleasing refreshing sweetness. Characterful and outstanding, a real pleasure.
Completely nailed the flavour balance and interest. Great Taste Awards Judge.
I like the Dry Gin in the range, but the apple gin, redolent of a good schnapps, is absolutely outstanding and utterly delicious – Fiona Beckett Wine and Spirits writer for the Guardian newspaper
A lovely gin, well presented and a pleasure to drink a flavoured gin that doesn’t overpower the attraction of gin in the first place – apple is subtle and pleasant aftertaste. Judge at the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards
If you’re looking for something different in the gin category, Symphonia delivers a fantastically innovative spirit. Not your typical gin, but great quality with a lip smacking flavour and a nice alcohol kick. Judge at the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards
Characterful and outstanding . A real pleasure – Judge, Irish Gin Awards.
Symphonia’s Raspberry Gin Liqueur
Comments
‘Packed full of plump berry notes, this is a light, subtle and not overly sweet – David T. Smith – Gin Magazine, Aug 2019
This is the raspberry gin that companies should be making instead of the luminous pink liquid that is churned out. – Jenny In Brighton – Gin Blogger
Symphonia’s Irish Apple Rum
Awards
IWSC Bronze, Bronze World Rum Awards, One Star Great Taste Awards
Comments
There is something quite unique about this rum. The flavour profile could easily be overpowering, but instead is well balanced and creates a new drinking experience. Judge at the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards
Zesty citrus character with stone fruit notes. A touch of spice throughout. – IWSC Judge
Delicious – Great Taste Award Judges
