Bord Bia’s Spirit of Ireland showcase brings whiskey, gin and liqueurs into the spotlight, offering Singapore’s bartenders and hospitality professionals a taste of Ireland’s evolving distilling traditions
Ireland may be best known for its whiskey, but its spirits industry has much more to offer. From citrus-infused craft gins to rich cream liqueurs and innovative whiskey blends, the country’s distillers are increasingly looking beyond tradition to attract a new generation of drinkers.
That diversity was on display at the recent Spirit of Ireland showcase in Singapore, where Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, brought together an assortment of premium Irish spirits for an afternoon of guided tasting, industry networking and cocktail exploration.
Held at FURA Bar, the trade-focused event attracted bartenders, bar operators, drinks industry professionals, media representatives and key opinion leaders keen to discover how Irish spirits could find a stronger foothold in Singapore’s vibrant hospitality scene.
The event formed part of Bord Bia’s wider international efforts to introduce Irish food and beverages to new markets while helping producers establish relationships with distributors and hospitality businesses.
For Singapore’s cocktail industry, the showcase offered an opportunity to explore spirits that could add new dimensions to familiar drinks and inspire original creations.
Fergus Lee, Market Executive for Bord Bia, said Irish spirits deserve recognition beyond the country’s established whiskey tradition.
“Irish spirits offer a diverse range of flavours and styles that go beyond the country’s well-known whiskey tradition,” he said.
“What makes sessions like Spirit of Ireland valuable is the opportunity for bartenders and industry professionals to experience these spirits firsthand and explore how they can work with them in different serves.”
He added that engaging Singapore’s drinks trade was essential to building awareness and creating opportunities for Irish brands.
Beyond the whiskey glass
Irish whiskey remains central to the country’s distilling identity, drawing on generations of craftsmanship and production expertise.
However, the emergence of distinctive gins, flavoured whiskey expressions and cream liqueurs is expanding the category’s appeal.
Among the spirits featured at the showcase were Drumshanbo Sardinian Citrus Gin, Currach Irish Whiskey, Teeling Whiskey, Bart’s Blended Irish Whiskey, Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, Shanky’s Whip Whiskey Liqueur and Dingle Gin.
Each offers a different expression of Ireland’s evolving drinks culture.
Drumshanbo Sardinian Citrus Gin, for instance, brings a citrus-forward character to the gin category, offering bartenders an alternative to more conventional botanical profiles.
Dingle Gin represents another expression of Ireland’s growing craft gin movement, while Currach, Teeling and Bart’s highlight the diversity of whiskey styles available from Irish producers.
Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur adds a rich, creamy dimension suited to after-dinner drinks and dessert-inspired cocktails.
Shanky’s Whip Whiskey Liqueur, meanwhile, offers a sweeter, more approachable interpretation of whiskey-based drinking.
The selection demonstrated how Ireland’s spirits industry is moving beyond familiar labels and conventional serving styles.
Reinventing familiar cocktails
One of the showcase’s key messages was that Irish spirits need not be confined to traditional drinking occasions.
Instead, their different flavour profiles can be used to refresh established cocktail recipes or inspire entirely new creations.
Among the examples highlighted were a Whiskey Sour prepared using Shanky’s Whip and a Gin Sour featuring Drumshanbo Gin.
The whiskey liqueur’s distinctive sweetness offers bartenders an opportunity to reinterpret the classic Whiskey Sour, traditionally built around whiskey, citrus and sugar.
Similarly, Drumshanbo’s citrus character provides an interesting foundation for a Gin Sour, allowing its botanical and fruit notes to influence the cocktail’s overall balance.
Such experimentation is particularly relevant in Singapore, where cocktail bars increasingly distinguish themselves through creative ingredients, unusual flavour combinations and carefully curated drinks menus.
For bartenders, access to a broader selection of Irish spirits creates opportunities to develop cocktails that appeal to different palates and drinking preferences.
The guided tasting also enabled hospitality professionals to compare products, understand their characteristics and consider how they might be incorporated into their establishments.
Beyond cocktails, Irish spirits offer possibilities for neat pours, after-dinner drinks and other occasions where consumers are looking for something distinctive.
Singapore as a gateway
Bord Bia sees trade engagement as an important component of its international market development strategy.
Rather than relying solely on consumer-facing promotions, the organisation is seeking to build lasting relationships with bartenders, distributors and hospitality operators who influence purchasing decisions and introduce new products to customers.
Lisa Phelan, Director for Southeast Asia and Australia-New Zealand at Bord Bia, said Ireland’s food and drinks producers combine established craftsmanship with a willingness to innovate.
“Ireland’s food and drink producers have a strong tradition of craftsmanship, while continuing to explore new expressions and approaches,” she said.
“Through Spirit of Ireland, we hope to create more opportunities for Singapore’s drinks and hospitality professionals to discover the breadth of Irish spirits and connect with the brands behind them.”
She emphasised that strengthening relationships with local trade partners would help Irish producers engage more effectively with international markets.
Singapore’s established bar culture and sophisticated hospitality industry make it a relevant market for premium spirits seeking greater visibility in Southeast Asia.
Local distributors also play a role in introducing these products to the market.
Golden Clover, a Singapore-based boutique distributor specialising in premium craft spirits, carries Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin among its international portfolio.
The Whisky Store, established in 2005, distributes premium whiskies and spirits, including Currach Irish Whiskey, to enthusiasts and the wider trade.
Such partnerships can help smaller producers reach bartenders, retailers and consumers who might otherwise be unfamiliar with their products.
Building a wider Irish identity
Spirit of Ireland is part of Bord Bia’s broader global trade education and immersion campaign promoting Irish food and beverages, particularly whiskey, gin, cream liqueurs and other traditional spirits.
The initiative seeks to improve product knowledge, encourage professional engagement and support commercial opportunities for Irish producers in international markets.
For the Singapore hospitality community, the FURA Bar showcase provided more than an introduction to individual brands.
It highlighted a changing Irish spirits landscape, where heritage distilling techniques coexist with contemporary flavours, inventive production methods and new approaches to cocktail-making.
And while whiskey remains Ireland’s most recognisable contribution to the drinks world, the message from Spirit of Ireland was clear: there is considerably more to discover in an Irish glass.
