Irish whiskey brand, Samuel Gelston’s, has unveiled its latest expression – a decadent Irish Cream liqueur which will sit alongside its award-winning range of whiskeys.
Flavours of milk chocolate and vibrant vanilla are underpinned by smooth, rich Irish whiskey with a delicate spiced finish. This versatile liqueur can be enjoyed chilled on its own, in coffee and hot chocolate, or as a delicious dessert ingredient. Bottled at 17% ABV.
Established in Belfast in the 1830s, and purchased by Harry Neill in 1869, the Samuel Gelston’s brand is synonymous with sourcing, bonding and blending some of the finest single malt and pot still whiskey from across Ireland. It has remained in the Neill family for five generations and is currently owned by Harry’s great, great grandson Johnny Neill.
“The launch of our first liqueur is a historic moment for my family who have been making quality artisanal spirits for generations. Our latest offering is a real testament to the passion, skill and craftmanship of our team who have created what I believe is a perfect blend of Irish whiskey, chocolate and cream. We are confident that it will be a real hit with drinkers and marks what is set to be both a busy and exciting year for the business.”
Johnny Neill
Official Tasting Notes:
COLOUR : Mocha.
NOSE : Milk chocolate and vanilla.
PALATE : Smooth underlying whiskey hit with creamy chocolate.
FINISH : Smooth, sweet chocolate icecream.
ABV : 17%
SIZE : 70cl
About Samuel Gelston’s:
Gelston’s Irish Whiskey has won 35 prestigious industry accolades across its portfolio since 2018, including Double Golds at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Best in Class (Ireland) at the London Spirits Competition.
Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish whiskey was founded in 1830 by Samuel Gelston. It was a time when Irish whiskey was famous around the world.
Samuel, a wine and whiskey merchant from Belfast, made it his mission to source, blend and bottle the best Irish whiskey from across Ireland. At the time there were 88 licensed distilleries on the island, and Samuel selected the very highest quality liquids for each bottle.
In 1869, upon Samuel’s death, the business was bought by Harry J. Neill. Harry had previously left Ireland’s shores with his younger brother Percival in order to make their fortunes in the Australian Gold rush of 1851. Having set up and subsequently sold his successful provisions business in Melbourne & Geelong, Harry returned to Belfast and purchased Gelston’s. His brother travelled on to New Zealand to set up Messrs Neill & Co in Dunedin in 1882.
Harry was the son of a Belfast merchant and French wine importer and was passionate about whiskey – indeed his grandfather and great grandfather had been whiskey distillers in Comber from the 1730s and 1760’s. He therefore continued their and Samuel Gelston’s legacy of sourcing, blending and bottling the very finest whiskeys, and developed the Gelston’s Irish whiskey brand around the world.
However, the Irish Whiskey landscape faced serious challenges as it entered the 20th century, and the combined effects of World War I, the Irish War for Independence and finally Prohibition, resulted in the near collapse of the Irish Whiskey industry – which, in turn, led to the demise of Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey.
The brand remained with the Neill family, and five generations on it has now been brought back to life by Harry’s great great grandson, Johnny Neill. Johnny and well-known master distiller Frank McHardy made it their mission to journey across Ireland again to source, bottle and blend the best liquids they could find and Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish Whiskey was reborn.
The current collection includes Samuel Gelston’s Single Malt, Single Pot Still, 5 Year Old Single Malt, 10 Year Old Single Malt, 15 Year Old Single Malt and a 26 Year Old Single Malt. Cousins, Johnny & Sam Neill, descendants of Harry and Percival, have joined forces on the latest launch that marries Johnny’s Irish Whiskey with Sam’s Pinot Noir New Zealand Wine Casks.
Samuel Gelston’s Irish Cream Liqueur is now available from selected Tesco stores across Northern Ireland, The Drop Store and online, via www.samuelgelstons.com
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