At Gourmet Grocer, we love products that feel rooted in place. The kind of bottle, jar or treat that tells a story before it is even opened. When that story comes from right here in Fermanagh, it feels even more special.
Boatyard Distillery is one of those makers.
Based on the banks of Lough Erne, just outside Enniskillen, Boatyard Distillery is an independent Fermanagh distillery creating premium spirits with a strong sense of place, craft and character. Known for its award-winning gin, vodka and seasonal spirits, Boatyard has become one of the most exciting names in Irish distilling.
For us at Gourmet Grocer, Boatyard Distillery is a brilliant example of local drinks craft: beautifully made, proudly Fermanagh and perfect for gifting, cocktails, hampers and special occasions.
From Lough Erne to the Glass
The Boatyard story begins with founder Joe McGirr, who grew up on a dairy farm near Enniskillen. After building a career in the spirits industry, Joe returned home with a dream of creating a distillery that truly reflected Fermanagh.
That dream became Boatyard Distillery, built on a disused boatyard on the shores of Lough Erne. The setting is a huge part of the brand’s identity. This is not a distillery hidden away from its surroundings; it is shaped by them.
The name, the location and the spirit of the place are all connected. Visitors can even arrive by boat, which feels perfectly fitting for a distillery sitting beside one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful lakes.
Boatyard is also Fermanagh’s first legal distillery since 1890, making it a landmark producer for the county and an important part of the area’s modern food and drink story.
Farm-to-Bottle Spirits
One of the things that makes Boatyard stand out is its farm-to-bottle philosophy.
The distillery places a strong focus on organic ingredients, local sourcing and transparency. Its signature botanical, sweet gale, is foraged from the McGirr family bog, giving the spirits a direct link to the Fermanagh landscape.
That detail matters. It means Boatyard’s spirits are not just made in Fermanagh; they carry a little of Fermanagh in the flavour.
The distillery’s approach is precise and hands-on, with distilling, blending, bottling and labelling all carried out on site. This gives the team close control over every stage of the process, helping create spirits with balance, depth and consistency.
Boatyard Double Gin
Boatyard Double Gin is one of the distillery’s best-known products.
It is a juniper-forward gin made using Boatyard’s distinctive double-contact distillation method, designed to build flavour and structure. The result is a gin with depth, freshness and a clean finish, made for a proper gin and tonic but also strong enough to shine in classic cocktails.
Serve it with a good tonic, plenty of ice and a simple garnish, or use it in a Martini, Negroni, French 75 or Tom Collins. It is elegant, versatile and full of character.
For anyone who enjoys Irish gin, Boatyard Double Gin is a brilliant bottle to keep on the drinks shelf.
Vodka, Old Tom Gin and Sloe Boat Gin
While Boatyard is loved for its gin, the wider range is just as exciting.
Boatyard Vodka is smooth, clean and beautifully crafted, ideal for classic serves, cocktails and simple mixed drinks. Boatyard Old Tom Gin brings a slightly sweeter, richer style, matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and sweetened with natural honey. It is ideal for those who enjoy a softer, more rounded gin with extra depth.
Sloe Boat Gin is another standout, made by steeping wild-harvested sloe berries for six months in a bespoke gin created by the Boatyard team in Fermanagh. The result is fruity, rich and gently sweet, perfect for sipping neat, serving over ice or adding to sparkling serves.
Together, the range shows just how creative and versatile Boatyard can be.
Why We Love Boatyard at Gourmet Grocer
Boatyard Distillery is exactly the kind of local producer we are proud to stock at Gourmet Grocer. It is Fermanagh-made, beautifully crafted and full of provenance.
It also fits perfectly with the way our customers like to shop. Boatyard spirits are ideal for gifts, hampers, dinner parties, cocktail nights, Christmas presents, thank-you gifts and weekend treats.
Pair a bottle with premium tonics, artisan snacks, chocolate, crisps, cheese, charcuterie or cocktail ingredients for a thoughtful Gourmet Grocer hamper. For a local gift, Boatyard is especially strong because it feels rooted in Enniskillen and the wider Fermanagh Lakelands.
It is the kind of product visitors love to take home, and locals are proud to support.
Perfect for Cocktails, Gifting and Special Occasions
Boatyard spirits are made for moments that feel a little more considered.
For a simple serve, pair Boatyard Double Gin with premium tonic, ice and a fresh garnish. For something classic, try it in a Martini or Negroni. Boatyard Vodka works beautifully in a Vodka Martini, Moscow Mule, Espresso Martini or simple soda serve. Sloe Boat Gin is perfect with prosecco, lemonade, tonic or simply poured over ice.
For gifting, Boatyard makes an excellent choice. It has the quality, packaging and local story that make a bottle feel special. Add it to a hamper with mixers, snacks and sweet treats for a complete food and drink gift.
For entertaining, it brings a premium local touch to the table, whether you are hosting friends, planning a celebration or putting together drinks for a relaxed night in.
A Taste of Fermanagh Craft
Boatyard Distillery is more than a spirits brand. It is a story of homecoming, place and local ambition.
From a disused boatyard on Lough Erne to shelves and bars around the world, Boatyard has helped put Fermanagh on the modern Irish drinks map. Its spirits are made with care, shaped by the landscape and rooted in a family story that feels genuinely local.
That is exactly the kind of food and drink story we love to celebrate at Gourmet Grocer.
You can find Boatyard Distillery products at Gourmet Grocer, 10 High Street, Enniskillen. Call in to explore our range of local spirits, premium mixers, Irish snacks, hampers and carefully selected products, perfect for gifting, cocktails, celebrations and weekend drinks.
