Sea pink, the small coastal flower also known as thrift, is foraged on the Copeland Islands off Donaghadee for this special edition, made by Copeland Distillery with the Ulster Rugby team. The distillery behind it sits on the shore at Donaghadee, a short boat trip from the islands where the flower grows. Distilled by Copeland in County Down using what it calls wild and fair botanicals, the gin reaches 42% ABV.

Citrus · Limited Edition · Herbal

Twelve botanicals make up the recipe, with juniper first and unwaxed orange as the main citrus. For each run, the botanicals are weighed and fresh oranges peeled, then everything soaks in alcohol for 16 to 24 hours before going into the 300-litre copper column still, with extra orange slices and botanicals added for the distillation. The gin is then reduced, rested and bottled and labelled by hand. The base gin won an Outstanding Gold with 99 points and the Best Contemporary Gin Trophy at the IWSC in 2022.

Copeland describes fresh pine and flowers on the nose, followed by sweet berry and botanical notes. The orange gives the palate a rounded citrus centre, while the sea pink adds a delicate floral, gently coastal accent, and the finish stays clean and lightly floral. Thrift grows wild on cliffs and coastal rocks around Ireland and Britain and flowers pink in early summer. At 42% ABV the gin keeps enough structure for tonic without losing its more delicate floral side.

For a long drink, pour it over ice, top with Indian tonic and finish with a thin wheel of orange, which echoes the main citrus of the recipe. Stir gently and keep the garnish simple, so the floral notes stay clear. It makes a fitting choice for a match day, shared over ice with friends after the final whistle.