RubyBlue is Northern Ireland’s first potato vodka product
The husband-and-wife-duo behind Northern Ireland’s first ever vodka product are toasting their success after signing a six-figure deal with Tesco Northern Ireland.
The award-winning RubyBlue Premium Craft Vodka, made from Irish potatoes, is the brainchild of Barbara and Stuart Hughes of Hughes’ Distillery. It will be sold in 25 local stores alongside already established fruit liqueurs in four flavours – Blackcurrant, Wild Blueberry, Cranberry and Chilli Pepper – signifying a £100,000 deal for Hughes’ Distillery.
The first vodka to be made on these shores, RubyBlue is already making waves in the drinks industry, winning Gold in the Global Vodka Masters and taking Silver at the New York World Wine and Spirits Club Awards earlier this year.
Barbara Hughes, of Hughes Distillery, said: “RubyBlue is the first Irish vodka to be made from our humble potato – giving it an ultra smooth pure finish. We started our business about five years ago and this latest deal with Tesco Northern Ireland will truly take it to the next level.
“We had our doubts whether an unknown vodka could compete with the well-known brands but feedback from taste tests was excellent and Tesco’s confidence in the products has given us a real boost as well as a financial lift to help us expand and reinvest further in the business and brand.
Steven Murphy, Tesco Northern Ireland, commented: “The potato is synonymous with Northern Ireland, and for the Hughes’ to have the ingenuity to use something so familiar to us to create a unique Northern Irish spirit, is impressive. We love uncovering hidden gems of local products and RubyBlue Vodka will create a real point of difference on our shelves and reinforce our support for local produce.”
Stores: Antrim Extra, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Knocknagoney Extra, Lisnagelvin, Lisburn, Portadown, Newry Extra, Carrickfergus Extra, Springhill, Ballygomartin, Craigavon Extra and Northcott Extra,
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