Hinch Irish Whiskey to Make North American Debut
Sales Agreement with Chopin Imports Opens Doors to U.S. Market
WILMINGTON, DE (October 08, 2020) – Chopin Imports Ltd. (CIL), the marketing company for Chopin Vodka brand and other best-in-class spirits, has inked a deal with Hinch Irish Whiskey, making CIL responsible for the exclusive North American sales and marketing rights to Hinch Irish Whiskey and Celtic-inspired Ninth Wave Gin.
With the new agreement, CIL will represent the entire whiskey portfolio and the award-winning Ninth Wave Irish Gin. The initial launch will see the three core expressions of Small Batch, 5 Year Old and 10 Year Old available through RNDC and other distributors in 11 states, including California, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Washington, South Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Nationwide distribution to follow in February 2021 including Single Malt and Pot Still Whiskies, as well as Ninth Wave Irish Gin.
“We are excited to enter into the Irish Whiskey category. Hinch has given us a line of award-winning products to open-up the North American market for them,” said Chuck Kane’, COO for Chopin Imports. “The Irish whiskey and gin categories continue to experience phenomenal growth. Hinch has provided us with an opportunity with a brand that has great liquid, is family owned and puts quality above all else. These are the key traits we look for when partnering with new brands.”
Small Batch, Bourbon Cask (SRP $29.99)
Matured in the finest Ex Bourbon Oak Casks, this classic blend only uses the finest grain and single malt whiskies.
5 Year Old, Double Wood ($39.99)
Only the finest Ex Bourbon Casks are selected for extra maturation in Virgin American Oak Barrels for a minimum of one year. This second maturation gives the whiskey subtle depth, natural color and character as befitting the use of “two woods”.
10 Year Old, Sherry Cask Finish (SRP $54.99)
Perfectly matured over time in American Oak, our gently maturing Whiskey blend is finished in the finest Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez. Finished for a minimum of 6 months, the process enhances the golden liquid’s outstanding character and flavor.
Ninth Wave Irish Gin (SRP $29.99)
A multiple award-winning contemporary style gin that has recently been given the accolade as Worlds Most Awarded Gin 2020. Eye catching premium packaging compliments 100 percent wheat-based liquid that undergoes two separate show distillations at the distilleries Copper Gin Pot Still.
Awards
Hinch Distillery has acquired more than a dozen wins in 2020, including:
- Double Gold and ‘Gin of the Year’ at the China Wine and Spirit Awards (CWSA) as well as Gold Medals for Ninth Wave Gin at the World Gin Awards, Australian International Spirits Competition, and Canadian Alberta Beverage Awards
- Three other CWSA awards for its distinctive Irish whiskey range: Double Gold for its Hinch 10 Year Old Sherry Finish Irish whiskey, Gold for its Hinch 5 Year Old Double Wood and Silver for its Hinch Peated Single Malt
- Multiple wins for whiskey and gin at the ISC and IWSC, London
“Our spirits speak for themselves and we have the awards to back it up. Our partnership will allow us to tap into the second largest gin market and one of the largest Irish whiskey markets in the world,” said International Sales Director for Hinch Distillery, Michael Morris. “Our goal is to double our exports and partnering with Chopin Imports couldn’t have come at a better time to take us to the next level.”
The Distillery
Located just south of Belfast in the grounds of the beautiful Killaney Estate. The distillery takes its name from the nearby town of Ballynahinch, whose name in Irish translates as ‘town of the island’. Within the Hinch Distillery design they have incorporated many unique elements which will both validate their ‘craft’ credentials and position themselves as key innovators within the Irish whiskey category.
Hinch uses only the finest Malted Barley, water from the Mourne Mountains, traditional Irish mashing processes and has a proud history of triple distillation for mellowness.
In late 2019, they announced their plans for a £15m (US $19m) distillery and visitor experience that now spans two floors, housing the whiskey and gin production, bottling line, storage facilities and offices with the visitor center including a coffee shop, public restaurant, pub, outside courtyard space, events spaces and retail shop. The visitor experience includes a history of Irish whiskey, a tutored tasting, a gin tour and will give consumers the opportunity to produce and bottle their own gins. The new facility can accommodate more than 100,000 visitors a year.
Chopin Imports portfolio also includes its namesake vodka, Dorda Liqueurs, the Gordon & MacPhail Scotch Whiskies, Benromach Scotch Whiskies, Red Door Gin, Koch El Mezcal, Maguey Spirits, and Terralta Tequila.
About Hinch Distillery
Hinch Distillery is the brainchild of entrepreneur, Dr Terry Cross OBE, and fulfils a long-held ambition to play a leading part in the current renaissance of the Irish whiskey industry. As the current President of the Red Cross in Northern Ireland, Terry is well known for his ownership of the successful Delta Print and Packaging business in Belfast which he sold in 2016. Since St Patrick’s Day 17th March 2000, he has owned and restored a beautiful wine making Château in France, Château de La Ligne, located in Bordeaux. Hinch Distillery is a state-of-the-art modern facility that also embraces Terry’s long held green credentials including the use of Bio Gas and LEDs throughout the building, while personally supervising the planting of 12.5k native trees on the Killaney Estate property, where the Distillery is located. Hinch Distillery plans to be exporting to 20 markets around the world in 2020, with an ambition to double this number in the coming years.