Castle Freke Distillery

Set within the historic Castle Freke estate in County Cork, Ireland, Castle Freke Distillery is producing an ultra-premium gin that brings together centuries of family heritage with a highly contemporary approach to distillation.

The distillery is the creation of The Hon. Stephen Evans-Freke, whose family connection to Castle Freke stretches back generations. While the commercial launch of Castle Freke Gin is recent, the project represents the culmination of a journey that began in 2012, combining Stephen’s passion for the Very Dry Martini with his background in pharmaceuticals and a fascination with the science and craft of distillation.

Castle Freke Gin is produced in two bespoke German copper pot stills, Algy and Percy, named for members of the Evans-Freke family. The stills were originally designed for fine brandy production and have been customised specifically for Castle Freke’s gin-making process.

At the heart of the spirit is a proprietary 50-step production process, combining extended maceration, multiple distillations, vapour infusion and precise cutting of the spirit. The botanical recipe includes organic Macedonian and Tuscan junipers, fresh myrtle foraged from the Castle grounds, Nile Delta coriander, angelica, myrrh, vetiver, gentian and carefully selected citrus.

The result is a gin deliberately created for sipping rather than mixing, with remarkable smoothness and layered complexity. It can be enjoyed chilled or in a very dry Martini, allowing the character of the spirit and its carefully selected botanicals to take centre stage.

Castle Freke represents an intriguing new chapter in Irish gin: deeply rooted in place and family history, but driven by precision, experimentation and an uncompromising pursuit of quality.