There are moments when running and working for a small business that make the long hours worth it, and the team gets to take a step back and feel proud of how far we have come. For the team here at Symphonia Spirits, one of those moments came in the form of the recent airing of Paddy & Nigel’s Tourist Trap on BBC Northern Ireland.
Taking part in the programme, which included a visit from comedian Paddy Raff and actor Tara Lynne O’Neill, brought plenty of laughs and good craic to our rural distillery in Co. Tyrone. It also gave viewers a genuine glimpse into the passion, precision, and science that goes into every bottle we produce.
Walter White of Gin
It was during this visit that Paddy, ever the comedian, turned to our Founder and Master Distiller, Dr. Ric Dyer, and declared, “You are genuinely like the Walter White of gin making”. He was quick to add with a grin, “Hopefully you don’t go down the same route as Walter White and it just stops at gin”.
While the comparison to the fictional chemistry teacher-turned-meth-cook from Breaking Bad certainly raised a few eyebrows – and laughs- it’s true that Ric brings a unique level of scientific rigour to his craft. With a background in chemistry and decades of experience in pharmaceutical and academic research, Ric turned his talents to something altogether more fragrant (and legal!): creating exquisite spirits using cutting-edge distillation techniques.
The Science Behind the Spirit
As shown in the episode, what sets the Woodlab Distillery apart is our innovative use of hydrodistillation and cold distillation processes, more commonly found in high-tech laboratories than traditional distilleries.
- Hydrodistillation allows us to gently extract delicate botanical flavours without damaging them, using water and steam to capture the true essence of ingredients.
- Cold distillation, meanwhile, takes place under vacuum at low temperatures, preserving fresh, bright notes that would be lost using conventional heat-based methods.
These scientific techniques let us highlight the natural beauty of our locally sourced botanicals – from the crisp bite of Co. Armagh Bramley apples in our Irish Apple Gin, to the rich, smooth complexity of our Irish Dry Gin, and the vibrant fruitiness of our Raspberry Gin Liqueur. Even our Irish Apple Rum, which delighted Paddy and Tara Lynne on the show, benefits from this meticulous approach.
A Spirited Response
The show’s impact was immediate. From 10:30 pm, when the episode aired, we saw a surge in web traffic and orders, and this momentum has continued ever since. Our local community has reached out to us with messages of support, curiosity and excitement.
We have welcomed a wave of new followers on social media and, more importantly, new members of our Connoisseur Club – people who share our love of craft, flavour, and a good story behind their drink.
To everyone who tuned in, visited our website, placed an order, or sent us a message – thank you. And to Paddy, Tara Lynne and the BBC NI Team – we’re so grateful you stopped by to experience the science and soul behind Symphonia Spirits.
Watch the Episode
Episode 1, The Moy of Paddy and Nigel’s Tourist Trap, is still available online via BBC iPlayer. We hope it gives you a taste (pun intended) of what we’re all about: a love for local ingredients, a dash of innovation, and a whole lot of heart.
