At 44, Simon Hogg, creator and craft distiller at Dunluce Distillery, has swapped his native Belfast for Portballintrae on the North Antrim Coast, a place he describes as the most beautiful in the world.
Married with two children, Hogg balances life as a serial entrepreneur, running a property management company alongside his growing distillery.
He credits the ocean and the dramatic coastline with drawing him north, and he spends long stretches in the stillroom perfecting new alcoholic beverage recipes, a pursuit that often absorbs hours, days and weeks as he refines the flavours behind the Dunluce name.
Find out more about Simon and Dunluce Distillery
What did you do before launching your business?
I always had a passion for distilling, but lockdown gave me the time to take it seriously. My property management business came to a complete standstill, so it felt like the perfect time to explore my passion and turn it into something tangible.
Tell us a bit about your business?
I distill a range of spirits inspired by the North Coast. My first gin was The Shore Born, named in honour of my two children, and it became the very first gin produced and bottled on the North Coast. Since then, I’ve created a family of spirits under the Dunluce Distillery banner, including:
- The Shore Berry – a blackberry-infused gin
- La Riva Nata Limoncello – the first commercial limoncello made in Ireland
- La Riva Nata Arancello – a vibrant orange liqueur crafted with navel oranges
- La Riva Nata Caffè – an award-winning coffee liqueur
Most recently, I’ve added a new range of pre-mixed canned drinks — Dunluce Coolers — based on the spirits collection. It’s been exciting to expand the brand into something convenient, fun and ready-to-drink.
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The seed was planted when I was about six years old. We were living in my grandparents’ house during a house move, and my Granda was a keen winemaker. I remember watching those big glass carboys bubbling away in the attic and thinking it was magic. That fascination never left me.
Years later, when I realised there was no local gin distillery on the North Coast, it felt like the right time to take the leap. Armed with a small still and a clear vision, I began experimenting. I trialled about 25 botanicals, tweaking flavours and concentrations until the Shore Born recipe came together. That was my lightbulb moment.
Who/What inspired you to start your business?
My grandparents planted the seed, but my family inspired me to take the leap.
Who is your target market?
Anyone who enjoys a quality drink made with passion and heart. The Dunluce Coolers range in particular has been a hit with visitors to the North Coast over the summer. There are four flavours — Limoncello Spritz, Arancello Spritz, Shore Berry (blackberry gin with lemonade), and Shore Born (gin with elderflower tonic). They’re convenient, low-calorie, and designed to be enjoyed anywhere.
What gap in the market does your business fill?
I wanted to showcase the North Coast in a bottle — or in a can. Before Dunluce Distillery, there wasn’t a local distillery producing spirits that told the story of this area. My products are small-batch, rooted in the landscape, and designed with both quality and convenience in mind. The Coolers in particular fill a gap between mainstream pre-mixes and craft spirits — they’re premium, but accessible.
Have you received any significant funding for your business? If so can you reveal it and tell us what different it made to the business?
I received some funding from Invest NI, which allowed me to market the Dunluce Coolers range. Aside from that, everything has been self-funded.
Who are your main competitors and what do you think sets your company apart from them?
There are plenty of spirits brands, but very few made in such small batches and inspired so directly by their place of origin. Every one of my products is connected to the North Coast — its flavours, its people, its story. That authenticity, along with the care that goes into each bottle, really sets us apart.
What is your vision for the company over the next few years?
I’d love to open a purpose-built distillery right here on the North Coast — a place where people can visit, learn about the craft, enjoy tastings and tours, and soak up the atmosphere of the area. A bar, a taproom, a shop — a real experience. That’s the dream.
What are the main achievements of the company so far?
My proudest moment was winning silver at the Blas na hÉireann (the Irish Food Awards). I’d already been awarded two stars in the Great Taste Awards, but this felt like the icing on the cake. I rang my wife and parents immediately with the news!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far?
Patience and persistence. Everything takes longer than you expect — licensing, logistics, production. But if you believe in your product and stay the course, the results are worth it.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a business?
If you’ve got a passion project, go for it — but wait until you can afford to do it properly. It’s hard work, but when you love what you do, you’ll find the energy to keep going.
How can people get in touch with you?
dunlucedistillery.com
https://www.facebook.com/dunlucedistillery
https://www.instagram.com/dunlucedistillery/