A Note From Our Editor
Edition 2 — 2025
Hello and welcome to our inaugural edition of “Blends & Botanics”! I’m delighted to introduce you to an editorial selection of some of Ireland’s finest craft spirits & distilleries, all sampled & reviewed via the palate (and noses!) of some passionate industry voices. We take a browse around some fine establishments, from local whiskey specialist emporiums, to bespoke & traditional fine wine outlets. We travel across Ireland, Scotland, the UK, as well as Europe, to recce and interview “liquid” enthusiasts, procurer's & traders. Our contributors will explore alcohol beverage industry trends, updates, and new discoveries. Sláinte!
Meet the voices behind “Blends & Botanic’s”…
Cliodna O’Flynn
Cliodna worked for many years as an RTE radio producer and news editor, and has been living and working in Spain for over 20 year, but still files for a number of Irish and British radio stations, reporting on stories from the Canary Islands. She has worked both as a writer and as an information link for the foreign nationals living in the Canary Islands, but still calls Dublin home.
Sarah Mc Avinchey
Holding a degree in Social Policy from Trinity College Dublin, Sarah, part of a strong Irish entrepreneurial family, has gained a broad range of drinks industry experience. Having entered the world of Irish craft spirits directly after graduation from college, she quickly worked her way up through the ranks of distillery operations, and is now Head of Sales at Tipperary Boutique Distillery. Sarah is active within the Women in Whiskey Association of Ireland, and is noted as one of the youngest professional consultants specialising in Irish whiskey procurement & export.
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR — LESLIE WILLIAMS
Leslie Williams, food and wine writer, Dublin, Ireland.
Leslie Williams is a freelance journalist specialising in food and drinks. He writes the wine and spirits column in the Irish Examiner and is a contributor to Movies & Booze on Newstalk.
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR — AMIT ANAND
With over 20 years experience within the Travel Retail Industry, Amit has managed and overseen multiple outlets of luxury retail sales, duty free shops, as well as domestic & institutional sales. With a remit covering Liquor, Perfume, Cosmetics, Jewellery, Lifestyle, Tobacco and Confectionery, Amit continues to work on the cutting edge of global travel retail, heading up SG AlcoBev within the largest airports in India.
“Blends & Botanics” magazine is a periodic magazine sponsored by The Runway 28 Beverage Co & Maisy Mc Loughlin’s Irish Whiskey.
Editor: MarieAnn Mc Loughlin Dwyer
Images by Sonya O’Donoghue — Photography Academy of Ireland
Registered company address: 4 Corker lane, Rossnowlagh, Donegal, F94E363.
News desk & Advertising : WhatsApp 00353 852379053
Email: marcoltrading59@gmail.com/hellorunway28@gmail.com
