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2019

G&T's have become one of the most popular drinks on the market, but how is the spirit evolving? It's sophisticated reputation and delicious flavours create the ideal cocktails, as well as becoming the perfect confidence booster BFF:

"You should go to the dancefloor and show off your hip moves, you're such a great dancer" – as said by Hendricks, overheard in Coppers in October 2018. Hendricks was later proven wrong.

There's no doubt about just how much gin has grown in the world of spirits, with Scottish gin especially undergoing a massive revival.

According to the Irish Times, the on-trade gin market in Ireland is now worth at an all-time high of €50 million. It's image has become transformed from a seemingly 'mother's choice' to a millennial's favourite. 

We've put together a list of gin trends for 2019, so you can prepare your livers for the changes due to come in next year for the gin world. Get yourselves ready for relentless gin puns throughout, you have been warned.

1. GINcredible flavours 

Gin flavours are KILLING the game right now, and they're showing no sign of slowing down.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Botanical delights such as berry pink gin, plum and cinnamon, pomegranate and rose, lemon drizzle, rhubarb and ginger to passionfruit gin liqueurs, salted caramel flavour and even a bubblegum taste, the flavours of gin available are GINfinite (sorry not sorry).

Copeland Spirits, based in Co. Down, specialises in 37.8% flavoured gins. Aldi Ireland stock its GINSANELY good Rhuberry flavour, naturally infused with local fruit, as well as its new, limited-edition infusion Spiced Apple and Blackcurrant.

Founder of Copeland Spirits, Gareth Irvine has recently spoken about the journey which gin flavours is currently on, saying that a shift in what's popular is incoming:

“Flavours to date have been quite seasonal or trend-led and associated solely to summer, or unicorns, or crazy colours and not veer too much away from berries. Over the coming months, we’ll see the flavour ideas get more adventurous incorporating spices, herbs, exotic fruits.

“Often-times, trend-led flavoured gins are of poor quality and are full of syrups, additives or sugar, rather than real fruit. In addition, the volume is generally around 20% and so a liqueur as opposed to a gin."

Hmmm, this is heart-breaking news. Some of our fave flavah's are legit just sugar and syrup…but this is changing. Thank GOD. We get enough sugar as it is.

Gareth predicts that consumers will start to focus more on quality, just like we saw with unflavoured gin and this will catapult flavoured gin into a category all of its own. Noted, Gareth.

2. GIN-vironmentally friendly

With the introduction of plastic-free consumer goals, especially in terms of straws in bars and restaurants, it's no surprise that gin companies are noticing this important trend. The 'waste not/want not' ideology is spreading fast, with bartenders becoming more aware of the value of not throwing away unneccesary food and drink waste.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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“We’re thinking first and drinking second. We’ve noticed cocktail menus are changing slightly as bartenders consciously look for ways to minimise food waste." according to Gareth.

When it comes to garnishes such as lemon wedges, egg yolks and limes, the amount of fruit that is thrown away or used needlessly purely for the same of appearance is pretty shocking.

Rather than sweeping these used garnishes into to the bin, some bars have making what is becoming known as ‘closed-loop’ cocktails, where excess fruit is used to create natural syrup or saved for pitchers.

Bars becoming conscious about their eco-footprint is imperative, especially since spirit companies rely heavily on the land to create their infused gins.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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3. GINcrease in gin brands

Wait, you mean… we're going to see even more gin? YAS. 

More brands will be arriving on the scene next year, with supermarket-owned brands such as Aldi helping to increase access to the category.

Gin-lovers in Ireland are a passionate bunch of people, and brands are taking that passion seriously. As more and more brands come on the scene, people will only connect with the ones that have strong values, for example supporting the environment or raising talent through graduate programmes.

Brands will be providing a quality product that is conscious of price and quality. Amen to that.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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4. GINnovation

Brands in 2019 hope to focus on some brand new categories, many of our favourite brands which have risen in the last three years didn't exist prior to the gin renaissance. These brands, whose journeys are only really beginning, will be competing to adapt in the long-term industry pool.

Gin and spirit companies will begin experimentation with distilling and flavours which will likely benefit gin, and those who drink it, i.e. us.

We predict that experimentation will lead to some unreal new flavours and tastes, we also volunteer as tribute to test these new tastes. It's a tough job but someone has to do it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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For the moment anyway, we're heading straight to Aldi Ireland to grab Copeland’s Spiced Apple and Blackcurrant Gin for just €29.99, see you there gals.

With Christmas around the corner, this new flavour is perfect for winter.

Can someone please le Santa know that a gin advent calendar is on our present list? Just in case he doesn't know…

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Let the countdown begin, megafans.

Game of Thrones will OFFICIALLY air its eight and final season in April 2019. The HBO phenomenon aired its seventh season in August 2017, so there will have been an almost two-year gap.

For the feverous fanbase, that's 20 months too long…

Season eight will also run for six episodes, which is one episode fewer season seven, but never fear because each episode will run for as long as ninety minutes.

Imagine the tension… we can barely handle 60 minutes of such high-paced tension and pure visual spectacle. 90 minutes could have us fainting multiple times from sheer SHOOKETH-ness.

By premiering the April date, this allows Game of Thrones to remain eligible for the 2019 Emmys. The last season swept up nine awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, a major deal in the realm of television.

The HBO announcement came in the form of a new video broadcasting the launch of a final season campaign entitled  #ForTheThrone.

The video is as powerful as you might imagine considering the show is famed for its gruesome battles, dramatic deaths and revenge in every form.

(*SPOILERS INCOMING*)

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Some of the most violent highlights from across the seven seasons are included in the clip, including the infamous Red Wedding (we STILL AREN'T OVER THIS) and the King's Landing wildfire attack.

The end of the seventh season left Westeros on the brink of its deadliest war yet, in case you have miraculously forgotten. The finale was one of the most watched TV episodes in history, and we can still hear the gasps.

Fan favourites such as Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and other prominent characters within the fantasy canon must learn to throw aside their differences in order to fight a common enemy: the Army of the Dead, led by the vicious Night King. 

The Army of the Dead have already begun marching after destroying the wall and taking control of a dragon, turning it to ice. WE WERE WAILING.

So you know, casual saving the world from massive bloodshed and death kinda vibe. The usual.

come at me bring it GIF by Game of Thrones

"Every battle. Every betrayal. Every risk. Every fight. Every sacrifice. Every death. All for the Throne."

Save the date, people. It's gonna be emotional.

Feature image: Refinery29.com

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2019 is already jam-packed full of unreal gigs and we are so excited about it. It seems like everyone is heading back to the Emerald Isle for what’s shaping out to be one of the best years for music lovers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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After the enormous successes of both her sold out Academy show earlier this year and her sold out Olympia Theatre show last night, SIGRID has announced her biggest Irish headline show to date at 3Arena Dublin on Friday, November 22, 2019.

The ground-breaking Norwegian pop star this month also released the highly-anticipated new single Sucker Punch, following her critically acclaimed RAW EP and incredible jam-packed festival performances at Electric Picnic and Longitude this summer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Highlighting the breadth of Sigrid’s maturing talent and aptitude for song writing, Sucker Punch cements the 22-year-old’s rise to pop prominence.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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From winning the BBC Sound of 2018, to moving Helen Mirren with her performance on the Graham Norton Show and storming the stage at her Shepherds Bush Empire headline, Sigrid’s unforgettably impassioned live performances have sparked mass appreciation and defiant, rebellious pop songs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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With her Spotify following tripling since the start of the year, and streaming numbers reaching almost 400M globally, Sigrid is undoubtedly set to continue her ascent.

Tickets from €39.90 inclusive go on sale Friday, November 9 at 9am from Ticketmaster so make sure to set your alarm.

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One of our favourite films of all time is being remade, and the cast could not be more perfect!

We all watched the 1994 version of Little Women, starring Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, Susan Sarandon and Kirsten Dunst. It was one of those films we watched to get out of reading the book for school, but we ended up actually loving it.

Winona stole our hearts as the spirited Jo, who strained for independence and leaned on her sisters when life got tough. The movie adaptation was a heartwarming tale of sisterhood, romance, war, identity, and family.

Then last year, BBC’s mini-series took a new perspective on Louisa May Alcott’s classic. Each actor adhered to the book’s interpretation of them: Maya Hawke, playing Jo, strived to illuminate her character’s imperfections, Willa Fitzgerald showed Meg’s journey was one of self acceptance, and Annes Elwy embodied Beth’s social anxiety in a real and moving depiction.

Now, rumours of a modern interpretation of Little Women are spreading, and the word is that it will begin filming next month, according to Variety.

Allegedly, Emma Watson has been approached by Sony for a role, and although it is unknown which March sister she will play, her shorter hair and fiery Hermione attitude suggest she would be the perfect Jo. However, her poised and determined role of Belle as a romantic could suggest she would make an excellent Meg.

The Harry Potter star is said to be replacing Emma Stone, who was originally asked to be part of the film but had to turn the offer down due to filming clashes with Fox Searchlight film The Favourite.

The upcoming drama will be directed by Lady Bird’s Greta Gerwig. It will also star Meryl Streep, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, and Florence Pugh.

As of now, the film’s release date is sometime next year, and we cannot wait to see it!

Stay tuned for an upcoming trailer as more of the classic movie’s details are confirmed.

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Disney fans, prepare to get excited. 

Dumbo is the latest Disney classic to get a live-action re-boot, and the trailer is officially here. 

Beautifully created by Tim Burton, the trailer gives us a sneak preview of what to expect. 

Dumbo will be coming to theatres March 2019: 

 

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When we first found out that Disney-Pixar had finally announced a date for the new Toy Story movie, we probably got a little over excited (it is the best kids film, after all).

But don't get too carried away if you're looking forward to it because the highly anticipated movie will be delayed until June 2019.

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Hasn't your excitement just turned into mush?!

However, the film franchise also announced that The Incredibles 2 is going to be hitting our screens and will be swapping release dates with Toy Story 4.

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SO, 2018 will see The Incredibles 2 and 2019 will see Toy Story (finally) hit our screens.

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