IN THE MEDIA
Laura McCarthy, owner of Drink Botanicals Ireland talks to Conall O Morain on That Great Business Show
“Laura McCarthy, founder, Drink Botanicals Ireland. Laura was selling since the age of 12. She founded her business, Drinks Botanicals Ireland, whilst still in college in 2017. Whilst her pals were heading overseas on holidays, Laura stayed at home as she wanted to bring a business idea to market. Literally.
Her first product launch was the ‘Gin Fusion Kit’, a kit containing botanicals to make an up-styled gin and tonic at home. Since getting listed in Redmonds off license in Ranelagh Dublin, she went on to get a listing in 200+ shops. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the business launched a range of premium, natural based syrups and dried fruits, used for mocktails, cocktails and baking. Drink Botanicals Ireland now focuses heavily on the ‘on trade’ – bars, hotel bars, and cocktail bars. Laura is now heading overseas and is looking for the right partners and distributors. She explains how her business has successfully launched on Amazon UK. She gives some very useful insights into Amazon as well as the US website Faire. Her ‘hire in a heartbeat’ PJ Rigney of Drumshanbo Distillery – obviously!”
Conquering The Cocktail Market with Drink Botanicals Ireland
Laura McCarthy, Owner of DBI, nominated for Compass WMB Female Entrepreneur Award 2023
Laura McCarthy shortlisted as Compass WMB Female Entrepreneur Award 2023.
“We are delighted to announce the finalists for the WMB Awards 2023. It’s an incredible list of talented women and although there will be one award winner from each of our five Award categories announced on October 9th, 2023, they are all winners, they are all role models, and they all deserve the recognition. So go on, congratulate them!”
Laura McCarthy represents Local Enterpise Office at National Women’s Enterprise Day 2023
Laura McCarthy, owner of DBI represents Dublin City Local Enterprise Office as their ‘Leading Light’ Ambassador for National Womens Enterprise Day 2023.
National Women’s Enterprise Day, Ireland’s largest female enterprise event promotes, encourages and stimulates female entrepreneurship across Ireland. It is designed and led by women and is an annual high point in promoting entrepreneurship to women in Ireland. The Local Enterprise Office along with Enterprise Ireland provide a wide range of help, incentives, training, and development programmes to female entrepreneurs.
Laura McCarthy, owner of Drink Botanicals Ireland, is shortlisted for IMAGE PwC Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022
Drink Botanicals founder Laura McCarthy is shortlisted for Youn
Top 100 Most Ambitious Companies in Ireland for 2022
Drink Botanicals Ireland is named in Spark Crowdfunding ‘Top 100 Most Ambitious Companies In Ireland for 2022’. “This year’s programme attracted almost 200 nominations from throughout every county in Ireland. The winners highlight the thriving entrepreneurial environment across the island of Ireland, with sectors including finance, education, technology, consumer, leisure and healthcare all represented. We are especially pleased to see such a large proportion of female founders in this year’s cohort, as well as a disproportionately high number of founders under the age of 30. The future is indeed very bright in their hands. In what has been a really tough period of trading for many entrepreneurs, it has been equally uplifting to see so many companies scale their businesses and increase employment in the current environment. The 100 companies that we recognise here have demonstrated ambitious growth potential and we wish them well for 2022 and beyond”.
30 under 30: Young guns who are shooting for the stars
“Some of our brightest (and youngest) business brains are putting their dreams to work”. Laura McCarthy, founder and CEO of Drink Botanicals Ireland, is named in Irelands 30 under 30 list.
Making It Work: DIY gin fusion kits business adds natural syrups to the mix
Drink Botanicals founder Laura McCarthy expanded her company during the lockdown, launching a range of naturally flavoured syrups for high-end cocktails.
Natural syrups add fruity zest to summer cocktails
“When the shift to home drinking accelerated during the pandemic, and consumers started drinking more sophisticated cocktails, I noticed there were no natural, reasonably priced syrups on the market to put into them. Also, the majority of the syrups that were available contained tons of artificial colourings and flavourings,” says McCarthy. “That set me thinking, and I can honestly say that Covid-19 presented me with an opportunity and a gap in the market that I decided to fill
Food entrepreneurs push out boundaries of innovation
“Laura McCarthy developed a taste for commerce at the tender age of eight when she ran yard sales outside her parents’ home. By 12, she was selling on Ebay and eight years later she founded Drink Botanicals, which produces infusion kits for budding mixologists.
McCarthy got the idea for her business when she found herself paying a premium for fancy gin and tonics with “garnishes” such as rose petals and juniper berries. She started researching how to make them at home and towards the end of 2017 approached the owner of her local off-licence with her kit idea.”
International Women’s Day – Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2019
A short cut to the perfect gin raises spirits across Ireland
Drink Botanicals Ireland is shortlisted as a finalist in the Lions Den pitch competition 2018
