Clodagh Davis makes great cordials. Not only do they taste great, they look great: high, handsome bottles that scream “Drink Me!”.
Ms Davis has been doing her cordial thing for a couple of years now, ever since she was made redundant in 2013 and reckoned that a previous stint at a country market selling her drinks might be a good way to go. She uses Wexford blackcurrants, and Wexford and Meath raspberries, whilst the cranberries hail from County Offaly. The cranberries are mixed with orange, the raspberries with lemon, there is a citrus belt from the orange and lemon cordial, and two lovely stand alone drinks made with those Wexford blackcurrants, and one made with pink grapefruit. And there are seasonal surprises, like strawberry with cucumber and lime.
The importance of Naturally Cordial is not just the fact that they are great drinks. Ms Davis is also part of a growing movement of artisans who are bringing our drinking culture – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – back home. You can now order an Irish gin with an Irish tonic. You can order an Irish vodka and mix it with a Wexford cordial. You can drink Irish craft beers ’til the cows come home, and a new wave of whiskeys from Irish artisans are about to arrive in our shops.
Where there used to be little or no choice in the drinks business as more and more companies consolidated and became international behemoths, there is now proper choice, a proper choice of drinks made with skill and personality, by skillful and – yes – cordial crafts people. You need Naturally Cordial in your life.
Clodagh's Cordial
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