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During the 2016 successful Year Of Food and Drink in Northern Ireland Alistair was inspired by the enthusiasm and drive of local producers taking great local produce to home and overseas markets. That inspiration motivated him to create a black butter preserve and launch ‘a new taste of Ireland’ which is Irish Black Butter. Over some years Alistair had been aware of black butter conserve and how it was said to date from medieval times. It is an old traditional recipe which has been in use here on the island of Ireland. A combination of bygone days spent in the serenity of the Garry Bog near Ballymoney cutting turf, enjoying homemade scones and pancakes with apple jelly were some of the seeds of inspiration for Alastair’s new venture – Irish Black Butter.

Based at Portrush in County Antrim, Alastair teamed up with multi award winning chef Paul Clarke, the managing director of the En Place Foods at Cookstown in County Tyrone to create the perfect recipe for the very first Irish Black Butter product.

The ensuing Irish Black Butter has a delicious flavour, a rich warm aroma with a firm texture. The Butter which is dark and rich can be used in a variety of ways. It makes an ideal accompaniment for cheese and cold meats, for use as a glaze on ham, a spread on toast, soda farls or with scones and cream. Drawing together sweet and savoury this is truly a versatile product and ‘a new taste of Ireland'.

Since launch in late 2017 Irish Black Butter has won the Business Eye / First Trust Bank ‘Start-Up Business of the Year 2018 and Chef’s Choice Award in The Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards 2018.