We’re often asked by readers, “How do you find people to write about each week? Is it difficult?” The answer is always an emphatic “No.” Especially when it comes to food.
In Ireland, we are blessed with a plethora of innovative entrepreneurs, farmers and producers doing note-worthy things. In fact, we often bemoan the fact that there are only 52 weeks in a year (and 52 editions of Irish Country Living) in which to feature the many businesses we want to shout about. Let’s be real: when it comes to food innovation, Irish producers are at the pinnacle. Whether it’s launching new, trendy flavours of existing, beloved products or making the most of our native ingredients, our food producers know what’s up, and their products speak for themselves.
A year rooted in collaboration within the Irish food community – many of the new products listed below are a result of our producers working together throughout 2025 to create something beautiful. Hopefully, we’ll get a second helping of that in 2026.
1. Paula McIntyre Rum
If you follow chef, food writer and television personality Paula McIntyre, you’ll know that her recipes always brim with delicious ingredients found around her Northern Ireland locality. Her new amber rum, created in collaboration with Co Antrim’s Basalt Distillery, is no different. Infused with foraged gorse flower, blackberries and lightly sweetened with raw Ballybannan honey, this rum is a dynamic mix of a traditional Caribbean-style spirit with decidedly Irish flair. This rum won Gold at the 2025 Blas na h’Eireann awards.
Serving suggestions: we love it shaken over plenty of ice and served with a twist of lemon, but if you prefer a mixed cocktail, try it with a splash of club soda.
Where to buy: Paula McIntyre Rum,€46.95.
See paulamcintyre.com and basaltdistillery.com.
2. Dolce Amaro Cashel Reserve Cheddar Shortbread Sticks
When Italian pastry chef Greta Gastaldi moved to Ireland and found work in Antonietta Cinella’s Dublin-based café, no one could have guessed what a dynamic duo these two would become.
Their combined talents have led to a line of artisanal, Italian-inspired treats including these delectably cheesy shortbread sticks made with Co Tipperary Cashel Reserve Cheddar. Deeply cheesy and buttery in equal measure, these shortbread sticks taste homemade and retain the perfect shortbread texture – crunchy, but also meltingly tender.
Serving suggestions: for the guiltiest, most indulgent pleasure, we highly recommend serving these with a warm crab or spinach dip – mix sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon and cream cheese together, fold in either crab meat or lots of wilted spinach and bake in a hot oven till bubbly.
Where to buy: Dolce Amaro Cashel Reserve Cheddar Shortbread Sticks €7.50. Products can be found in over 60 fine food shops around Ireland including Fallon & Byrne, Thomas of Foxrock and McNally Farm Shop. You can also order their products online for pickup at their location in College Green, Dublin.
See dolceamaro.ie.
3. O’Donnell’s Tipperary Crisps Hot Honey Fusion
We absolutely love this new flavour from O’Donnell’s. Hot Honey Fusion is equal parts sweet, smoky and just a little bit spicy. This flavour was the result of a great collaboration with the award-winning food business, Rívesci; with O’Donnell’s taking inspiration from the rich, spicy-sweet profile of Dec’s Hot Honey (also launched this past year by Rívesci and well worth a try).
Both businesses are members of the Tipperary Food Producers Network, and we just love to see neighbours supporting each other in this way.
Serving suggestions: if you don’t mind us making an absolutely wild suggestion – we think these are ideal for one of the most viral online recipes of 2025: loaded charcuterie crisps. Spread the crisps out on a platter, then top them with jarred antipasto (pickled chilies, artichokes, olives or roasted peppers), dollops of ranch dressing, shaved parmesan and charcuterie cuts like prosciutto or chorizo.
Where to buy: you’ll find O’Donnell’s Tipperary Crisps Hot Honey Fusion €3.19, in shops and supermarkets all over the country available in 44g or 125g servings.
See odonnellscrisps.com.
4. Fat Tomato Blackcurrant Butter
Fat Tomato is an Irish food project specialising in luxury, seasonal home-grown products and is the brainchild of chef, grower and consultant, Anthony O’Toole. His blackcurrant butter is a lush example of what Fat Tomato does best. It offers a velvety texture which tantalisingly hangs somewhere between a jam and a butter – and it’s served in fancy glass jar.
The blackcurrants are slow-cooked in Anthony’s own wine and infused with heirloom rosemary and alexander seeds. This isn’t just a product; it’s an experience.
Serving suggestions: this blackcurrant butter is as at home beside a cheese or charcuterie board as it is dolloped on freshly baked scones, but our favourite way to indulge is perhaps its most simple: on thickly sliced sourdough toast dripping with melted butter.
Where to buy: Fat Tomato Blackcurrant Butter, €19.50
See fattomato.ie.
5. Leitrim Hill Creamery Cnoc Liatroma Goat’s Cheese
Made by mother and daughter Lisa and Gypsy Gifford, and Gypsy’s wife, Richelle South, this soft and uber-creamy goat’s cheese is unique in its methodology, which greatly impacts its end flavour.
Made with raw milk, they use a homemade starter culture and a unique continuous-whey technique which creates a cheese that is tangy and fresh-tasting. All of the cheese curds are hand-ladled, which adds to its creamy texture.
Serving suggestions: interestingly, this cheese is known to pair perfectly with Fat Tomato Blackcurrant Butter. It is equally delightful all on its own, with some homemade crackers.
Naturally tangy and freshly flavoured, you doesn’t need much in the way of pairing, but if you’re so inclined, a fruit-forward chutney is a nice addition.
Where to buy: you will find Cnoc Liatroma (€8) on the Leitrim Hill Creamery website or in the family’s cheese shop (The Hidden Corner Cheese Shop) in Carrick-on-Shannon. You will also find their cheeses in Sheridan’s Cheesemongers and in Mike’s Fancy Cheese in Northern Ireland.
See leitrimhillcreamery.com.
6. Noble Ice Cream Mango Sorbet
Made in small batches in Castlerea, Co Roscommon by Juliya and Alex Kuzminova, this mango sorbet is creamy, smooth, satisfying and absolutely bursting with fruity flavour. Sourcing ethical, premium ingredients is paramount to this enterprising couple.
The sorbet features organic Alphonso mangoes, a variety well-known for its bright and intensely aromatic flavour. Juliya and Alex are experts in the art of ice cream, and their technique ensures minimal air gets into their products resulting in a thick and creamy texture.
Serving suggestions: this sorbet is perfect on its own, but could also be used for smoothie bowls, frozen cocktails, dairy-free ice cream cakes or – the ultimate – dolloped on top of a warm baked lemon pudding.
Where to buy: Noble Mango Sorbet (€7.90) is available alongside the other Noble Ice Cream flavours (including raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream and chocolate ice cream) in select SuperValus and fine food shops.
See Instagram @nice.icecream_.
7. Richmount Elderflower Liqueur
We have known and loved Richmount Elderflower Cordial for years, but this past year Martina and David Burns have introduced their latest homegrown offering: Richmount Elderflower Liqueur. It is a beautifully smooth, sweet and fun drink.
Made with freshly-picked elderflowers from the couple’s Co Longford farm, the petals are blended with an Irish neutral spirit which maintains the essence of the floral aroma and sweet flavour their cordials are already known for.
Serving suggestions: this liqueur is ideal served in cocktails or over ice on its own, but can we throw something a bit wild into the mix? Pour a shot into a few scoops of Murphy’s Dingle Gin ice cream and blend to make a fun, boozy milkshake for your next dinner party. Delicious!
Where to buy: you can purchase Richmount Elderflower Liqueur (€7) at the Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin or Bradley’s Off-License in Cork.
See richmountcordials.ie.
