5 days ago
Cork honey producer in running for prestigious Great Taste's Golden Fork
An army officer and dairy farmer are thrilled after their honey from the banks of the Blackwater River in Fermoy has been named as one of three finalists in the prestigious Great Taste awards of 2025.
Andrew and John Shinnick of Blackwater Honey will attend the Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony in London on September 9, where their Blossom Honey is one of three contenders for the Golden Fork from Ireland award, and is one of 33 products contending for the overall Great Taste 2025 championship.
It's a huge achievement to be shortlisted from 14,340 Great Taste entries, from more than 3,611 companies across 110 countries.
Also contending from Ireland are Goatsbridge Fresh Water Trout Farm, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, with its Hot Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillets; and Green Pastures, Donegal, with its 25% Sour Cream.
After four months of meticulous Great Taste judging, they are through to the 'Oscars of the food world' at London's Battersea Arts Centre on September 9.
Alongside them will be Northern Ireland's Basalt Distillery, Giant's Causeway, with its Basalt Volcanic Rock Gin; and Get 'Er Brewed, Randalstown, arguably the most successful of all because two of its products are shortlisted, the Razma Barrel Aged Keptinis Beer, and the Untamed Barrel Aged Wild Ale.
All three are vying for the Golden Fork from Northern Ireland, and the overall championship.
In the midst of this celebration of the very best in food and drink from around the world will be the Shinnick brothers, who describe themselves as a mainly hobbyist, bee farming business.
Andrew and John are from a third-generation beekeeping family producing 100% natural Irish honey made by their native Irish honeybees.
They have several apiaries, and each one produces its own distinctive honey flavour, taste, colour, and aroma.
Their honey has won several awards nationally and internationally. Blossom Honey already has one-star Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards, but has now made it to the coveted three-star status. Also, this year, their Heather Honey is a two-star Great Taste winner. Their Section Honeycomb has also been a one-star winner.
The Shinnicks are huge supporters of biodiversity, for example, supporting and endorsing the All-Ireland Pollination Plan, by routinely giving away wildflower seeds with honey gift packages.
Blackwater Honey is keen to raise awareness that Ireland has been identified as one of the largest gene pools of the European dark honeybee, the family to which the native Irish black honeybee belongs. Once found all over the continent, it is now found in only a very small number of isolated areas.
Andrew is an army officer with the Irish Defence Forces. In 2020, he set up Blackwater Honey with John, his younger brother, who is a dairy farmer.
One of the places you can get their honey is Hanna's Market & Café, Fermoy.
