'Seeing someone smile with recognition at the taste of a familiar flavour – that’s the heart of Papas Mineral Company'

I’ve been making ginger wine since I was around 10 years old. It all started with a recipe passed down from my grandmother.

I’d gather any old lemonade or juice bottles I could find, fill them with my homemade brew, and hand them out to family and friends at Christmas. The response was incredible — everyone loved it, not just for the taste, but for the memories it evoked. Those early experiences sparked a love for crafting drinks that stayed with me through the years.

By my early twenties, I owned a small ice cream parlour and coffee shop in Bangor, County Down. It was a highly seasonal business, and as winter approached, sales naturally dropped. In 1999, looking for a way to boost revenue during the quieter months, I started bottling my ginger wine in the shop and selling it at events across Northern Ireland. That decision marked the birth of Papas Mineral Company.

Today, Papas Mineral Company in Belfast has grown far beyond those humble beginnings. We manufacture a range of nine cordials in our SALSA-accredited factory in Belfast under the original Papas Mineral Company brand. We also produce five carbonated ready-to-drink sodas under Longbridge Drinks Co and three premium varieties in our Irish Sisters range — a nod to the strong female heritage in my family.

What sets us apart is our focus on traditional and often forgotten flavours that hold a special place in Northern Ireland’s culinary memory. From Original Ginger Wine to Dark Clove, Spiced Winterberry, and Cloudy Lemonade, each drink is made by hand, just as it was in my first kitchen.

A “typical” day as a founder is hard to define. Some days, I’m on the production floor, hands-on with filling and capping bottles. Other days, I’m buried in administrative tasks or meeting with suppliers. You have to wear many hats in this business — engineer, chemist, accountant, salesperson. There are also days spent out and about at events, introducing our products to new customers and seeing the joy on their faces as they taste something familiar from their past.

The highs in this business are deeply personal. Awards like the Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards and the IQFDA Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are gratifying, but the real reward comes from interacting with customers and hearing how our drinks have been a part of their lives. Frustrations exist, of course — paperwork for imported glass, supply chain hiccups — but these are challenges to navigate rather than lows.

I’m especially proud that, in 2025, after 26 years, we’ve successfully launched three products into Dunnes Stores in Ireland under their Simply Better brand and five products into Tesco Northern Ireland, with more launches on the horizon.

If I could do one thing differently, it would be to trust my instincts more, experience has taught me to be more sceptical of people and their intentions.

Our recent news includes the launch of a 500ml cordial range in various Tesco stores across Northern Ireland under Longbridge Drinks Co...and I hope this is just the start.

Looking ahead, we continue to research and develop new products, staying innovative and keeping an eye on trends, so there’s plenty to watch for.

Being part of the Belfast Christmas Twilight Market is a highlight of our trading year and it’s taking place this Tuesday and Wednesday (November 25 and 26). I’ve been a permanent trader at St George’s Market for over 20 years and part of the Twilight Market since its inception. It’s not just a chance to sell our drinks — it’s an opportunity to meet our loyal customers and introduce our brands to new audiences. Whether it’s served hot in a Christmas punch or ice-cold in lemonade, our drinks shine when experienced firsthand.

From those first bottles of ginger wine I handed out as a child to our award-winning range today, the journey has been about nostalgia, tradition, and community.

Our drinks evoke memories and bring joy, whether poured over ice, mixed with spirits, or added to mulled wine. Seeing someone smile with recognition at the taste of a familiar flavour – that’s the heart of Papas Mineral Company.

Here’s to 26 years of warming bellies, lifting spirits, and keeping Granny proud!