Justin grew up at Ballyvolane House when it was an active dairy farm and spent many a school holiday milking cows, driving tractors, feeding animals and digging holes. In the mid-1980’s, Justin’s parents, Jeremy and Merrie, transitioned from farming to hospitality. This, along with a fondness for Fawlty Towers, Justin’s career path was decided and he graduated from Shannon College of Hotel Management in 1991. After graduation, Justin spent many years working in luxury hotels in Asia such as the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, The Legian in Bali and The Jumeirah Beach in Dubai. In 2000, Justin moved back to Ireland with his wife Jenny, where he managed Browne’s Brasserie & Townhouse in Dublin. In 2002, he moved across the pond to work for Soho House as General Manager of Babington House in Somerset. Justin & Jenny took over the reins of Ballyvolane House from Justin’s parents in 2004.

Having watched the ‘gin space’ for a number of years, Justin realised gin was having a bit of moment. He rang Antony to see if he wanted to have a crack at making gin. Bertha was born!

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