Cork Dry Gin was first distilled at the Watercourse Distillery in Cork City in 1793 and the closely guarded recipe notes were transcribed in 1798, by apprentice distiller, William Coldwell. Cork was uniquely located for the distilling of gin with plump grains from the fields of East Cork and exotic botanicals arriving to Cork's bustling international port. The watercourse Distillery was located on the River Kiln which possessed minerals suited to the production of a gin. Cork Dry Gin is now manufactured by the Cork Distilliries Company (CDC) in Midleton.