Hot on the heels of the Great Taste Awards, a host of Cumbrian producers are in the running to be named the best of British in prestigious national awards.
The shortlist for the Great British Food Awards have been revealed, following months of rigorous testing by experts.
Now the shortlisted products are on their way to be judged by a panel of celebrity chefs, writers, influencers, and buyers, who will pick their regional winners as well as their national gold, silver, and bronze winners.
The judges will choose up to three golds, and the other finalists will be awarded either a silver or bronze accolade.
The winning products in each category will then be sent to a final expert judge, who will pick their overall winner – the Grand Champion.
Shed One, in Ulverston, was the only distillery in the North West to have two spirits shortlisted in the gin category, both of which will now go forward to be tasted by the esteemed judging panel of celebrity chefs, writers, influencers, and buyers.
Shed One Distillery owner and co-founder, Zoe Arnold-Bennett, said: “It’s a real honour to get not just one but two of our spirits in front of some of the most respected names in the food and drink industry.
“We’re thrilled that, after some rigorous testing in the application process, we’ve been shortlisted for two very different gins, but ones that wholly reflect our business and stand out from other mass market gins currently available.
“Yiayia was a special female-led project with Irini Tzortzoglou, which involved taking the culinary flavours of her homeland, then mixing and blending to create Crete in a glass.
“Andy and I used to distil the odd bottle of Martini Gin for personal use as it’s my favourite cocktail. Finally, we were persuaded by tasters to make it an official Shed One Gin, and both gins have become very popular and gained loyal customers.”
Winners and runners-up from each category will be announced on October 28.
Shortlist
- Cheese: Appleby Creamery – Premium Grilling Cheese
- Savoury Biscuits: Lovingly Artisan – Northern Bliss-cuits
- Savoury Bakes: Lovingly Artisan – Rye Berry Sourdough; Wagtail Kitchen – Steak & Mushroom Pie
- Vodka: Grasmere Distillery – Sugar Beet Vodka
- Gin: Grasmere Distillery – Dry Gin; Shed One Distillery – Martini Gin; Shed One Distillery – Yiayia Gin
- Other spirits: Kin Vodka – Kin Toffee Apple Vodka
- Coffee: John Farrer & Co – Panama Boquete La Gloria Coffee; Rinaldo’s Speciality Coffee – Rinaldo’s Chameleon Blend; Rinaldo’s Speciality Coffee – Rinaldo’s El Salvador; Rinaldo’s Speciality Coffee – Rinaldo’s Colombia Coffee
- Tea: John Farrer & Co – English Breakfast Tea Bags
- Condiments: Hawkshead Relish Company – Sticky Toffee Waffle Sauce
- Honey: Nook Farm Honey – Balsam Flower Honey; Nook Farm Honey – Yorkshire Wildflower Honey
- Jam: Home By Simon Rogan – Preserved Cucumber Jam
- Seasonings: Home By Simon Rogan – Fennel Salt
- Vinegar, Dressings & Oils: Home By Simon Rogan – Cabbage Dressing; Home By Simon Rogan – Coal Oil; Eden Yard -Eden Yard Rapeseed Oil
- Lamb: Heritage Meats – Half Leg of Herdwick Hogget; Heritage Meats – Pair of Herdwick Hogget Chump Steaks
- Bacon: Roast Mutton – Dry-cured Unsmoked Bacon
- Sausage: Roast Mutton – Marmalade Sausage
