A Cumbrian small batch artisan spirits producer has been awarded a prestigious gold accolade at the Great British Food Awards 2024.
Ulverston-based Shed One Distillery’s Yiayia Gin, created in partnership with Greek chef and 2019 Masterchef winner, Irini Tzortzoglou, came out on top in the gin category of the annual awards, which celebrate the very best artisanal produce in the UK’s food and drink industry.
The category was judged by top industry expert and Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur, Adam Handling, who said Yiayia was “an excellent gin with elegance and complexity, foraged and sourced all in the UK with an innovative concept of Mediterranean flavours. A super artisanal and female-led project”.
Yiayia Gin was judged by Adam to be a prime example of Great British food and drink – demonstrating not only delicious flavour, but also providing an optimum drinking experience and one-of-a-kind enjoyment.
The awards, launched in 2014, give a promotional platform to passionate artisanal brands and makers with a judging panel made up of an array of food industry icons, critics, and Michelin-starred chefs.
Every year the Great British Food Awards champion the standout producers from across the UK with winners confident that their winning items truly are among the very best the country has to offer.
Shed One Distillery owner and co-founder, Zoe Arnold-Bennett, said: “We’re beyond thrilled for Yiayia Gin to be recognised as the best of the best by the Great British Food Awards and by a chef and restaurateur of Adam Handling’s stature.
“We’re blown away by his comments and his appreciation of the concept, genuine love, and enthusiasm that went into creating this special gin, which evokes the flavours and aromas of Irini’s homeland of Crete.
“We drew inspiration from the island’s rich gastronomic culture then set out to find locally grown and locally foraged savoury and citrus flavoured botanicals to perfectly compliment this corner of the Mediterranean. After lots of mixing and blending, and even more testing and tasting, we created Yiayia Gin or as we now like to refer to it, Crete in a glass!”
Yiayia, which translates as grandmother, was inspired, created, distilled, and bottled by women, and features vine, fig, olive, and lemon leaves, mushroom, seaweed, rose pelargonium, and oregano alongside classic juniper.
Irini added: “What started as a chance conversation with Zoe when I was on a gin-making experience at Shed One, ended with me spending months working with the women of the distillery to produce a gin we all loved.
“Named in tribute to my grandmothers, I am thrilled with the thought that the spirits of Yiayia Irini and Yiayia Stavroula are rejoicing in pride and joy, witnessing this wonderful Great British Food Awards accolade from beyond!
“You can’t go wrong if you create with love and pure intentions, and I’m delighted and humbled that Yiayia Gin continues to be proof of that and has come so far.”
Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor, co-owners of Lovingly Artisan, said they were delighted to be awarded Gold for their Northern Bliss-cuits and Silver for their Rye Berry Sourdough Loaf.
They said: ‘’It’s a real achievement for the team. It just goes to show that traditional baking methods, coupled with careful nurturing and lots of knowledge deliver real results that people can genuinely appreciate.’’
Grasmere Distillery was awarded Bronze for its Sugar Beet Vodka. Founder Paul Abbott said: “Collecting this award is fantastic, especially coming off the back of the launch of our Founders Club earlier this year.
“Receiving national recognition like this is the icing on the cake and recognises the hard work and dedication of us all. It also shows that as a distinctively different distillery, we are heading in the right direction, our unique climate-friendly, grain-to-glass ethos is gaining traction as part of Cumbria’s proud and highly successful food and drink offering.’’
Other Cumbrian winners
- Home by Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume Coal Oil – Gold, vinegars, oils and dressings category
- Eden Yard’s Rapeseed Oil – Silver, vinegars, oils and dressings category
- Home By Simon Rogan’s Fennel Sea Salt – Silver, seasonings category
- Lovingly Artisan’s Northern Bliss-cuits – Gold, savoury biscuits category
- Wagtail Kitchen’s Steak & Mushroom Pie – Gold, savoury bakes category
- Lovingly Artisan’s Rye Berry Sourdough Loaf – Silver, savoury bakes category
- Grasmere Distillery’s Sugar Beet Vodka – Bronze, vodka category
- Appleby Creamery’s Premium Grilling Cheese – Gold, cheese category
- Rinaldo’s Speciality Coffee’s Colombia Coffee – Silver, coffee category
- Rinaldo’s Speciality Coffee’s Chameleon Blend – Bronze, coffee category
- Rinaldo’s Speciality Coffee’s El Salvador – Bronze, coffee category
