A Lake District drinks company has won three awards at the Great Taste Awards 2023. 

SippingFox in Greenodd submitted four products in total and won awards for three.

Its Rhubarb and Chilli Gin and Elderflower and Lemon Gin got a two-star rating each which is 'above and beyond delicious'. Less than 10 per cent of entries achieve this rating.

Its Chocolate Rum, described as simply delicious', received one star.

The prestigious Great Taste Awards were created in 1994 and is now the world's largest food and drink accreditation scheme. 

A panel of over 500 experts sampled more than 14,000 food and drink products from across the UK to pick out the very best.

Judy Cropley, managing director of SippingFox The Lake District Drinks Company, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded stars for three of our hand-bottled spirits in the Great Taste Awards 2023. It is the first time we have entered national awards and we were thrilled to win for three out of the four products that we entered.

"All of our spirits are bottled near Ulverston in our specialist off-licence and production facility at Greenodd. As well as being known for being a wine wholesaler and specialist off-licence, we hand make our own product range of gins, vodkas and moonshines."

The products that won for 2023 were:

Elderflower and Lemon Gin (2 stars - outstanding)

Rhubarb & Chilli Gin (2 stars - outstanding)

Chocolate Rum Liqueur (1 star - simply delicious)

The Mail: SippingFox's unique rhubarb and chill gin

One of the reports from the awards spoke of the Elderflower and Lemon Gin and said: 'The judges loved how the liqueur retained its freshness. Excellent acidity, this has no cloying sweetness. It is light and refined; and absolute joy’.

For the Rhubarb and Chilli Gin, the judges said: ‘This is sensational. Gorgeous viscosity, with an inspired balance of rhubarb and chilli. A real depth of flavour from an artisan product full of poise and nuance. We could not get enough of this product’.

Judy added: "We literally pick all the elderflower ourselves in the Lake District and chop all the rhubarb and fresh fruit here at Greenodd. We forage local ingredients where possible and it has made all our efforts worthwhile. The Chocolate Rum was only launched last year and is extremely popular with locals and tourists alike."

SippingFox The Lake District Drinks Company started out selling spirits through its two retail shops. Due to demand in 2022 however, it started wholesaling to retailers, gift shops and the hospitality industry.