A gin made by a company based in the Lake District has been announced as one of the best in the world in a prestigious competition.

Bedrock Gooseberry & Elderflower Gin, made by Spirit of the Lakes, was the only premium-strength spirit to win the top prize in the Flavoured Gin category of the global Gin Masters contest.

It took the Master title alongside two standard-strength spirits, an orange and lime gin from Aldi and a rose gin from Glendalough Distillery in Ireland.

The new Bedrock Rhubarb Gin scooped a silver award in the same category.

Both these flavoured gins have only been on the market since the spring.

Vince Wilkins, creator of the gin and managing director of Spirit of the Lakes, said: “To be the only premium-strength flavoured gin to win a Masters’ title is a huge achievement.

“We were up against some of the biggest names in the business, who make thousands of bottles a day, and who are on every supermarket’s shelves.

"We may be small in comparison but we’ve shown we can hold our own. The judges made their decision based on blind tastings so it proves they have a real confidence in what we are producing.”

The judges said the Bedrock Gooseberry and Elderflower Gin should be celebrated for being not too sweet and having a lot of juniper.

He added: “What makes me really proud is that they have recognised it as a true premium-strength gin, not as a liqueur. That’s what I always wanted to achieve."

Vince, of Thornthwaite near Keswick, said he never intended to make a flavoured gin.

Since Spirit of the Lakes was launched 11 years ago, he has been determined to stick with the classics, like the Bedrock Gin and the Standing Stones Vodka the company also produces.

He said: “I was determined to only produce classic gins, but the drinks market has moved so much in the last few years it was impossible not to expand the range.

“Industry figures say 83 per cent of the growth is in flavoured gins. That’s when I decided that if Spirit of the Lakes was going to make a flavoured product then it had to be full strength. That’s our signature drink.”