THE inaugural Cotswold Artisan Drinks Awards got off to a spectacular start with 43 entries in a showcase of what the district has to offer.

Entries ranging from beer, to spirits and vinegars were awarded gold, silver and bronze at the event hosted by The Kingham Plough on Tuesday February 9.

It had been sponsored by The Craft Drink Co, of Blockley, near Moreton, a speciality craft drinks distributor across the Cotswolds and the central England region.

Judges included Beefeater distiller Desmond Payne; Sipsmith Master Distiller Jared Brown and his wife, drinks historian and publisher Anistatia Miller; and Louis Xavier Lewis-Smith, owner of The Dark Horse cocktail bar in Bath.

In addition, all entries automatically qualified for a ‘People’s Choice Award’ voted for by a panel of 50 industry experts, chefs, journalists and VIPs, with the winner announced last nigh: Sibling Gin, of Cheltenham.

Emily Watkins, owner and chef-proprietor at The Kingham Plough, said she was thrilled at the success of the event: "The Cotswold Artisan Awards were better than we had ever imagined and it was so great to meet so many wonderful producers and taste their delicious drinks. We can’t wait to fill our bar with all of their products. Congratulations to all the very well-deserved winners and we really look forward to doing it again next year.”

On May 9, the top three award winners will showcase their produce at the first annual Cotswold Artisan Drinks Fair, where the overall ‘Best of Show Award’ will be presented in front of the public.

Among the local winners were Cotswold Brewery, of Bourton-on-the-Water, which took gold in two lager entries; Cotswold Distillery, near Shipston, which won gold for a spirited sherry in the fortified wine category and silver for a cream liqueur; Pearson's Drinks Company, of Draycott, which won two silvers for cider entries, Wormersley Fruit and Herb Vinegars, of Chipping Norton, which won two gold awards in the vinegar entries and Hook Norton Brewery, which earned a bronze award for its Red Rye Ale.

The full list of winners were:

LAGER:

Cotswold IPA (GOLD)

Cotswold 3.8 Lager (GOLD)

Stroud Brewery Ltd. Premium Organic Lager (SILVER)

Cotswold Premium Lager (BRONZE)

ALE:

Box Steam Brewery Funnel Blower Ale (GOLD)

Stroud Brewery Teasel Ale (GOLD)

Wicker Essex Brewery Cotswolds Way (GOLD)

Stroud Brewery Gloucester Services Stout (GOLD)

Stroud Brewery OPA (SILVER)

Stroud Brewery Five Valleys Ale (SILVER)

Stroud Brewery Gloucester Services Amber Ale (SILVER)

Battledown Brewery Premium Ale (SILVER)

Hook Norton Red Rye Ale (BRONZE)

Stroud Brewery Big Cat Ale (BRONZE)

Stroud Brewery Tom Long Ale (BRONZE)

Stroud Brewery Ding Dong Ale (BRONZE)

CIDER:

Harry’s Dabinett Medium Sparkling Cider (GOLD)

Pearson’s Medium Dry Cider (ABV 6.1%) (SILVER)

Pearson’s “Petros” Medium Sweet Cider (ABV 3.9%) (SILVER)

Severn Cider Medium Sparkling Cider (BRONZE)

Severn Cider Medium Sweet Sparkling Cider (BRONZE)

PERRY:

Severn Cider’s Sparkling Perry (GOLD)

Haygrove Evolution Ltd. Chapel Pleck Traditional-Method Sparkling Perry (SILVER)

The Lenches Cider Co. Cowsden Bank Perry (BRONZE)

WINE:

Haygrove Evolution Ltd. Sixteen Ridges Pinot Noir Sparkling Rosé (GOLD)

Brightwell Vineyard Pinot Noir (SILVER)

Brightwell Vineyard Chardonnay (SILVER)

Brightwell Vineyard Crispin (SILVER)

Brightwell Vineyard Sparkling Chardonnay (SILVER)

FORTIFIED WINE:

Cotswold Spirited Sherry (GOLD)

Bramley & Gage Sweet Vermouth (SILVER)

Bramley & Gage Dry Vermouth (BRONZE)

GIN:

Bramley & Gage Ltd. 6 O’clock Gin (BRONZE)

WHISKY / BRANDY:

Ludlow Whisky Co. Stolen Youth (GOLD)

Brightwell Vineyard RUDH English Brandy (SILVER)

FRUIT / FLAVOURED GIN:

Bramley & Gage 6 O’clock Damson Gin (GOLD)

SPECIALITY SPIRIT:

Stroud Brewery Whisky Aged Gegarang Village (BRONZE)

LIQUEUR:

Bramley & Gage Raspberry Liqueur (GOLD)

Cotswolds Cream Liqueur (SILVER)

Bramley & Gage Greengage Liqueur (SILVER)

NON-ALCOHOLIC:

Bensons Fruit Juice TATE Gooseberry and Elderflower Juice (SILVER)

Hargrove Evolution Ltd. Discovery Apple Juice (BRONZE)

Lovely Drinks Apple & Raspberry (BRONZE)

FLAVOURED VINEGAR:

Womersley Fruit & Herb Vinegars Golden Raspberry & Apache Chilli Vinegar (GOLD)

Womersley Fruit & Herb Vinegars Strawberry & Mint Vinegar (GOLD)