Yorkshire distillery wins two star great taste award for Damson Gin

Yorkshire drinks producer Raisthorpe Distillery is celebrating after winning two coveted Gold Stars for its Damson Gin at this year’s hotly-contested Great Taste Awards 2020, the largest and most trusted independent accreditation scheme for fine food and drink.

Receiving a 2-star Great Taste Award means judges considered a product to be above and beyond delicious.

The judges said of Raisthorpe’s Damson Gin: “Beautiful colour and a really lovely fruity aroma of cherries, almonds and the ripe damsons. Well-balanced, smooth and very drinkable. This can be enjoyed on its own over ice or as a mixer to a cocktail or to flavour a fabulous glass of Champagne.

Raisthorpe was also awarded 1-star for its Damson and Sloe Ports, as well as for its Apple and Elderflower flavour Yorkshire Tonic. A 1-star Great Taste Award means judges dubbed it a food that delivers fantastic flavour.

More than 12,700 products from 106 countries were submitted for the awards. Over 144 experts, comprising chefs, buyers, food writers and retailers, judged the awards through a combination of remote and socially distanced judging sessions to ensure robust and impartial judging standards.

Julia Medforth, founder of Raisthorpe Manor, said: “We’re delighted that our products have gained these highly respected accolades against some really tough competition. We knew our Damson Gin was good – it is the chosen gin for the bedrooms at luxury hotel Grantley Hall – but it’s great to receive further independent endorsement from experts. The Great Taste Awards provide a benchmark of quality for artisan food producers and mean that consumers can be confident that our products taste as great as they look.

“The pandemic restrictions mean that we have not attended as many events as we would normally but consumers can still enjoy our products – either from our online shop or through the many independent retailers, delis and farm shops we sell through.”

Raisthorpe Manor has been producing award-winning gin, vodka and whisky from its base at Wharram, near Malton in the Yorkshire Wolds since 2008. Raisthorpe products are made using only the finest (locally sourced where possible) ingredients and have previously won 17 Great Taste Awards. Two of its liqueurs are currently stocked in the cocktail bars of Harvey Nichols nationwide.

Raisthorpe Manor’s other products include ports, chocolates, hampers and gifts which are available from independent retailers throughout the country and online