IT’S cheers all round after a Lakeland tipple was toasted by Gin Masters in the capital.

Cumbria's Bedrock Gin was named the best in Britain after undergoing blind taste testing by experts in a national competition.

Produced by the Spirit of the Lakes, the award-winning drink was the only gin to receive the highest accolade in the Premium category at the annual Gin Masters in London.

"We have won a number of national awards previously with Bedrock since we launched it in 2009 but it really is something else to produce what we can now claim to be Britain's best gin, certainly in the Premium category,” said managing director Vince Wilkins, who set the business up in 2008.

Produced at the distillery at Thornthwaite, Bedrock beat more than 40 rival gins, including several by global drinks giants, to receive the unique Masters award in the 2014 competition run by The Spirits Business trade magazine.

"To beat such an impressive array of drinks producers is a real feather in our cap.

“The Gin Masters formula of blind taste-tasting by judges who are not influenced by anything else suits us fine because Bedrock is all about its taste.

“Our standard gin is very fresh and citrusy and it is quite subtle - not a big, harsh, raspy gin.

“It is exceedingly smooth - an easy-drinking gin, is what everyone says,” added Mr Wilkins.

Bedrock is the first gin to have been made with spring water from the Lake District.

Each drink was judged on appearance, nose, pallet and overall balance, and had to receive at least 90 out of 100 marks from each judge at the blind-tasting to gain the prestigious accolade.

Mr Wilkins continued: “It also contains an exotic mix of botanicals, including liquorice root powder from Sri Lanka, cassia bark from China and coriander seeds from Bulgaria as well as Cumbrian oak bark.”

For more information or to order Bedrock Gin call 07983 983920 or go to www.bedrockgin.co.uk