Cumbria's only distillery is celebrating a prestigious double this week after taking silver in two gin categories at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

The Lakes Distillery, at Setmurthy near Bassenthwaite won medals for The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Gin Explorer Edition, which has yet to be launched to market.

Each won slver medals in the ‘Gin’ and ‘Gin and Tonic’ categories respectively, following a record-breaking number of entries for 2016.

The IWSC welcomes spirits entrants from 60 countries across the world

It aims to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. The organisers noted that competition was “extremely fierce” this year with a 200 per cent increase in gin entries since 2013.

Following months of rigorous evaluation, the tasting notes of The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Gin Explorer Edition – each distilled using local juniper and water from the Cumbrian fells – proved to be a hit with the expert judges, including the likes of Rachel Barrie, Steve Beal, Ian Chang and Tobias Gorn.

Maria Duddin, events, business development and PR manager at The Lakes Distillery said: “We are over the moon that The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Gin Explorer Edition have received such coveted industry recognition."