Local Spirits run high at People’s Choice Drinks Awards #News

Victoria Hayes
11th February 2022

This week,  the People’s Choice Drinks Awards took place in Manchester’s Stoller Hall.

For those spirits lovers who actually took part in the judging of the 2nd People’s Choice Spirits Awards, the wait was over, to discover which producers, brands and distilleries scooped medals in this hybrid spirits trade and consumer event of the year.

A Monday night in February wouldn’t usually be a hot night in the calendar, but Monday 7th February proved just that as the great and the good descended on the award-winning music venue, The Stoller Hall, from all across the country to celebrate some of the best spirits, bar and retail companies in the UK right now. From canned cocktails through to sipping Tequilas, there was something for everyone searching for the perfect tipple.

Bartenders, brand owners, producers, consumer and professional judges gathered in the Manchester venue to find out who had taken the titles in each of the categories, in a ceremony presented by Helena Nicklin and Aidy Smith, two of The Three Drinkers, an Amazon Prime series.  Comedy was supplied by Steve Royle, Britain’s Got Talent finalist and local funny man.

How judging works…

First-round judges are enthusiastic everyday wine and spirits consumers selected by an online application process. Each judging table has an industry representative who guides them through the tasting process. Expert Round 2 judges, consisting of wine and spirits broadcaster, journalists and buyers choose the winners from those shortlisted in Round 1.

Judging for the awards had taken place at the end of last year, and so it was a nervous but excited Kingdom Recommends Tribe that took their seats at this prestigious industry gathering.

We love how these awards are judged, as they are scored not only by industry experts but by everyday consumers blindly tasting spirits from various categories and scoring them for things like colour, appearance, and taste. 
To get the thumbs up from those that really matter is a massive feather in anyone’s cap – and we are delighted to announce that Kingdom Recommends collected a couple of feathers, well awards.
Kingdom Recommends were proud Gold Award Winners in the Gin Fusion category for our Kingdom’s Ginger Spiced Gin, and  were delighted to win the Silver Award for  Kingdom’s Vodka in the Vodka: Small Batch category.
Another Cheshire winner in the Vodka catagory was Broken Clock Vodka.  Made in a traditional copper pot still in Cheshire, infused with slow ripened apples from the garden at Shandy Hall, along with botanicals from old Georgian gardens and cookery books. The result is a particularly smooth spirit with a fruity edge. You can purchase this from Taste Cheshire member Dipple Tipple & Co. (link to their page on the side of this article)

Friends of Taste Cheshire Salford Rum also received recognition in the form of a GOLD award in theRUM: EASY WEEKDAY category for their stunning honey rum. You can usually find this available at the Taste Cheshire monthly farmer’s market outside Chester Town Hall or once again on Dippletipple.com 

And if you are a rum fan, Decorrum, winners of the of the GOLD award in the RUM : ON THE ROCKS catagory will be attending this year’s Chester Food and Drink Festival over the Easter weekend at Chester Racecourse. For more information about this event head to chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk
We look forward now to the next set of People’s Choice awards, this time… WINE!

Want to be a wine judge?

The People’s Choice Drinks Awards also runs a national wine competition, now in its fifth year.  The organisers are looking for enthusiastic wine drinkers who would like to take part in the judging process and help shortlist the wines for the expert panel, assisted by members of the wine industry.  The sessions take place in London and Manchester in March 2022 and all the details can be found here: https://peopleschoicedrinksawards.com/pcwa/become-a-judge/

Kingdom Recommends

Our gin is made of hope, of dreams and of belief together we are stronger. "Ubuntu". All our Gin's are Handcrafted and small batch produced.

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Dipple Tipple & Co.

Dipple Tipple & Co are ambassadors for North West Artisan producers of premium spirits and handcrafted liqueurs.

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