Experts’cocktail recipes could leave you stirred.. and shaken!

Lanarkshire is emerging as a leader of the pack in the burgeoning Scottish drinks market as the country’s worldclass producers sweep the board at acclaimed awards ceremonies which toast the best in the business.

Many of them are members of regional food group Lanarkshire Larder, and are go-to destinations on its food and drink trail that takes connoisseurs on an exciting journey around pit stops on the county’s culinary map.

Chairperson of Lanarkshire Larder and owner of South Lanarkshire-based Errington Cheese, Selina Cairns, said: “Lanarkshire Larder is delighted to have a variety of small and medium-sized businesses offering an array of fantastic world-class drinks.

“Many of our members are creatively producing small batch drinks that are winning awards throughout the UK. Each producer has their own unique selling point which makes them stand out.

“The gin market is continuing to grow and Lanarkshire continues to be one of the key regions in Scotland for awardwinning craft distillers.”

Among them is Ellis Gin, proud winner of the Scottish

Prestige Awards’ Retailer of the Year crown for the second consecutive year.

The brainchild of Uddingston-based entrepreneur Carol Jackson, Ellis Gin was launched in October 2018 as the producer of a unique range of small batch Scottish gin.

On launching, her aim was to bring fun and colour to the vibrant gin market, with two of the company’s gins changing colour when mixer is added.

Ellis Gin, which has received a clutch of awards, includes in its repertoire a pink gin with a mesmerising shimmer, and a refreshingly zesty lemon gin, which is described as ‘sunshine in a glass.’

There’s also Pentland Hills Gin, which last week proudly announced that its Firework Winter Warmer Gin has been named the Best in Scotland 2022 by gin lovers’ bible, the International Gin Guide.

Made from the finest ingredients and specially selected botanicals, chief distiller Phil Cox produces gin from the small holding he shares with Tabatha McCreeCox, by Tarbax, close to

Carnwath on the western end of the Pentland Hills.

Good things come in small packages, and their gin is no exception. Hand crafted and produced in limited quantities, it is an expression of the place where it’s made – unique, sustainable, surprising – and, of course, Scottish.

Their gin recipe calls on the flavours of nine homegrown aromatic ingredients and botanicals, including juniper berries, pink peppercorns, angelica, coriander, cardamon and orris root, paired with a subtle infusion of orange, mint and cocoa nibs.

Not far away is the Biggar Gin Company, spawned by brothers Stuart and Euan McVicar, who chose World Cocktail Day 2022 to launch their new Biggar Herbaceous Gin.

The pair are proud of what they call their small batch gin’s ‘Biggar Mentality’ – a philosophy that reflects a passion, ambition and a mighty taste.

From their home at the foot of the Tinto Hills by the town of Biggar, the use of local botanicals has inspired the brothers to think big by producing a gin that punches above its weight.

Their Original Recipe Biggar Gin is mellow, with aromatic citrus and a hint of hedgerows, married with gentle spice, notes of lavender and woody cassia. It’s smooth and initially sweet on the palate, followed by an almost creamy juniper and citrus burst.

Also included in the brothers’ award-winning repertoire is the Bigger Strength Gin, which