DRYAD Gin, based at the foot of the Quantock Hills, has been named among the top food and drink producers globally.

The fledgling company has picked up a highly prized one star Great Taste 2023 award for its Centaur Oak Dryad Gin.

The classification is given to food and drink deemed to "deliver fantastic flavour".

Judges said "orange and cardamom present nicely on the nose" and it has "a gentle sweetness" that is "pleasantly spiced with good citrus notes" and "fairly well balanced, textured and smooth".

Dryad Gin is made with 11 botanicals including juniper, oak bark, cinnamon, liquorish, orange peel, orris root, cardamon, angelica, almonds, gogi berries and coriander and inspired by The Quantock Hills.

READ MORE: Dryad Gin launches to bring community together.

Dryad Gin Ltd distiller Becky Wright said: "We are thrilled to have won a Great Taste award for our first gin called Dryad Gin.

"We have dreamt of this moment and are so proud to be adding the prestigious black and gold Great Taste badge of honour.

"We only launched the gin last September alongside a pop up pub called The Dryad Inn.

"We are blessed to have some local stockists like The Castle Hotel Taunton, ASK Italian Taunton, Augustus Restaurant and Pod Shavers Restaurant.

"To be where we are today is truly a dream come true.

“Being recognised with a Great Taste 1 star means so much to independent producers such as myself, as it makes all the hard work and determination worth it.

"Great Taste is the most recognised accolade for taste and quality in the food and drink industry, so it’s a huge moment for us."

READ MORE: Dryad Gin pop up pub to open in village.

The Dryad Gin is available from ASKItalian Taunton RRP £47 for a 70cl bottle or contact Becky at hello@dryadgin.co.uk