Otterbeck Distillery’s Most Celebrated Gin Scoops Great Taste Award

Otterbeck Distillery’s first product, Cotton Gin, can put yet another award to its name - it’s just been given a prestigious one star Great Taste Award.

The Skipton business was founded during the first lockdown in May 2020, and is the brainchild of husband-and-wife teams Nicola and Dougie Lampkin MBE and Alexa and Chris Ives, who founded Ilkley Brewery.

Describing Otterbeck Cotton Gin, the Great Taste Award judges said: “Well rounded gin, extremely pleasant finish with rich sweet citric undertones that add depth. Complex but balanced, it will stand up to mixers and a number of classic gin cocktail recipes well with light dryness and spice on the finish. Very enjoyable, well conceived and rewarding.”

Otterbeck Distillery co-founder Nicola Lampkin commented: “We’re thrilled that our first gin, Cotton Gin, has scooped another award - and the Great Taste Award is one of the most prestigious out there to win. Earlier in the summer this same gin won a silver medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), then it also won gold at the Gin Masters Spirits Business 2020.

“We lovingly craft this premium small batch gin using only the finest botanicals; Yorkshire watercress, English coriander, hand-foraged local spruce, rowan berries and nettle leaves. All of this makes for a fragrant and herbaceous gin which is reminiscent of an English country garden or a rolling meadow.”

The business has also just secured a raft of new stockists across Yorkshire, including Robertshaws Farm shop near Halifax, TMR Foods near Ripon and ABV Wholesale in Keighley.

The distillery is located within a converted 18th century cotton and silk mill on the banks of the Otterburn Beck. A 'Cotton Ginny' was a machine used in cotton production at the mill, which is what inspired the name for the gin.

The team at Otterbeck love to support and work with local shops, producers and hotels such as Keelham Farm Shop, the Michelin starred Angel at Hetton, Coniston Hotel, Annabel's Deliciously British and Tame & Wild.