SOME of the county’s finest drinks producers are raising a glass – of their own tipple no doubt! – in celebration of being shortlisted for two of the prestigious titles in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.
The awards, now in their tenth year, are aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.
The judging session, staged at The Dukes Arms at Woodford near Kettering (as winner of the Community Pub of the Year category in last year’s awards), saw a panel of judges including Jon Elks, Master Brewer at Carlsberg UK, and CAMRA’s Company Secretary, Ken Owst, come together to choose their finalists in the New Local Drink and Artisan Local Drink categories. They are (in alphabetical order within the category):
New Local Drink of the Year: Donkey Derby – Healy’s of Winwick, Winwick; Hustle Gin – Hustle Gin, Horton; Opal Gin – Phipps NBC, Northampton; Raspberry & Coconut Cake Cream Ale – Boot Town Brewery, Burton Latimer; Rubio – Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester and X-Strong Ale – Hoppy Family Brewery, Kettering
Artisan Local Drink of the Year: Hardwick Elderflower Cordial – Manor Farm Drinks, Hardwick; Jack’s Spaniels – Gun Dog Ales, Woodford Halse; Lord Barker – Gun Dog Ales, Woodford Halse; Organic Pomegranate & Rosemary Vodka – Jelley Distilleries, Brixworth; Roobarb & Custard Cream Ale – Boot Town Brewery, Burton Latimer and Saxon Shield – Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester.
Among the new finalists to be celebrating success in being shortlisted are Ian Bosworth and Lee Kellett, co-partners of Boot Town Brewery in Burton Latimer who, as Lee explained, are thrilled that they have a chance of taking both titles, especially after setting up the part-time company so recently.
“We only started brewing less than 18 months ago so we’re absolutely delighted and really humbled to have this early success in this prestigious competition, not least because we know what an impact it’s going to have on the business,” said Lee.
“We set up the company to create a fresh and exciting array of flavoured ales to suit the palates of today’s beer enthusiasts so it’s great that the judges liked them and fingers crossed that this double seal of approval will help us in taking the next big step of giving up our day jobs to pursue our real passion full time.”
For the Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE, the line-up of finalists is a great indicator of the current health of the county’s food and drink sector.
“I am really thrilled to see some of our former winners and finalists coming back to bid for repeat success as it just goes to show what value they place on the competition,” said Rachel.
“But as with our food category shortlists earlier this summer, that almost half of the names in the reckoning are such young firms, demonstrates not only the wealth of business talent emerging but also that the quality of what they’re producing is enough to rival those who are already firmly established.”
The winners and runners-up in both categories will be decided by a second panel of judges later in the year and the results, along with those of the other categories in the competition, will be announced at the Awards Dinner taking place at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate on 7 November.
For more details on the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2018/19, including downloading an entry form for the Healthy Eating Workplace of the Year category (sponsored by C Butt Ltd), visit www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk or contact Rachel Mallows on 01933 664437 or email You can also follow the awards on twitter at @foodawardsHQ or on Facebook at facebook.com/foodawards