RAISE a glass to a Tivyside business after it was judged the best in Britain at this year’s Soil Association BOOM Awards held at London’s iconic Borough Market.

Da Mhile Distillery, based at Glynhynod Farm, Llandysul, makes a variety of organic spirits and liquers and its Botanical Gin was this year named best organic alcoholic drink.

The Soil Association BOOM Awards are the UK’s only dedicated organic awards, celebrating all the businesses, producers and brands working so hard to produce food as it should be.

The awards showcased 23 winners and more than 100 finalists. Da Mhile had to beat off stiff competition in its category, seeing off St Peter's Brewery Organic Best Bitter, Gibson's Organic Liqueurs Elderflower Liqueur, Forty Hall Vineyard 2014 Vintage London Sparkling Brut, Luscombe Drinks Ltd Devon Cider and Stroud Brewery Alederflower Organic Pale Ale to scoop the top honour.

Winning a BOOM award is a real accolade, meaning the product is the best of the best in the UK organic industry, with the judging taking place over a week and featuring a wide range of industry experts, including a mixture of chefs, food experts, journalists, as well as the Soil Association.

Business owner John Savage-Onstwedder – also responsible for the multi-award winning Teifi Cheese brand – said: “We are committed to producing high-quality, organic spirits that will make Wales proud.”

And to make it a double celebration, Da Mhile’s organic gin has also been presented with a Great Taste award for 2017, organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

The award has been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the food world and the ‘epicurean equivalent of the Booker prize’. Established in 1994, it encourages and mentors artisan food producers.