By Alastair HamiltonOctober 30th 2014
Alastair Hamilton

One of Shetland's two breweries has won the accolade of "Highly Commended" for its 60° North lager; and gin distilled in Shetland will be on the market soon.

The owners of the Lerwick Brewery are understandably delighted to have picked up the praise at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards. The award was presented at a dinner, held in Inverness, which was attended by more than 300 food and drink representatives. More than 40 businesses were in competition for 14 awards. The commendation follows a Great Taste Award for the lager just a few months ago.

Meanwhile, gin from Shetland's first distillery is due to hit the shops soon. Shetland Reel Gin will be produced initially in small batches and the first batch will be hand-bottled and sold in a Shetland tweed bag. It will only be available in Shetland, but national and international distribution is being planned for later production.

Within the next few years, the distillery, on the island of Unst, will also produce whisky, making it the northernmost single malt.