TWO county companies have teamed up to show they have the bottle to succeed.

Fidra Gin was recognised at the prestigious Harpers Design Awards with a silver medal for the design of its bottle.

Products are judged based on the criteria of initial impact, target market concerns and the product’s overall aesthetic.

The labels on the bottles are designed by Haddington-based Collaborate Creative and managed to fend off competition from industry leaders to take the award.

John Smart, of Collaborate Creative, was delighted.

He said: “It’s great for a smaller project to get an accolade such as this against larger brands with bigger budgets. It goes to show that a great design can suit all kinds of briefs.

“The gin category is very crowded, therefore creating a point of difference is essential.”

Fidra Gin, named after the island of Fidra in the Firth of Forth, was launched in September 2018 by Emma Bouglet and Jo Brydie.

Based in Athelstaneford, the duo were delighted to receive the award.

The gin, distilled near Aviemore, is strongly influenced by its surroundings and infused with botanicals, including rosehip and sea buckthorn, which are hand-picked from the East Lothian coastline and hedgerows.

The pair said: “We were drawn to the island for its stunning location, rich and intriguing history of gin smuggling by Dutch boats in days gone by, and by its connection to Robert Louis Stevenson.

“Fidra is home to a working Stevenson lighthouse, built by the writer’s father and uncle and the island is believed to have been the inspiration for his best-known book, Treasure Island.

“If you compare the old map of Fidra on our bottle label with the map at the front of Treasure Island itself, you can see the similarities.”