A DRINKS company has received a gold medal in the Scottish Retail Food and Drinks Awards in Glasgow.

George Cairns, of Port Seton, established the Cairns Exclusive Drinks Co Ltd in October 2019, and launched its popular fruit whisky liqueur in March 2020, just as the country entered the first national lockdown.

The whisky liqueur is a blend of Highland Heather honey, elderberries and fine old blended malt scotch whisky.

George said he was “fair chuffed” to receive the award for the second year in a row at a celebratory lunch at The Corinthian Club in Glasgow last month.

The event saw products from across Scotland recognised.

More than 50 experts from all disciplines judged hundreds of products over the course of a month.

Cairns Scotch Whisky Liqueur was awarded Best in Scotland (Fruit Liqueur) in the World Liqueur Awards last year.

George began his career in 1977 as a coppersmith apprentice at McMillan of Prestonpans, creating whisky distillery equipment, before progressing into a career in education on the subject.

He explained that his inspiration came from his experience working on whisky and Scottish products.

Visit cairnsscotchwhiskyliqueur.com