SUFFOLK-based Adnams is celebrating double medal success in one of the world’s top competitions for distillers.

The Southwold company, which launched its Copper House Distillery less than two years ago, picked up silver medals for its North Cove Oak-aged Vodka and its First Rate Gin at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco.

Company chairman Jonathan Adnams said: “We are absolutely delighted to have picked up two more awards at this world-class competition.

“Our Copper House Distillery is still relatively new, so we are thrilled to have continued our success after receiving three medals at last year’s awards. To receive an award of this kind again gives us great pleasure and confidence that our distillery products are being judged so positively on a world stage.”

The judging process was conducted “blind” – with the judges not aware of the identity of the brands they were tasting – by a panel consisting of spirits experts from restaurants and hotels, journalists from within the trade media, spirits buyers from major retailers and wholesalers and drinks industry consultants.

Mr Adnams added: “Since it opened in November 2010, we have had more than 2,500 visitors tour the distillery and there certainly appears to be great interest in learning more about the history and techniques of distilling. Our range of gins, vodkas and liqueurs are also selling well through our Cellar & Kitchen stores and online.”

The next addition to the range will be Spirit of Broadside, a 43%abv “eau de vie” distilled from Adnams’ popular Broadside beer.

Broadside was first brewed in May 1972 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Sole Bay, the first naval battle of the Third Dutch Trade War between English and Dutch fleets, which was fought off Southwold.