When Chris and Sarah Mapey became landlords of The Angel pub it stocked just 25 spirits behind its bar.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Angel pub in Woodbridge has been shortlisted as one of six finalists in the Best Spirits Pub in the 'BT Sport Great British Pub Awards 2013 'The Angel pub in Woodbridge has been shortlisted as one of six finalists in the Best Spirits Pub in the 'BT Sport Great British Pub Awards 2013 ' (Image: Archant)

Four years on and the Woodbridge watering hole is closing in on an impressive world record and could soon receive national recognition for its efforts.

Drinkers now have an incredible 380 spirits from which to choose - including 30 plus American whiskies, 50 or more rums and 12 different brandies.

But the pièce de résistance is the vast collection of gin, which currently stands at a staggering 195 varieties.

With more on order Mr Mapey is confident of taking that total to well over 200, which he hopes will see the pub enter the record books.

“Currently the record is 176, held by The Feathers hotel in Oxfordshire,” he said. “Once our next order arrives we should be comfortably above that. We didn’t want to contact Guinness and just say we had 178 - we wanted to take it to another level.”

Along with the gins, the Theatre Street pub stocks a variety of tonics and different types of flavouring - from lemon and orange to cardamon and black pepper. It means that drinkers can potentially choose from 27,000 different combinations.

“It has been a definite focus,” Mr Mapey continued. “It’s taken the best part of four years to get to the level that we’re at today.

“It started off because we thought there was nowhere around here to get a proper gin and tonic - with a good choice of gins, a selection of tonics to serve it with, lots of ice, in a long glass with the appropriate fresh fruit garnish.”

The Angel’s efforts have now seen it shortlisted as one of six finalists in the Best Spirits Pub category for the BT Sport Great British Pub Awards 2013.

It stands a chance of being crowned Best Spirits Pub in East Midlands & East Anglia and could land the national title as well.

Judges are set to visit some time this week and the pub will know if it has been successful next month.

Mr Mapey, whose wife was featured in the annual publican magazine OnTrade Preview as a gin specialist, said: “We’re delighted to have been nominated. Gin seems to be the spirit that is growing year on year. It is currently being feted in the press and lifestyle magazines as the ‘spirit to drink’. We sell several hundred shots per week.”