A GIN specialist based in Andover has made it to the finals of the ‘Rural Oscars’.

Wessex Spirits, which is owned by Kate Griffin and was started in her grandad’s garden annexe, has been named as a finalist for Local Food and Drink South East in the Countryside Alliance Awards.

Starting in 2017, the business has recently celebrated its seventh birthday, with Kate currently making a number of her own gins and but also for other people to sell.

In 2022 she opened The Gin Palace, at the old Lamb Inn, with four tasting rooms and a unique events space for up to 30 people.

On being nominated for the ‘Rural Oscars’, Kate said: “We are very excited, it is just so lovely that our lovely local people here nominated us. We are blown away by all the support.”

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Andover Advertiser: Kate Griffin and Vikki Cosgrove of Wessex SpiritsKate and manager of The Gin Palace Vikki Cosgrove don’t know who nominated the business, but when asked why she thought they had been nominated, Kate added: “Hopefully our customers who work with us just feel the love.

“We really try to look after our customers and stockists, and hopefully people do feel looked after by us.”

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People are now being given the opportunity to vote for Wessex Spirits to win the South East category.

“We want to say a really big thank you, it just means so much to us. Being in any business is difficult at the moment, so it is just so lovely when people like what we do because we put our hearts into it,” Kate said.

The pair are hoping that they will win the regional award as it will means they will go to London for the finals and be able to ‘get dressed up’.

Wessex Spirits is up against the New Forest Hamper Company in Lymington, Paul’s Proper British Pies in Buckinghamshire, The Goods Shed in Canterbury and West Lea Farm Shop, Alresford.

To vote for Wessex Spirits, go to research.net/r/CAA24SEBiz.