A FAMILY-RUN liqueur making company from Thornbury has walked away with a top national drink award.

Bramley and Gage, run by brother and sister team, Michael Kain and Felicity Hall, have won best local drink in the national Quality Drinks Awards 2008 for their Quince Liqueur.

The awards, in their third year, recognise excellence and innovation in alcoholic drinks and are judged by an independent panel of industry experts. Judging criteria is based on taste, aroma, appearance and presentation, packaging, value and innovation.

Mr Kain said: "It's fantastic to get national recognition for our liqueur. It's a great example of how we can make a real success of the less common fruits that grow in Britain."

The Quince Liqueur, which is hand-made by former fruit farmer Mr Kain, can be drunk as an alternative to desert wine or used in recipes and cocktails.

The quince, which gives the beverage its name, is a golden, pear-shaped fruit.

"We started exploring the possibility of a quince liqueur when my mother, Penny, who set up Bramley and Gage with my father over 20 years ago, found a recipe for Quince Ratafia in one of her old cook books.

"It had been intriguing her for a few years and once she found a quince tree, experiments ensued.

"All our liqueurs are made from fruit that would grow outdoors naturally in the British Isles, you won't see us do kumquat, banana or even orange.

"Elderflower liqueur, our first non-fruit liqueur, has been a huge success, so there's a good chance our next product might not be a fruit," said Mr Kain.

The Bramley and Gage production process ensures that as much of the natural flavour, freshness, and colour of the fruit is retained, together with the maximum amount of naturally occurring vitamins.

To make the liqueur, the fruit is stewed and macerated with alcohol and a small amount of British sugar.

Bramley and Gage's Sloe Gin was also shortlisted in the Best Local Drink category. The gin, drunk as a digestif or in a cocktail, is made from hand picked, wild, hedgerow sloes, and home-made gin using juniper, cardamom and coriander.

Bramley and Gage, who are based at Ashville Park, are no strangers to awards as they won five gold medals at Taste of the West in 2007.

For more information visit www.bramleyandgage.co.uk.