Optional: Melt the white chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of boiling water (or in the microwave on a very low heat/short time - ten seconds might be all you need!). Once the chocolate has melted, paint the top of the cooled meringue and leave the chocolate to set.) GOTHIC MANHATTAN A dark-hearted mix of Maker’s Mark Whiskey stirred with Antica Formula Vermouth and Jerry Thomas bitters. BERRY GIN DAISY Inspired by ‘Professor’ Jerry Thomas, bartender extraordinaire in the 1880s. Tanqueray Royale Gin, raspberry ripple and lemon lengthened with soda. Crowned with Green Chartreuse. 15 The Violet Gin Liqueur (18% ABV) takes its inspiration from that famous sweet factory, up the road in New Mills. Best served over lots of ice with whatever mixer you like, it really is a beauty! [buy here] WESTERN INFLUENCE Villa Ascenti Rosa Gin stirred down with Velvet Falernum, red wine reduction, lime juice and Creole Tincture. Served with biscuit crumbles. 14.5

ISLAY SLEIGHS Ardbeg single malt 10 year old, Kahlua and oat milk shaken over ice. Finished with a gentle hint of honey and vanilla. 14 GOOD CHEER Eminente Reserve rum, Hennessey VS, Grand Marnier shaken with lemon juice and Orgeat for a subtle hint of orange and almonds. Finished with a mulled wine float. 14 BUILD ME UP BUTTERSCOTCH Crystal Head Vodka infused with butterscotch, shaken with chocolate liqueur, vanilla, cream and a shot of coffee 16 Whilst the meringue cools, make the raspberry ripple gin coulis by adding the steeped berries and gin liquid to a saucepan. Add the sugar and set over a low heat, stirring gently, until the raspberries begin to break up and the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove from the heat and place the mixture into a food processor and blitz until smooth. Push the raspberry mixture through a sieve and then set aside to cool.Four new taste categories have been created in the programme with new awards presented for Best Pink Gin, Best Festive Gin and the Flavoured Gin category has been split with new categories for Citrus and Berry Flavoured. The most popular taste category is still London Dry Gin of the Year with 47 gins in the finals. The Scottish Gin Awards 2021 finalists have been announced, with 67 producers and 223 gins progressing to the final stage of the anticipated awards night, which this year will be a hybrid virtual and in-person event. SWEET REVENGE An OXO legacy, Ketle One Vodka, shaken with grapefruit juice, raspberry ripple, pineapple juice and garnished with dried rose petals 14.5 POLAR NECTAR Singleton 12 Year Old whisky, Frangelico, Pedro Ximénez fortified sweet wine, frozen “Deep ocean” essence and mint bitters. 14.5 The new collection of Liquorists' small batch liqueurs are designed to add unique twists to your homemade tipples. Offering three gin liqueurs — which have been popular for some time now — the supermarket is also launching a less common rum liqueur, with the spirit rising in popularity this summer. It's the perfect ingredient for tropical punches.

It is an all- island final as four Hebridean distilleries are in contention for the top award of the night, Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Contract Bottlers Glasgow Ltd. SLEIGH BELLS ALL THE WAY WhistlePig rye whiskey, Tawny port, cinnamon and lemon juice shaken and strained over ice. Finished with a dash of bitters and a spoonful of thyme and clementine marmalade. 17 THE LAST WORD A little sour, a little sweet, a little pungent. Monkey 47 Gin and Maraschino shaken with fresh lime juice and green Chartreuse. 16 Raspberry Ripple Gin Liqueur (18% ABV) takes the classic ice cream and turns it into a delightfully pink gin liqueuer and can even be served over ice cream if you're feeling naughty. [buy here]Use a round dinner plate to draw a circle in pencil on the bottom of the baking paper and turn it over. Now pour the meringue mixture out onto the tray and, using a spatula and the pencil lines underneath to guide you, spread out the mixture into an even, spherical layer. Turn down the oven to 140C/120C fan and bake the meringue on a middle shelf for an hour. Once the pavlova has baked, turn off the oven and let the meringue cool completely in the oven. To make it to the finals is a huge achievement and all these gin businesses which highlight the quality and diversity of the Scottish gin industry. SAINTS GENEROSITY Hennessey VS with Liquor 43, clementine juice, chestnut and lime for a fruity nutty delight. Garnished with a slice of clementine. 14 POWER STATION Maker’s Mark 46 whisky, Courvoisier VSOP, Martini Rubino Vermouth, Campari, Benedictine. Aged for 6 weeks in oak barrel. 18

PINK SKY AT NIGHT A refreshing and lightly sparkling number. Grey Goose infused with strawberry and lemongrass, orange bitters, cranberry juice and a dash of lemon. 13.5 Meanwhile, add the double cream and vanilla extract to a bowl and whisk until soft peaks form. Spoon the whipped vanilla cream over the white chocolate-covered meringue, and then drizzle over the raspberry gin coulis. Top with fresh raspberries to decorate. MELBA DAIQUIRI Plantation 3 Stars Rum shaken with peach and raspberry. A delicious twist on this Cuban classic. 15 Vodka shaken with Kwai-Feh and lychee. Balanced with Rose syrup and freshly pressed lemon juice. 14.5 The Scottish Gin Awards is chaired by Adam Hardie, Partner and Head of Food and Drink at accountancy firm, Johnston Carmichael.There's also a classic strawberries and cream flavour captured in a gin liqueur and for those with a real sweet tooth, there's candy floss and marshmallow infused Mystical Unicorn Gin Liqueur. Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru Gin and Absolut Elyx Vodka shaken with lychee liqueur, fresh ruby grapefruit juice and a spot of sugar. 15 To start, put the fresh raspberries (for the coulis) in a bowl, pour over the gin and and leave it to steep in the fridge while you make the meringue. Preheat the oven to 160C/140C fan and line a baking tray with baking parchment. LYCHE AND ROSE MARTINI Our delicate twist on a lychee martini infused with a delicate character of this aromatic tropical fruit and aroma of rose.

It is particularly impressive given the challenges of the last eighteen months that real resilience, innovation, and creativity has been shown in the competition entries. To make the meringue, add the egg whites to a free-stand mixer and whisk until they form stiff peaks. Gradually add the sugar, making sure it is well combined after each addition, and whisk briefly until the meringue looks glossy. Whisk in the corn flour, vanilla extract and vinegar. Of course, as well as buying these as gifts for your relatives, you'll no doubt be curious to try them yourself - and believe us, they are absolutely incredible!The 45 judges blind tasted and graded every sample under strict technical conditions. Led by the competition’s technical consultants, sensory management experts Cara Technology, the panel assessed 320 gins entered in the competition, all distilled in Scotland. MON CHÉRI Courvoisier VSOP Cognac stirred down with chocolate liqueur and Amarena cherry extra heavy syrup. Balanced with chocolate bitters and served straight-up. 15 No Name Distillery is the baby sister of Manchester's Faith & Sons Gin; aboutique one-man-band, one copper still, micro-distillery which was set up in 2015 by former Lisbon bartender Filipe Sousa, who came to Manchester to work in the city's bars (Australasia, Dusk Til Pawn, and Panacea).