CHEERS! Two Teignmouth business women are raising a glass after winning double gold awards for their newly created gin.

Artist and author Laura Wall, and distiller Karen Skarett launched Seaside Gin earlier in the year.

The tasty tipple, which is infused with seaweed, came tops in both the Taste of the West, and the Food Drink Devon competitions.

The recipe was the brainchild of Karen, from Exeter Gin, who has an award winning distillery on the Teignmouth Broadmeadow estate.

Laura, who has a gallery in the artists’ quarter and designed the new Welcome to Teignmouth road signs, managed the aesthetics, which included waxing the bottles in a striking green to look like seaweed ,and creating eye-catching artwork for the labels.

She also asked local cocktail bar, The Lobster Lounge, to create a cocktail recipe to accompany the gin on the tag.

The attractive bottle, has a label that celebrates Teignmouth, and Laura, who lives in Teignmouth, said: ‘I hoped people would want to collect the bottle because they felt it was something very special, and highlighted the resort. The contents are rather fantastic too!’

The awards are judged on taste, appearances, quality and provenance, and also acknowledges businesses who have adapted in the difficult times and contribute to the local economy.

Karen added: ‘It’s an absolute joy working with Laura.

‘We’re both really enjoying our gin journey, although we spend quite a lot of time in fits of laughter. It’s very rewarding and entertaining, which is how business should be.

‘We really are over the moon, it is especially nice to have something really positive happening during a time when there is a lot of anxiety for businesses.’

To celebrate the awards, a batch of the bottles has been topped with golden wax.