58 Gin and Co wins Great British food gold award 2023

Based under arches in Acton Mews, 58 and Co scooped a gold taste award for its Apple and Hibiscus Gin from judge by David Moore, and a bronze award for its London Dry gin.

To complete a triple celebration, the distillery, founded by Canadian-born Carmen O'Neal, earned a silver from judge Merlyn Griffiths for their triple distilled vodka.Carmen O'Neal founder of 58 and Co and eco distillery making hand crafted premium spirits and running gin tastings and classes. (Image: Kat Volkova Studio)

The awards represent "the very best of modern British food" and are judged across a range of food and drink categories made by UK producers.

The premium hand crafted gin brand started small in 2015 in a railway arch in Hackney Downs and was named after the number of batches it took to get their London Dry Gin right. They moved into new premises in Haggerston in 2020 - upgrading from a 60 litre to a beautiful 450-litre still - also running gin tastings, events and a gin school.

Boasting solar powered stills, recycled bottles, and labels made from discarded grape skins, the eco-distillery has already scooped numerous awards including a 3 star Great Taste for its London Dry gin, a citrus and spice blend of sweet Egyptian lemons, bergamot, coriander and cubeb pepper, which goes through the still  "low and slow". 58 and Co is based under arches in Haggerston (Image: 58 Gin)

They have also won multiple Gin Masters Awards, plaudits from the International Wine & Spirit Competition and UK Gin Producer of the Year 2020.

O'Neal says: "Our mission is to connect people by creating drinks that look and taste incredible but do incredible things for our communities and planet too. This is why our still is powered by the sun and our botanicals enjoy a full-circle lifespan. Ultimately we believe in distilling what matters. A drink should go beyond just a drink, it should be an experience you can sip, savour and share."