The Black Shuck Distillery has been announced as the winner of the Best Norfolk Producer award, sponsored by Flour & Bean, at the Norfolk Food & Drink Awards 2023.

The Black Shuck Distillery was established in Fakenham in 2012 by Patrick and Sarah Saunders together with their children Leanne, Nicola and William. It prides itself on leading the way with innovative creations and unique branding. 

The judges were blown away by the remarkable attention to detail and said “the expertise demonstrated by Sarah and Patrick, amassed over more than 10 years and inspired by locally-sourced ingredients, careful distilling, bottling, branding, marketing and selling gins, rums and liqueurs, is truly remarkable.”

“In this competitive category, Black Shuck punch well above their weight from a small premises tucked away in rural Norfolk. Sarah and Patrick simply think of every aspect of the creation and delivery of their products from the consumers perspective, and in doing so have nailed the products.” 

Owners Sarah and Patrick Saunders were “thrilled and humbled” to be awarded Best Norfolk Producer.

“We are bursting with pride,” they said. “It also gives us an opportunity to thank our wider Black Shuck family for their unwavering passion, dedication, expertise, belief, support and, of course, plenty of fun. Here’s to the next 12 years sharing Norfolk’s legendary spirit.”

Finalist: Lacons Brewery

Lacons Brewery has a rich brewing heritage dating back to 1760. In the sixties, the Great Yarmouth brewery was taken over by a giant metropolitan brewer and shut down. 

In 2013, Lacons reclaimed independence, reawakened eight strains of original yeast preserved for almost half a century at The National Yeast Bank, and began brewing again.  

The judges loved the story and the enviable brand and heritage that the team has successfully restored to its former glory. 

“A gem of a brewery with a lot to shout about, not least its award-winning beers but also the valuable work they do in supporting the local community,” they said.

Finalist: The English Distillery 

The English Distillery in Roudham is England’s oldest registered whisky distillery. 
Founded by the Nelstrop family in 2006, the distillery is still independent and creates multi-award-winning whisky from honest, locally-sourced ingredients.

The judges described The English Distillery as “an absolute treasure of a business”, adding that the branding for this classic spirit means it “holds its own on the shelf and in the glass”. 

“We were totally immersed in the craft of this family business as we visited every step of the journey, from the finest locally-sourced grain to the highly specialised selection of the casks for bottling,” they said.

To find out more about all the winners, please click here.

For more information on the Norfolk Food and Drink Awards, please visit norfolkfada.co.uk