The BBC Good Food Drinks Taste Awards 2021 saw a judging panel blind-tasting over 70 drinks products to find the best own-brand supermarket bottles.

In some categories, the judges chose to award a runner up as well as a winner.

Richard Davie and Miriam Nice were asked to provide serving suggestions for each winner.

BBC Good Food Drinks Taste Awards 2021:
Best gin
WINNER
The Melodist London Dry Gin, £20 (70cl), Tesco
Cardamom is easy to overdo, but here it chimes with citrus and juniper without being one-note.
SERVE: make a G&T in a balon glass garnished with basil and raspberries to counter the spicy notes.

RUNNER UP
Irresistible Premium Gin, £17.50 (70cl), Co-op
Predominantly a classic juniper-led gin, but with lemon, orange and cinnamon on a light body.
SERVE: the citrus notes will add another layer to a gin fizz.

Best pink gin
WINNER
The Harmonist Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, £20.49 (70cl), Spar
A rich example of the multifarious pink gin style, loaded with rhubarb and given a welcome complexity with sherbet-like grapefruit and ginger spice.
SERVE: bring out those fruity notes in a classic gin sour.

Best sloe gin
WINNER
M&S Sloe Gin £15 (50cl), M&S and Ocado
Less sweet than many others on the market, this has a strong whack of sloe on the nose, with a surprisingly dry body and lots of almond on the finish.
SERVE: the comparative dryness of this sloe gin is best enjoyed by sipping neat.

Best whisky
WINNER
Glen Marnoch 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky £19.99 (70cl), Aldi
A fruity nose with baked apple, vanilla and mixed spice, this single malt gives even more depth on tasting, with lots of toasty butterscotch richness.
SERVE: take your time sipping it neat or with a drop of spring water to open it up.

Best Scotch whisky
WINNER
Morrisons Blended Scotch Whisky £11.49 (70cl)
Opulent, with baked orchard fruits, oak, creamy vanilla and hints of oat and pineapple. An easy-drinking crowd-pleaser. SERVE: serve over ice or in a scotch-based cocktail like a rusty nail.

Best vodka
WINNER
French Grain Vodka £18.39 (70cl), Spar
A classic, clean vodka with a smooth and slightly creamy body and an intriguing touch of minerality to the nose.
SERVE: try a vodka highball for light refreshment.

RUNNER UP
St Ge´rmont Premium French Vodka, £14.99 (70cl), Aldi
A boozy nose and full body with lemon and pepper accents.
SERVE: in a classic harvey wallbanger cocktail.

Best amaretto
WINNER
Tesco Amaretto Liqueur £8 (50cl)
Deep amber with a rich almond and vanilla nose and a sweet, smooth body that moves from marzipan to baked pudding. SERVE: try it neat over ice or in an amaretto sour.

RUNNER UP
Bellucci Amaretto £4.99 (50cl), Aldi
This has a strong almond flavour that stands up to mixing, amaretti biscuit on the nose and a light body.
SERVE: in a luxurious affogato.

Best dark rum
WINNER
Irresistible Pineapple Rum, £20 (70cl), Co-op
A big package jam-packed with tropical fruits on the nose that lead to a massive ripe pineapple hit. Plus, unlike a lot of flavoured spirits, this retains a cocktail-worthy 40% ABV.
SERVE: use in a pineapple & rum cake or serve long with cola for a dark rum twist on a cuba libre.

RUNNER UP
Caribbean Dark Rum £15 (1 litre), Morrisons
A solid dark rum with deep brown sugar, baked apples and vanilla coming through alongside a slightly under-ripe pineapple element. The vanilla fades into a woody note on the finish.
SERVE: as a long drink with ginger beer over ice, it is especially delicious.

Best white rum
WINNER
Caribbean White Rum £15 (1 litre), Tesco
An ideal mixing rum, with a light, grassy nose, subtle pineapple and hints of green sugar cane that add complexity without dominating a cocktail.
SERVE: in a classic mojito.

RUNNER UP
Caribbean Pearl White Rum £11 (70cl), Sainsbury’s
This is a slightly more assertive white rum, with ripe banana esters, dark sugar notes and some heat. Its full mouthfeel balances things out.
SERVE: treat yourself to a more traditional white rum cuba libre – the deep sugar flavour will work perfectly.

Best cognac
WINNER
Finest XO Cognac £35 (50cl), Tesco
Vine fruits take the lead, with spices, biscuits, orchard fruits, a hint of smoke and vanilla giving way to a little woody note at the finish.
SERVE: an XO should stand on its own merits – enjoy as is.

RUNNER UP
Aldi VSOP Gold Coated Cognac, (70cl) £24.99
A slightly more aggressive cognac, this showcases hints of leather and tobacco, with peach, walnuts and golden syrup to balance it out.
SERVE: when isn’t a brandy and soda just the ticket, especially when made with cognac?

Best brandy
WINNER
No.1 Armagnac VSOP £25 (70cl), Waitrose & Partners
A subtle nose with hints of fire. On the palate, this armagnac has a balance of sweetness with baked stone fruits set against some spice, coffee and woody notes.
SERVE: armagnac doesn’t get as much love as cognac, so take your time over a snifter.

RUNNER UP
The Best Napoleon Brandy £16.50 (70cl), Morrisons
A less in-your-face example, this has upfront sweetness, spice and vanilla, followed by a dry finish with a sense of age about it. SERVE: a French 75 sings when you swap out the gin for a brandy like this one.

Best tonic water
WINNER
Asda Indian Tonic Water, £2 for eight 150ml cans
This tonic comes with an upfront bitterness that stops it from being sugary. It’s moreish, but leaves enough space to stand up against a classic juniper-heavy gin.
SERVE: if gin doesn’t grab you, pour this over a freshly drawn espresso in an ice-filled glass.

Best flavoured tonic water
WINNER
Ridge Valley Light Mediterranean Tonic Water, £1.99 for eight 150ml cans, Aldi
There’s enough citrus flavour in this to forgo that lemon slice in your G&T, if you like. It also has a pleasing sharpness and intense carbonation.
SERVE: pour into a classic G&T to add a fresh note. Bump up the citrus with a lemon slice garnish.

Best canned gin and tonic
WINNER
Tesco Gin & Tonic, £1 per 250ml can
Delicately flavoured, but opens up with a nip of juniper to remind you of the gin in there.
SERVE: well-chilled, with a lemon slice and rosemary sprig or cucumber slice for a fresh garnish.

Best canned berry cocktail
WINNER
M&S Blackberry Gin Bramble £2 per 250ml can, M&S and Ocado
This fun, fruity cocktail is packed with ripe berry flavours that are balanced by a double measure of dry gin to offset the sweetness.
SERVE: well-chilled, ideally with a handful of crushed ice and a mint sprig garnish.