A GIN made locally has struck gold in its first year of operation.

Dryad Gin, based at the foot of the Quantock Hills, was awarded a prestigious gold medal, earning it global recognition.

At The Spirit Selection by Concours Mondialde Bruxelles, the leading international event honouring spirit drinks worldwide, only 23 gins from 22,383 spirits from 57 countries competing scooped gold.

And Dryad was the only gin selected from the UK.

READ MORE: Dryad Gin wins Great Taste award.

An independent panel of renowned experts from across the globe meticulously evaluated the entries and awarded medals to the best.

What makes this competition unique is that the judges never see the bottles, ensuring anonymity and fairness throughout the process.

Local distiller Becky Wright said she was astonished and grateful for the accolade.

She said: "Wow, I can't believe how well we have done.

"I'm literally holding a gold medal. It's amazing.

"We would like to thank every person who has supported us and purchased our Dryad gin over the last year.

"With this recognition, we hope to reach an even larger audience and continue our growth.”