BBC Good Food Drinks Taste Awards 2022

Best cider

WINNER: M&S Somerset oak matured vintage cider

With baked Bramley apple and leather on the nose, this is pleasantly complex and equally loaded with both sweetness and bitterness.

Available from Ocado (£2.50, 500ml bottle)

Best fruity cider or perry

WINNER: Tesco pear cider

Gentle and floral on the palate, this is sharp and dry, with a hint of sweetness and subtle white grape aromas.
Available from Tesco (£2.20, four 440ml cans)

Best session beer

WINNER: Northern Monk Striding Edge North Yorkshire

Conjuring up thoughts of beer gardens in the sunshine, this has punchy, tropical fruit aromas. Lush fruit gives way to pine and citrus notes.

Available from Waitrose & Partners , £2.85 (440ml can)

RUNNER-UP: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference summer ale

This summery, light ale has good malt aromas and a floral background. There's a good level of carbonation for a traditional, refreshing, easy summer drink.

Available from Sainsbury's, £1.65 (500ml)

Best whisky

JOINT WINNER: Asda Extra Special Islay single malt Scotch whisky

Our pick for sipping neat, this has a deeply smoky aroma, slick mouthfeel and lots of woody, toasted oak flavours.

Available from Asda, £20 (70cl)

JOINT WINNER: Waitrose three-year-old blended Scotch whisky

Good for cocktails, this has a light aroma and brown sugar flavours, balanced by slight bitterness.

Available from Waitrose, £16.80 (70cl)

Best vodka

WINNER: Waitrose triple-distilled vodka

This is very smooth, with a creamy mouthfeel and no burn. A good one for cocktails.

Available from Waitrose, £12.75 (70cl)

Best dark rum

WINNER: Irresistible Pineapple Rum

A winner for the second year in a row, this has light brown sugar on the nose and hints of tropical fruit led by the pineapple. It’s smooth and mellow to sip, with mild spiciness.

Available from Co-op £20 (70cl)

RUNNER-UP: Tesco Caribbean dark rum

An intense, classic dark rum, this has rich molasses on the nose and woody notes, with good length after your first sip.

Available from Tesco, £15 (1 litre)

Best ready-to-drink berry cocktail

WINNER: M&S strawberry daiquiri

Vanilla notes are clear on the nose here. It’s lightly syrupy, with just a touch of lime to balance the berry intensity.

Available in store at M&S, £2 (250ml can)

Best ready-to-drink tropical cocktail

JOINT WINNER: M&S The Marksologist Passion Star martini cocktail

A bottled option in great packaging. Shake well to bring together – it’s vibrant and sweet, with strong fruit flavour to balance the alcohol.

Available from Ocado, £5.35 (75cl)

JOINT WINNER: Aldi Stefanoff passion fruit martini

Lots of passion fruit flavour and not too fizzy, this makes for an easy-to-sip canned choice.

Available from Aldi, 99p (250ml can)

Best-ready-to-drink citrus cocktails

WINNER: Asda Extra Special margarita ready-to-drink cocktail

This has plenty of sharpness from juicy lemons and limes to counter the sweetness – great with lots of ice and fresh mint.

Available from Asda, £7 (70cl)

RUNNER-UP: Aldi mojito-flavour cocktail

Slightly sweeter than others, this has a good level of carbonation and lots of lemon zest on the nose. There’s a minty aftertaste and light level of alcohol.

Available from Aldi, 89p (250ml)

Best canned gin and tonic

WINNER: Tesco London Dry Gin & Tonic

A classic G&T done well, this is refreshing, crisp and natural.

Available from Tesco, £1 (250ml)

RUNNER-UP: Lidl Hortus rhubarb & ginger gin & tonic

For a twist on a classic G&T, try this fruity option from Lidl. Best served chilled to balance the sweetness, rhubarb is strong on the nose, while the spicy ginger comes through on the palate.

Available at Lidl, £1.19 (250ml)

Best gin

WINNER: Tesco Finest The Melodist London Dry gin

This has plenty of herbal, spiced notes (thanks to the coriander and cardamom) that stand up to fresh botanicals. A touch of citrus comes through when tonic is added.

Available online at Tesco, £20 (70cl)

RUNNER-UP: Waitrose London Dry gin

A very classic dry gin, fresh botanicals and juniper flavours come through first, followed by a bit of coriander and light citrus notes for a refreshing tipple.

Available at Waitrose & Partners, £12.50 (70cl)

Best pink gin

WINNER: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference limited edition Blackfriars Scottish raspberry & rhubarb gin

With heady rhubarb aroma, judges loved that this wasn’t too sweet. Tonic enhances the fruit flavour and botanicals still shine through in this well-balanced drink.

Available from Sainsbury's, £16 (70cl)

RUNNER-UP: Co-op Irresistible pink grapefruit & elderflower gin liqueur

Liqueurs tend to be on the sweeter side, and this is no exception, remaining so even when mixed with tonic. It has a vibrant, bold pink colour, grapefruit aroma and floral notes on the palate.

Available at Co-op, £11 (50cl)

Best flavoured gin

WINNER: Tesco Finest The Melodist mango & passion fruit gin

A surprisingly elegant option, this smells sweet, but when mixed with tonic, floral notes come through along with classic botanicals.

Available in store at Tesco, £20 (70cl)