Remember we told you last year about the competition to find the best cocktail-maker in the Lake District? It was Ollie George, 19, who works at Windermere’s Linthwaite House Hotel, who won the contest in a closely contested final.

It was staged at the Merewood Country House Hotel and organised by the Lake District Hotels Association together with LWC Drinks.

Ollie is just back from a whirlwind weekend as guest of Daniel Knight from LWC Drinks and Claire Houghton-Wigley from Remy-Cointreau. They visited some of the best bars in Machester, two of which appear on the official Top 50 UK Bars list.

And says Daniel: “We even got the opportunity to see in person a 3-litre Jeroboam of Louis XIII – The King of Cognac, at one of, if not the most, exclusive bars in Manchester.
“I thought it was an amazing experience and I’m sure Ollie did as well.”

Originally from Cornwall, Ollie came to work in the Lakes last year and now hopes to make a career in hospitality. His winning cocktail was made with pine shrub soda, brandy and pine shoot shrub.

He said: "I didn't really know Manchester, so it was a revelation for me, and gave me a whole new perspective. And I tasted some amazing cocktails! The whole weekend was great fun, really enjoyable."

Plans are now under way for this year’s competition which the organisers are promising will be even more spectacular.