From cocktail-in-a-can supermarket serves to traditional amaros, all manner of speciality liquids are carving out their space in the on- and off-trade, led by the global cocktail boom.

The Spirits Business held its annual Speciality and Pre-mixed Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.

Looking across multiple categories, from vermouth to pre-mixed classic cocktails, absinthe to partially-made cocktails, a wide range of liqueurs were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each speciality and pre-mixed drink listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money speciality and pre-mixed drinks of 2016.

Bramley and Gage Sweet Vermouth

Price: approx £30

Bramley and Gage Sweet Vermouth shone through in a record vermouth haul, earning the first Master medal of the competition. Made from wormwood, Medjool dates and 13 botanicals – including thyme and rosemary grown less than a mile from the distillery – this English vermouth is “herbal, sweet and aromatic” and was a sure-fire winner with the panel. “It’s the intensity that got to me,” one judge remarked. “It’s brilliant – it’s sweet but it has loads of layers, layers of flavour coming through. And yet they all sit next to each other without being too loud.”

Tails Berry Mojito

Price: approx £4

A fruity twist on the Cuban classic, Tails Berry Mojito was a stand-out entry in the Pre-Mixed Contemporary Cocktail flight, its “beautiful” aroma and “fresh” flavours capturing the attention of the panel. Made in collaboration with Lucas Bols, the Master medallist consists of house white rum, Bols Creme de Cassis, mint, and lime juice. One judge remarked: “The mint is standing up, the raspberry is there, it’s fresh – we just need some crushed ice!”

Riga Black Balsam

Price: approx £15

The “perfect combination of liquorice and spice,” traditional Latvian liqueur Riga Black Balsam impressed judges and secured a Gold medal in the Bitters category. The recipe was created by pharmacist Abraham Kunze, and combines 24 different plants, flowers, buds, juices, roots, oils and berries prepared in oak barrels. Featuring linden blossom, birch bud, valerian root, raspberry, bilberry, ginger and more; the recipe has remained unchanged to this day.

Mythe Absinthe

Price: approx £80

Distilled with aniseed, badiane, vervain, hyssop, and wormwood, this French absinthe secured a Gold medal at the Masters. Judges praised the expression – bottled at 69% abv – highly, with one noting, “you would enjoy a cigar after Mythe Absinthe”.

Striganov Vodka Crush Guava

Price: approx £2

Aldi’s Striganov Vodka Crush Guava secured a Gold medal in the Classic Spirit & Mixer with a Twist flight. Deemed “fresh with a good acidity” by the panel, the drink is described as ‘double distilled vodka with refreshing guava flavour’.

Belsazar Vermouth White

Price: approx £25

Though all three Belsazar expressions were awarded Gold medals, it was the German brand’s palest liquid that shouted the loudest. Boasting “fresh fruit” and “a really well balanced sweetness”, the liquid won high praise across the board. One judge said: “I just loved all the tropical notes, with back notes of liquorice and pepper – it works really well.”

Lufthansa Cocktail Old Fashioned

Price: approx £30

“Clearly well made with real sweet, bitter sharpness”; judges enjoyed the Lufthansa Cocktail Old Fashioned, bestowing a Gold medal upon it in the Pre-Mixed Classic Cocktail heat. Made from Bourbon, Px Sherry and bitters, the bottle-aged cocktail draws on the serves which were available on Lufthansa flights of the fifties and sixties – renowned for high quality cocktails.

The Negroni Cocktail

Price: approx £25

The Negroni Cocktail by The Handmade Cocktail Company secured a Gold medal in the Pre-Mixed Contemporary Cocktail category. With simple instructions – pour a measure over ice, stir, strain into the appropriate glassware, garnish accordingly – and celebrated drinkability, the classic Italian drink was scored highly by the panel. “I really liked the Negroni, I’d be more than happy to have that given to me in a bar,” one judge said. “It was enjoyable, easy to drink – and a Negroni is so easy to mess up.”

Harvard

Price: approx £20

The Rested Cocktail Co.’s Harvard expression was met with marvel, and impressed with its complexity and balance, scoring a Gold in the Partially-Made Cocktail flight – where the customer adds the mixer. Handcrafted and resting the ingredients – brandy, rosso vermouth and aromatic bitters – in steel for 30 days before bottling gives the cocktail a “smoother” finish, according to the brand.

Mist Wood Gin with Apple

Price: approx £2

The “well balanced, well flavoured” Mist Wood Gin and Apple received a Gold medal in the Classic Spirit & Mixer with a Twist flight. The brand is attempting to “break free” from traditional perception of gin by mixing it with “new and interesting flavour combinations”.