SHIPLEY-based spirit company Shiny Cowbird has won its first industry award.

It scooped silver for its Black Sambuca at the internationally-renowned San Francisco World Spirit Awards, where products are judged in a blind taste test.

Shiny Cowbird fought off more than 2,500 entries to be crowned silver in the category dedicated to the tipple.

The company was set up by Chris Bee and John Bowman in 2018.

Between them, they also own the award-winning Beespoke Brewing, Grumpy Johns Cider and The Fox bar, where the spirit company distils all of its products.

The Shiny Cowbird offering includes three gins, Absinthe, Limoncello and Pure Grain Vodka, as well as the award-winning Black Sambuca.

Chris said: “Our Black Sambuca is a seriously tasty marriage of liquorice and anise flavours, with added complexity from the infusion of the dried elderberries.

"It is one of our best-selling products and we’re hugely proud of the award win."

John added: "The win is fantastic, but the best bit has been positive feedback from customers."