Great Taste Awards 2017 - Tempted Cider and Hannan Meats among 180 Northern Ireland winners

Some of Northern Ireland's best food producers have walked away with top UK industry gongs. Around 180 products from across our shores were awarded at the Great Taste Awards.

Some of Northern Ireland's best food producers have walked away with top UK industry gongs. Around 180 products from across our shores were awarded at the Great Taste Awards.

That includes the multi-award winning Hannan Meats in Moira, which specialises in salt-aged beef. Hannan Meats, which is run by Peter Hannan, won for its sweet-cured bacon rack and Glenarm salt aged lamb rump. It picked up the highest three-star accolade, along with other businesses including Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society's lightly brined and hot-smoked Smoked Lough Neagh Eel.

And one of Northern Ireland's new cured meat producers, Ispini, picked up a three-star award for its bresaola. It also landed two stars for its chorizo.

Tempted Cider Company's Tempted Irish Cider Elderflower was also described as a light and fruity medium sweet "proper cider, with a "good balance" of distinct elderflower notes.

Echlinville Single Estate Irish Pot Still Gin from The Echlinville Distillery, Kircubbin; Pacific Oysters from Rooney Fish, Kilkeel; Wild Sika Venison from Baronscourt Estate, Newtownstewart and a Blackcurrant Preserve from Erin Grove Preserves in Enniskillen, all picked up coveted three star awards.

Each of the businesses are still in the running for the overall top award. The 'supreme champion' will be unveiled in London in September.

Across the UK, 12,336 products were judged, with 4,347 awarded a Great Taste accolade.

Picture: Ispini's three-star winning Bresaola.