IT used to be seen as the preserve of older drinkers. But gin, once known as mother's ruin, has undergone a renaissance to become a trendy tipple among young drinkers.

Sales have risen by a quarter in three years and there's now a vast array of infusions to coax you into having a G&T today to celebrate World Gin Day (JUNE 11).

A distilled spirit flavoured with juniper berries, botanicals and herbs, the recipe can be as free-spirited as the gin maker, produced anywhere in the world.

Two friends from Dorset, Lukasz Dwornik and Martin Jennings, have been on a juniper journey of their own over the past 18 months and today marks the official launch of their artisan blend, Pothecary Gin.

The story may open like a bad joke (“two men walk into a bar…”), but the gin has already won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards and will be stocked at five star venues across the region including the Chewton Glen, Rick Stein at Sandbanks and 10 Castle Street in Cranborne.

The duo have worked together for a number of years, Lukasz as a senior hospitality manager and Martin as a wine development specialist.

Between them they have amassed more than 35 years of experience in hospitality and beverages and they came to the conclusion, whilst drinking a fairly mediocre G&T in a bar one day, that they could probably do better.

Each of the five organic botanical elements is distilled separately, then blended together to create an aromatic, silky-smooth gin. Each bottle is individually filled, corked and sealed by hand.

Martin explains: "Gin has had a massive resurgence. HMRC had been pestered for decades by whisky distillers to be allowed to produce smaller batch products and they finally changed the law which has resulted in an increase in craft ales and spirits."

The award-winning gin is currently being distilled in Martin's front room at his home in Wick, but ultimately the pair hope to find new premises to develop as a Dorset gin centre.

Lukasz adds: "Gin has been a really boring product for decades - a bit like the vodka market ten years ago. But gin is still on the up because craft vodka, however good, hasn't got the same variety or spectrum of flavours that you get with craft gin because there are millions of botanicals out there and you can use any of them."

The pair currently produce around 200 bottles a week but are looking to increase to around 500 in the coming months.