A TASTE of the Great British summertime is being bottled and served over ice for the very first time.

Strawberries and cream, generally offered as a dessert at garden parties and tennis tournaments, has been transformed into a new, limited edition gin by North-East distillery, Poetic License.

The independent, small batch business, based at the Best Western Roker Hotel in Sunderland has spent six months perfecting the seasonal recipe, which is believed to be the first of its kind on general sale.

It combines traditional botanicals, including juniper and coriander, with a mix of real strawberries and cream that are both distilled and infused to ensure a stronger, fruitier taste.

It will be available to buy online for a limited period at poeticlicensedistillery.co.uk and from the reception at the Best Western Roker Hotel, priced at £32.50 per bottle.

It will also be served, subject to availability, in the usual measures at Poetic License stockists around the UK, including all sites owned by Tavistock Hospitality Ltd across the North-East.