WHAT started as a day out turned into a gin-making business for two friends who had their 15 minutes of fame on Radio X.

Dental technician Mick Knowles and his friend, Simon Homes, a delivery driver started Kitcheners Gin and already have a few celebrity fans.

Mick and Simon sent a batch of their gin liqueurs to Chris Moyles Radio X show and the team gave them an on-air taste test. Unfortunately Chris Moyles opted out because he was sticking to his juice diet.

Presenter Dominic Byrne and guest James Buckley (Jay from The Inbetweeners) were both delighted with the tipple saying: "That's really good."

Dom even went as far as to call their gingerbread gin "Christmas in a bottle" and claiming it to go home with.

Mr Knowles said they saw a boost in traffic to their website and Facebook page after the show.

He said: "It was brilliant. We had a few requests for orders as well."

Named for the kitchen it is made in, Kitcheners Gin has been making tasty and bespoke bottles of gin liqueurs in Bromley Cross since November.

Mr Knowles said: "We took a tour of Manchester Three Rivers Gin ­— you can go to a class and you make your own bottle of gin from start to finish.

"We thought it would be really interesting to look into doing it from home."

The pair acquired a licence to compound gin ­— allowing them to "distinctly alter the character or flavour of a spirit" for sale.

Kitcheners sells a variety of flavours of gin liqueur including Gingerbread, Passionfruit, Pomegranate and Cherry. They have also been branching out into flavouring vodkas and Whiskey.

Mr Knowles explained they buy in high quality spirits to work their magic on and make four or five bottles a week.

He said their liqueurs differ from traditional gin because you do not need to have it with a mixer, it is not as strong and can be enjoyed on its own.

n Visit their Facebook page Kitcheners Gin or website kitchenersgin.co.uk online.