A DALES couple have launched an alcoholic drink for vegans.

Peter Smith and his partner Penelope, who are originally from Barnard Castle, in Teesdale, came up with the idea for the product following a health scare in 2012, while living in Spain.

The pair decided to eat healthier diets and started experimenting with different ingredients.

Mr Smith said: “One evening, as a joke, I mixed brandy with a drink called Horchata and the result was delicious. Horchata is the tuber of the tiger sedge plant. It’s a good source of oleic acid and helps to lower cholesterol – plus, it’s vegan.”

A major drinks company in Spain offered start-up support to Mr Smith who has since brought his drink, Besos de Oro - which translates as Golden Kisses - to the UK.

Mr Smith’s new Besos Food and Drink company was also given a loan of £10,000 from the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF).

The festive, creamy liquor can be found in Cross Lanes Organic Farm Shop, Barnard Castle - the first shop to stock the product in the UK.

Julie Micklethwaite, investment manager for start-ups at BEF, said: “We’re really excited to see Peter’s business kick-started here in the UK.”