Fans of the water of life best sourced from the land north of our nation's borders might be surprised to know than a business at the heart of the whisky trade is here in Gloucestershire.

A social media post by Join in China, the Cotswold firm which helps oil the wheels of trade between businesses in the UK and China, toasted the efforts of Aceo Ltd and brought them to Punchline's attention.

The whisky broker was busy in Shanghai at a three-day exhibition discussing its wares and how to get them with potential Chinese customers.

"We have been selling to China already - small quantities for a number of years," said Dean Jode, from the business, which has its head office in Highnam.

"In recent times demand has started to really grow. The floodgates have been opened and we have been developing that side of the business.

"Historically we have just supplied cask whisky to customers, but now we offer bottled product as well. And that is really where the growth has come."

The numbers involved remained closely guarded - and with some of Aceo's brands being of the aged single malt variety it is not chasing high volume sales - but sales have been rising and customer numbers growing.

Aceo Ltd was founded in 1999 and is a member of the Scotch Whisky Association.

It sources its product from more than 90 producers and has a variety of brands in its stable, including Murray McDavid, Caol Ila, Bruichladdich, Clynelish, Bowmore and Auchroisk and Macallan.

It can offer "the full range of Scotch whisky including single malt, single grain and blended products. We also offer a selected range of other spirits, including Irish whiskey".