TWO gin lovers have come up with a novel way to buy your favourite tipple.

Childhood friends Hywel Shaw and Will Lucas have launched a free app to help drinkers select the best buys.

The Spirit Cupboard is an online comparison platform, stocking more than 10,000 bottles of gin, vodka, whisky and rum.

Hywel, 22, from High Legh, said: “The inspiration came from a family gin cupboard we have under the stairs.

“Each shelf has its own rating, the better the spirit, the higher the spot on the shelves.

“The Spirit Cupboard allows you to collect your favourite spirits on a virtual shelf.”

Part-time salesman Hywel, and Will, a financial adviser from Wilmslow, have known each other since they were 12.

“We’ve been developing this idea for two years,” said Hywel, a former pupil at Lymm High School.

“Customers don’t need to go anywhere else. We show our users where they can purchase their next favourite spirit from.”

The pair have teamed up with renowned online retailers and specialist suppliers.

“It is all live so when prices change, our prices change,” said Hywel.

“We are promoting trustworthy brands. It is extremely competitive.

“There are so many spirit lovers out there, we know the market and demand is there.”

The pair receive commission from every sale and have lots of plans in the pipeline to grow the business.

The duo, both keen golf enthusiasts, hope to develop a forum for spirit lovers to share their passion.

“We want to create a community for people and friends to talk about spirits,” said Hywel.

“We’re hoping to add reviews to make it more exciting. We also plan to work with distillers direct.

“This app is a modern marketplace that empowers members to purchase their favourite spirits from the comfort of home or while on the go.”

The mobile app was developed by Fortnight, a web and mobile application company with offices in Manchester, London and Vienna.

To download the free app visit spiritcupboard.co.uk