English gin makers toast boom in sales as spirits reach record high

Surging demand for gin has led to a boom in England’s alcohol industry, which registered more distilleries than Scotland last year for the first time ever.

Figures in the alcohol industry are hailing a “ginaissance” with sales of the juniper-flavoured spirit in the UK hitting an all-time high in 2018, as London gin bars and distillery centres grow in popularity.

Some 166 distilleries were registered in England last year, compared with 160 north of the border, where Scotch Whisky has traditionally dominated the UK spirit market.

Data out this morning from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has found that more than 66m bottles of gin were sold in the UK during the course of 2018, marking a 41 per cent rise when compared with the previous year.

The number of UK distilleries has more than doubled in the last five years, with HMRC issuing 31 new distillery licences in England in 2018 compared to just 11 in Scotland.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA, said: "It lifts the spirits to hear that distillery numbers continue to grow in the UK. It’s not just our gins picking up awards, but we have also seen a growing number of excellent quality English and Welsh whiskies too."

He added: "With all the uncertainty surrounding Brexit it is extremely reassuring that our talented spirit makers are continuing to innovate, invest and grow. With England now boasting more distilleries than its Scottish cousins, 2018 really has marked a moment in history. There is a significant amount of money being poured back in to the British spirits industry which has been helped by the Chancellor freezing spirit duty."