Why gin is a real tonic for drink market

BRITISH gin exports could soon rival Scotland’s £4billion whisky industry, a senior government minister has claimed.

Worldwide, the tipple is fast becoming as popular as whisky, with exports worth more than £390million last year, up from £288million in 2010.

But Scotland will not miss out on its popularity boost, as 70 per cent of British output is produced north of the Border.

Two centuries after English rivals forced many Scots gin-makers out of production, it is booming again, with more than a dozen new distilleries emerging in a single year.

Meanwhile, the UK Government is hoping that measures such as cutting duty on gin by 2 per cent and serving it at overseas embassies will lead to a sales surge that creates jobs and investment.

UK Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: ‘There is a huge opportunity for British gin makers to export more of our first-class products across the globe.

‘Traditional distillers like Beefeater trade

‘Huge opportunity for exporters’

on the proud history of this quintessentially British drink and it’s fantastic to also see innovators like Sipsmith pioneering new techniques and contributing to British gin being enjoyed worldwide.

‘This is fertile ground with enormous opportunities. There is absolutely no reason why our gin trade can’t be as successful as whisky, which made £4billion for our economy last year.’

The 2 per cent cut in excise duty on spirits benefited gin and whisky, slashing an average of 16p from the price of a bottle of Scotch.

The greatest demand for whisky is from the US, The Netherlands and Germany.

But gin, once nicknamed ‘mother’s ruin’, is becoming increasingly popular as a cocktail drink. Exports have risen by 37 per cent in the past five years, with sales to 139 countries bringing in £1.76billion.

Scotland’s most popular brand of gin, Gordon’s, is distilled at Diageo’s plant in Leven, Fife.