THE ‘gin-aissance’ has seen the number of distilleries rise by a third in England according to research from Nottingham accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.
An increasing demand for boutique spirits led to 28 new distilleries opening in England last year, up from 21 in 2014 as the industry follows the success of the UK’s craft beer sector.
In 2015, gin sales fell just short of £1bn illustrating its popularity, particularly with younger drinkers.
James Simmonds, partner at UHY Hacker Young in Nottingham, said: “The increasing popularity of gin is very clear to see here in Nottingham as numerous pubs, bars and restaurants offering a huge variety of gin to their customers – the city even hosted the largest gin festival in the country earlier this month.
“Last year there was a significant increase in the number of distilleries opening in England which is very much a response to this ‘gin-aissance’ we are experiencing.
“The relatively quick production process of gin is another reason for the industry’s success.
“Gin distillers are able to generate revenue more quickly than whisky producers who have to wait for the whisky to fully mature – there’s likely to be many distilleries producing both gin and whisky simultaneously, but the whisky products won’t be available on the high street for some time.
“The UK’s spirits industry remains strong for the economy as a large amount of gin and vodka is exported around the world, primarily to the US. With sales hitting £1bn last year and continuing to rise, this trend does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.”
The rise in popularity of artisan distilleries in the UK follows the success of the craft beer industry. A study by UHY Hacker Young releases earlier this year found that 36 breweries had opening in 2015, compared with 29 the previous year.
