UK welcomes 73 new registered distilleries

Since 2010, a total of 73 new distilleries have been registered in the UK alone, according to the recent WSTA (Wine and Spirits Trade Association) Annual Spirits Report.

No fewer than 73 new distilleries have registered in the UK since 2010

The report also detailed that 48% of UK adults drink spirits nowadays, equating to 24 million people, with whiskies and vodka proving to be most preferable among consumers (24%).

Gin was named as the next most popular spirit (20%), followed by liqueurs and flavoured spirits (17%), rum (13%) and brandy and pre-mixed drinks (7%).

A total of 19% of those questioned said they did not drink any spirits.

The location of consumers’ drinking occasions changed their preferred spirits choice, with 15% preferring to drink whiskies at home, but 8% choosing vodka at a friend’s house, 14% choosing vodka in a bar or pub and 3% choosing vodka in a restaurant.

This was according to a survey of 2,047 UK adults who were questioned about their drinking habits over the last four weeks in September 2015.

The WSTA Annual Spirits Report also revealed that some of Britain’s best-known exports, including the James Bond franchise and Downton Abbey, helped boost the nation’s gin shipments to the US by 7% last year.