Some Aberdeen-based gin makers have raised a glass after doubling projected sales and scaling up production five-fold due to increased market demand.
Porter’s Gin, a premium gin created in Aberdeen was launched in December 2015. Within the last 12 months, the company has seen rapid sales growth, and is now looking to scale up bottling capacity.
Porter’s Gin is being exported to Malaysia, Singapore and Amsterdam, with many other countries looking to import it by the end of the year.
The gin was also recently awarded a gold medal at the International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in the London dry gin category.
Ben Iravani, co-owner of Porter’s Gin, said: “The success of Porter’s has been overwhelming and we are delighted to now be exporting our gin to bars across the world.”
“The demand for Scottish gin has increased rapidly, and with European countries now interested in the craft gin market, it’s an exciting time to be exporting.
“There are now more than 200 small-batch gin distilleries in the UK, with distillery openings more than doubling in the past decade showing how popular gin has become.”
The firm’s expansion comes on the back of a big thirst for gin in the UK.
Gin broke the £1billion sales mark for the first time in the UK this year, six months ahead of forecasts, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) said.
Sales have grown more than any other spirit sold in UK pubs, bars and restaurants and are up 19% on last year to a value of £619million, while the amount sold in shops, supermarkets and off licences is up 13% to a value of £437million.
A total of 40 new distilleries opened in the UK between January and November, a rapid expansion from the 116 in operation in 2010, according to HMRC figures.
WSTA said 283,000 hectolitres of gin, the equivalent of 40 million bottles, have been sold in the UK over the last 12 months, the equivalent of 1.12billion G&Ts.
British gin is now sold in 139 countries around the world, with America, Canada, Spain and Germany buying the most.
WSTA said UK gin brands had benefited from the US love for shows such as Downton Abbey and the James Bond franchise, helping to sell £159million worth of British gin to the Americans last year.
British gin exports to the US have increased by 553% in the last decade, the report said.
