The UK has exported gin worth more than R 9 billion

A thirst for British gin around the world has exporters toasting yet another year of record sales.

Annual revenues of the spirit overseas have surpassed the £500m (R9.2 billion) mark for the first time, according to the Wine And Spirit Trade Association.

It has been a decade of unprecedented demand for British gin, dubbed the ‘gin-aissance'.

Last year the amount of gin exported was worth £530m (R9.7 billion) – more than double the figure in 2008.

The UK is the world's larger exporter of the spirit, with the EU, US and Australia among the biggest markets. 

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By value, more gin is exported than beef and the trend shows no sign of abating. 

Brits themselves are also still enjoying their gin, with Britons buying 55m bottles a year; or about 105 bottles per minute.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine And Spirit Trade Association, says: "The global thirst for British gin continues to grow and there is no doubt those overseas are drawn to the quality of gin made here. Gin is a quintessentially British spirit and perfect for anyone to tap into."

Daily Mail