The explosion in Scottish gin distillers is contributing to an export boom in white spirits for the UK.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has revealed that exports of gin have now reached £390 million – an increase of 37% in just five years.

Scotland’s 16 distilleries account for 70% of Britain’s gin manufacturing – many of them springing up in the last few years.

“This is fertile ground with enormous opportunities. There’s absolutely no reason why our gin trade can’t be as successful as whisky. I want to harness the ambition of our gin-trepreneurs and see them match that in years to come.

“We will continue to unleash the creative spirit of our food and drink entrepreneurs by giving them the freedom, the technology, the research and the people to think big, take risks and build profitable businesses.”

Overseas sales of gin, however, remain well behind whisky exports which are ten times larger despite falling from £4.26 billion to £3.95bn last year. Even so, there is a belief that the gap could close.