Vodka falling out of fashion as 'bored' consumers plump for 'interesting' gin cocktails

Vodka isn't fashionable anymore
Vodka isn't fashionable anymore

Vodka has fallen out of fashion this year, as consumers plump for "more interesting" gin cocktails. Britons bought a record 47 million bottles of gin over the last year, up by seven million on 2016 as consumers named the G&T their favourite drink.

Vodka popularity fell by three per cent from this year to last year, according tothe annual poll by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

The WSTA polled  2,038 people on what they choose to drink and found that gin had replaced vodka in the rankings; in 2016 21 per cent of consumers said they drank gin, and 26 per cent said they had vodka.

This changed in 2017, with 29pc of Britons saying they drank gin and 21pc vodka.

Experts suggested that a G&T may be more fashionable now than a vodka and cola.

A spokesperson for the International Wine and Spirits Competition told The Telegraph: "Because gin has had a big trend at the moment - there's less vodka being bought.

Many consumers are plumping for locally-distilled gin
Many consumers are plumping for locally-distilled gin

"There's more experimenting to be had with gin - lots of different cocktails to be had which consumers may be finding more interesting than having vodka with a mixer."

She also said that there is a renaissance for buying locally, from small-batch gin distilleries, and many of these have popped up over the past year.

Gin sales have doubled in value in the last six years to £1.2 billion in the 12 months to September, up from £630 million in 2011, WSTA's market report figures show.

The equivalent of more than 8.8 million bottles of gin were sold in pubs, bars and restaurants to a value of £729 million in the same 12 months, while 38.7 million bottles were sold in shops and supermarkets.

In the 12 weeks up to September, gin sales were up 26% by volume in shops and supermarkets and up 34% by value compared to the same time last year.

HMRC figures early in the year showed that gin exports were outperforming those of British beef and soft drinks.

WSTA chief executive Miles Beale said: "The latest WSTA market report is showing yet another sparkling result for gin sales in the UK.

"The British public show no signs of growing tired of trying new gins with well over 100 brands now available on the UK market.

"It comes as no surprise that gin has climbed to the top of a poll of most popular spirit drinks."

The spirit's popularity has seen producers offering up an increasing range of locally-sourced botanicals, such as seaweed, rhubarb and Christmas gins with frankincense and myrrh.

A total of 45 new distilleries opened in the UK during 2016, according to HMRC, taking the total to an estimated 273, more than double 2012's 128.

In March, the Office for National Statistics added it to its typical shopping basket of goods used to calculate inflation.