GIN sales have seen a staggering boost to reach a record 73 million bottles last year, latest figures show.

Sales broke £2 billion in 2018 - almost doubling in two years, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) annual market report.

Previously unpublished figures show that sales of gin in the first quarter of the last two years peaked in March in the run up to Mothering Sunday, suggesting it is a popular gift for women.

Between January and March 2017, gin sold in UK supermarkets and shops reached 6.4 million bottles, of which 2.6 million (41%) were sold in March, while the same period last year saw 52% sold in March.

The latest figures show that sales of gin over the 12-week Christmas period were up 40% on the same time last year.

During the whole of 2018, Britons bought more than 73 million bottles of gin, worth £2.1 billion and breaking all previous records.

WSTA chief executive Miles Beale said: "The truly staggering rise in gin sales shows that British gin is gaining more and more fans by the day. And we fully expect to see sales rise again in March this year, just as they did last year.

"It's high time gin's new status and reputation were celebrated and supported by Government, which should be offering more support for British gin exports and a less taxing duty regime, both of which fail to support our entrepreneurial and innovative distillers."

One of these companies currently surfing the gin wave is the Clwydian Range Distillery, where husband and wife team, Fiona and Simon Lewis, have seen their hand-crafted product take off since it was launched late last year.

"It has been absolutely wonderful and not what I expected at all," says Fiona. "We launched in November but really we saw it as a hobby and something we would do from home because I have a full-time job with the NHS.

"We're getting wonderful feedback and we've sold out at both gin festivals we've attended - it seems that everyone loves gin at the moment."

Fiona's gin is distilled in small batches of 20 bottles at the micro distillery next to the family home in Lixwm, in Flintshire, with each batch of the artisan craft gin produced using a traditional 10ltr copper alembic still and a recipe based on six essential botanicals, with each bottle containing these key ingredients which are blended to 40% ABV.

"Gin is so diverse," says Fiona when I ask her the reasons behind gin's new found popularity. "There are so many different flavours and new tonics out there which you can add to it. There is a flavour out there for everyone now, when before there was just one gin and just one tonic.You never used to see men drinking gin and tonic but I think you started seeing a change three or four years ago."

According to Fiona, Cariad Gin was inspired by family walks around the Clwydian Range and exploring the natural botanical produce the landscape has to offer.

"Our business is actually called Clwydian Range Distillery, in honour of the times as a family we have spent enjoying the hills surrounding the amazing area we live and work in," she said.

"I'm always amazed at the natural beauty surrounding us, especially while out walking. It's a real family affair running the business and producing our first product, Cariad Gin, myself, Simon and the three children, have all been involved, big or small, in bringing the range to life."

Sales of gin have tripled since 2009, with Britons rediscovering their taste for the spirit to such a degree that drinkers spent £461m on gin last year, up by 32.5% on the year, according to the Office for National Statistics. That compares with just £126m spent by gin lovers back in 2009, with the renewed interest also helping to fuel a surge in new distilleries.

"There is a lot of work involved in starting up," explains Fiona. "It was two-and-a-half years ago that we bought our still but then to produce spirits in the UK by distilling alcoholic liquids or by any other process, such as cracking ethylene gas, you'll need a distiller's licence and approval for your plant and process.

"After that we kept practicing and trialling and failing, and it has not been an easy journey. We have the six main botanicals we use and we steep them in pure alcohol for 48 hours and then it goes through the still, and when it reaches about 76-80 degrees that's when you start getting the vapour through. The vapour then goes through the gorse we've collected off the mountain, which gives it a lovely earthy taste. Then we let it rest for 24 hours and I cook the fruit which gets the fluids out - then I add the dried bay leaves and marmalade and that soaks for several days. From start to finish it's a nine-day process to produce 20 bottle."

Fiona's gin uses distributor Stori Beers, based in Bala, with stockists including Dylan's Restaurants in Llandudno, Cricieth and Menai Bridge, Wine Knot in Mold - where it is currently gin of the month, the Blue Bell in Halkyn, Purple Moose in Porthmadog, The Stables in Betws Y Coed, Wine Vaults in Holywell and of course the family's local, the Piccadilly Inn in Caerwys.

"We've got to meet loads of other distillers at gin festivals but we are a little cottage industry with a licenced premises in our kitchen," she laughs. "It is a hobby and something the whole family have become involved in. When we do deliveries we all have a day out and we go foraging for the ingredients as a family. My eldest puts the labels on the bottles and we have all had input into the designs - it was very important for the children that we had a tortoise on the label!"

As for the future. Fiona sees no reason why the current gin boom will slow down and as a result the family are planning more flavours to go with the Marmalade and Bay Leaf Gin and Blackcurrant Gin they already produce.

"We are developing other flavours at the moment," she adds. "We're trying a gorgeous lemon and lime, which is a lovely refreshing drink for the summer and then looking at some spicier ones for autumn and winter.

"I think the UK's love of gin is just going to go on and on - there is a taste there for everyone but we are more than happy to be a small family concern. If we do expand it will only be into the garden!"

For more information go to www.clwydianrangedistillery.co.uk