GIN not Scotch whisky could be the tipple of choice in UK embassies abroad as the UK Government makes a concerted push to double the level of gin exports.

Britain is the largest exporter of gin in the world and some 70 per cent is produced in Scotland.

Last year, the equivalent of 1.6 billion gin and tonics were sold, which were worth £1.76bn to the UK economy.

Now, the UK Government has said it wants to double these figures to “bring them in line" with the £4bn generated by Scotch whisky exporters.

David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, while on a visit to the Inshriach Distillery in Aviemore, home to Crossbill Gin, said he would be working with the Foreign Office, the Department for Food and UK Trade and Investment to maximise gin production and sales at home and abroad.

This will include serving British gin at “key overseas UK embassies”, where increased exports are being targeted, as well as using Dover House, the Scotland Office’s Whitehall home, to “personally promote the thriving Scottish gin sector”.

During his visit to the Cairngorms, Mr Mundell said: “Everyone knows Scotland is the world leader in whisky; people are usually more surprised to learn that we are also a world leader in gin.”

The Secretary of State stressed how Scotland’s gin sector was going from strength to strength but the aim now was to help the drink match the exporting strength of Scotch whisky.

“I will work with Cabinet colleagues at home and at UK embassies abroad to make sure we are doing all we can to help quality Scottish gin reach bars and homes throughout the world,” declared Mr Mundell.

Among measures that it is hoped will help boost gin sales abroad are: cutting duty on gin by two per cent and saving the industry £100 million in new tax liabilities; opening up more than 100 new international food and drink markets in the last year, which has helped the gin industry export to a record 139 countries, and appointing the UK's first ever food counsellor in China to open up more food and drink exports.

Last year, America, Spain, Germany and Canada enjoyed more than 1bn British G and Ts and the UK Government is now targeting growing markets like India, Brazil and the Far East.