Britain currently produces some fantastic alcoholic drinks, from real ale and whisky to sparkling wine and cider, Britain has become renown for quality alcohol production.

Real Ale - is synonymous with the Great British Pubs, whether it's pale or dark, crisp or smooth there is always something new out there for you to try. The revival is being fronted by microbreweries nationwide opening at a rate of 50 a year and a new crowd of young people both male and female enjoying ale. British real ale's reformation is evident in the supermarkets too, as Waitrose lead the way by selling local ale in their stores, whilst Morrison's have agreed a deal with celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to stock his 'White ale' in 450 of their stores.
For more information on all things ale, take a look at: http://www.camra.org.uk/home.aspx   

Cider - Cider is the oldest drink produced in Britain, the first cider presses were mentioned as a source of income in Bath in 1230AD!

In Britain today enthusiasm for cider continues, with two million more cider apple trees being planted since 1995 and sales increasing 14.5% over the past year! Labeled as the 'wine of the west' premium cider has become the drink of choice in beer gardens, at music festivals and at barbeques across the UK. Fruit variants and the re-branding of perry as Pear cider have aided the revival of British cider further.
For more information on cider please see: http://cideruk.com/

Wine - English Vineyards have grown 75% to more than 1300 hectares in total, whilst last year production of wine reached 4 million bottles! Demand for English wine therefore has soared, as vineyards across the South and Wales are now producing red, white and sparkling wines with a greater professionalism and expertise. With English wine retailing at anything from £8 to more than £30 a bottle, vineyards such as Chapel Down and Camel Valley are taking on those at the very pinnacle of old world wine - the Champagne houses of France.

The jewel in the crown of English wine making is undoubtedly the successes of sparkling wine. Sussex producer 'Nyetimber' has gained international success with its Classic Cuvée recently taking the first prize at the International Sparkling Wine Championships in Verona. http://www.nyetimber.com/index.php.

Whisky - Whisky in Great Britain is synonymous with one thing: Scotland.
There is evidence of whisky distilling in Scotland dating back to the 6th Century AD. With over 150 different distilleries currently producing whiskey and such a vast heritage, Scotland undoubtedly remains at the forefront of international whisky production.

For all things whisky, take a look at: http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk

Vodka - production in the UK marks a new trend in British Spirits. With distillers such as 'Chase' of Herefordshire and Adnams producing award winning vodka, British Vodka provides an excellent alternative to its Russian counterparts. Chase's Potato Vodka won the Best Vodka in the World award at the San Francisco world spirit awards whilst Adnam's 'Longshore Premium Vodka' won a silver medal at the same event, both vodkas are produced using 100% British ingredients.

 www.chasedistillery.co.uk
www.adnams.co.uk    

Gin - and tonic is a drink synonymous with the great British summer. Distillers such as Sipsmiths, SW4, Jensen's and Hendricks are all producing great British Gins. Traditional British Gin distiller Beefeater's, won a gold medal for their import strength Gin at the San Francisco world spirit awards. 

For more information on British Gin see:

www.sipsmith.com
www.parkplacedrinks.co.uk/SW4-Gin.php 
www.hendricksgin.com 
www.beefeatergin.com 

Mixers - British mixers are an emerging market in the UK and provide the perfect accompaniment to either British Gin or Vodka. British mixers are currently being championed by Jo Hilditch of Herefordshire, who's 'British Framboise' and 'British Cassis', have achieved national acclaim, winning a 'Great Taste Gold' award. Both the Framboise and the Cassis are produced with Herefordshire raspberries and blackcurrants respectively and are an excellent addition to any cocktail.

For more information on British Mixers please see:
www.britishcassis.co.uk