More than 50 new distilleries opened in the UK last year, showing the “explosive creativity” of craft spirits, a study has revealed.

Accountancy group UHY Hacker Young claimed new "boutique" distillers were pushing big brands off the shelf. It said Scotland saw a 50% rise in new distilleries over the past year, from 12 in 2015 to 18 in 2016.

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“Both the craft spirits and the craft brewery sectors are going through a period of explosive creativity,” said James Simmonds from the accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, which helped to compile the figures.

In England, a record 35 new distilleries were opened last year compared with 28 the previous year. James Simmonds, of UHY Hacker Young, said: "Both the craft spirits and the craft brewery sectors are going through a period of explosive creativity.

"You can see that in everything from the logos, branding, and advertising of these products.

“The peculiarity of a product is streets forward of their large code competitors.

"The quality of the product is streets ahead of their big brand competitors.

"It is no wonder that the global drinks giants are worried, and the best way they have found to deal with that new competition is to get out checkbooks and buy them."

Read more at Source: BBC News