The boom in craft gins and new whiskies fuelled a 20% increase in UK distillery businesses in the last year, says a new report.
Research by law firm RPC suggested there were a record number of trade mark registrations.
The number of new trade marks registered for spirits jumped 12% in the past year, with 2,482 filed in 2018, up from 2,210 in the previous 12 months, said the report.
The number of distillery businesses in the UK increased to 205 in 2018, up from 170 in 2017.
They included Holyrood Distillery, producing the first new single malt in Edinburgh since 1925, Whitetail gin on Mull, Lagg whisky distillery on Arran and Eight Lands vodka and gin on Speyside.
Flavoured gins enjoyed a record year in 2018, with a 751% increase in sales in the UK, the research showed.
Ciara Cullen, of RPC, said: "Consumer demand for new flavours and experiences has contributed to increased innovation and diversification of product lines - we are seeing all kinds of exciting new infusions.
"A lot of multinational distillers are now bringing out extra lines and limited runs of niche drinks, to compete with independents that have started to bite into their market share."
