One in five Brits chooses cocktails over wine

Forget knowing your claret from your Beaujolais, Brits are more keen to know their Cosmopolitan from their Bellini, with one in five now opting for cocktails over wine.

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As reported by The Independent, a recent survey by commissioned by spirits brands Gordon’s, Baileys and Tanqueray found that 20% of Brits now prefer cocktails to wine and beer.

The survey researched 2,000 UK adults and found that Margaritas, Martinis and Mojitos are firmly in fashion as consumers become bolder with their drinks choices.

In tandem with the rise of popularity of classic and craft cocktails comes an increase in consumers trying their hand at at-home bartending, with sales of cocktail kit spiking this summer and nearly half of those surveyed owning cocktail equipment at home.

According to the survey, one in five Brits believe they are a “cocktail aficionado”, while 25% of Brits are keen to master the art of mixology at home.

“The UK’s love of cocktail culture and the growing trend to learn how to mix the perfect serves means that the time couldn’t be better to experiment with pairing cocktails with food,” cocktail writer Anna Jones told The Independent.

“The whole idea makes for a wonderful shared experience – getting together with friends and family and taking time to enjoy some delicious mixed drinks ahead of dinner,” she added.

But while this growing thirst for cocktails is welcome, there is still work to be done before Brits can rival Tom Cruise in the shaking stakes, as a whopping 70% of UK consumers don’t know that vodka is used to make an Espresso Martini.