Drinks

Irish whiskey chasing Scotch as sales reach a record 14 million cases

The Ukraine war is hitting exports, but industry experts are confident sales in emerging markets such as India will offset any losses

Almost all Irish whiskey producers recorded a rise in sales in 2021, including Proper Twelve, the brand associated with MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Jameson continued to lead the pack, exporting 9.8 million cases

Sales of Irish whiskey grew to a record 14 million cases last year and remain on course to overtake sales of Scotch in the US in the current decade.

Even with exports expected to decline due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the figures project that growth in emerging markets will offset the decline. Russia is the Irish whiskey industry’s second biggest market and Ukraine is the 11th largest.

Overall, Irish whiskey sales rose 21.5 ...