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Rye whiskey volumes up 536% in the US
Rye whiskey volumes are “skyrocketing” in the US having grown 536% from 2009 to 2014, according to the latest data from the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus).
Rye whiskey volumes soared 536% from 2009 to 2014, according to Discus
Since 2009, rye whiskey volumes have jumped from 88,000 nine-litre cases to 561,000 in 2014.
This translates to a 609% increase in value from just over US$15 million in supplier revenues in 2009 to more than US$106 million in 2014, representing approximately US$300 million in retail sales.
‘The growth of Rye whiskey has been phenomenal, given that as late as 2000, Rye volumes were virtually non-existent with only a handful of brands in the US market,” said David Ozgo, Discus chief economist.
“While it still represents a small share of the overall American whiskey category, its growth is skyrocketing.”
Several factors have aided rye whiskey’s comeback, according to Ozgo, such as a general growing interest in American whiskeys from 2009 to 2014.
For example, Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey volumes grew28.5% over the same period and value increased 46.7% to “reflect consumers’ taste for more premium quality”.
Furthermore, Americans are “embracing” the heritage of spirit brands and the revival of cocktail culture has also bolstered the category, with classic concoctions such as pre-Prohibition recipes – that were often rye-based – proving particularly favourable.