World Spirits Report 2025: Irish whiskey
There’s much optimism about whiskey from the Emerald Isle, with exports and distillery visitor numbers returning to growth.
Exports of Irish whiskey rose by 13% in value last year, with growth across all markets except the UK, according to a Bord Bia report. By volume, exports were up by 3.6%.
Meanwhile, new figures from the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) revealed the number of tourists visiting Ireland’s distilleries in the past year is the highest since the pandemic, having returned to more than one million visitors in the year to June 2025.
The category has already seen growth this year, with IWSR revealing a 2% gain for Irish whiskey volumes in the first six months of 2025. Irish whiskey’s growth was driven by markets including the UK (up by 8%), India (up by 23%) and Japan (up by 27%).
While the category’s biggest market is in decline (US exports fell by 3.5% last year), there are pockets of opportunity for the category in emerging places such as Mexico and India. The IWA views Mexico as a “bright opportunity” with its growing middle class, a population of more than 130 million, and status as the world’s 15th-largest economy.
Regarding Mexico, director of the IWA Eoin Ó Catháin said export value “increased fourfold in the past four years, albeit from a very low base”.
In terms of exports, the biggest growth for the category in 2024 came from India, which overtook the UK to become the fifth-largest export market after soaring by 57.5%.
Stephen Teeling, sales and marketing director of Dublin’s Teeling Whiskey Company, notes there is still growth in premium price tiers. “Although growth at entry-level price points has been under pressure in more mature markets over the past 12-18 months, we are still seeing strong momentum in the premium segment – especially across broader retail channels where consumers are seeking greater variety within a still relatively narrow category.”
He also believes in the growth potential of the on-trade, citing a continued focus on “innovative serves” such as frozen Irish Coffees through a collaboration with New York’s The Dead Rabbit bar.
The IWA has expressed concern that from 2026, exports from both the UK and US will face a lower tariff than EU whiskies in India. The recently concluded UK-India trade deal will halve tariffs on Scotch, but Irish whiskey will still face a 150% tariff.
As for 2025, Irish whiskey’s growth is set to be up. Euromonitor data estimates a volume rise of 2.1% to 12.4m nine-litre case and a value increase of 4% to US$9bn. For 2026, the sector could see a gain of 2.8% in volume to 12.7m cases and 6.4% in value.
Brands to watch in 2026
Ballina
Formerly known as Connacht Distillery, the brand has gone through a major rebrand under new owner Terroir Distillers, plus it recently released its inaugural single malts – the first to come out of County Mayo in 150 years. Terroir Distillers believes Ballina has “great potential for growth”, so the next year could be particularly fruitful for the distillery.
Sliabh Liag
The County Donegal-based brand recently gained £15 million (US$19.8m) in funding from supply chain platform Ferovinum to help it scale up. Like Ballina, it is one of the newer distilleries on the island, and has just launched its first whiskeys from the new Ardara site.
Garavogue
The new brand from Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac hails from the Sligo-based distillery it acquired in 2022, and has since been renamed Hawk’s Rock. With former Bushmills blender Helen Mulholland at its helm, there could be big things to come from the brand next year.
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