Eight facts you may not know about Scotch

If all the bottles of Scotch whisky exported last year were placed in a line, how far would they stretch? Some of these pieces of Scotch trivia gold might surprise you.

Click through the following pages to discover eight facts you might not know about Scotch whisky

There are many dedicated Scotch fans out there who try to make it their business to understand the industry inside out, The Spirits Business included.

However, the Scotch Whisky Association’s (SWA) new Scotch at a Glance 2014 report reveals a number of factoids that even the most well-read dram lover might find surprising.

Of course, connoisseurs will know their malts from the grains, their Speysides from their Islays, but do they know just how many casks of Scotch whisky are quietly ageing in Scotland?

Click through the following pages to discover eight facts you might not know about Scotch whisky.

Scotch Whisky’s worldwide presence

The global appeal of Scotch whisky is no secret, but considering it can only be created in one relatively tiny country, its worldwide reach is quite astounding, with availability in around 200 markets. Globally, an incredible 99 million cases were exported in 2014 – earning £135 every second. Laid end to end, these bottles would stretch for around 30,000 kilometers – the equivalent of about six times the distance between Edinburgh and New York.

Distillery visitors

Distilleries are becoming booming tourist attractions across the entire spirits industry, and Scotch whisky distilleries are no exception. In 2014, a record-breaking 1.5m people visited Scotland’s Scotch whisky distilleries, an increase of 15% compared to 2010. Tourists spent almost £50m on distillery tours and in the centres’ cafes and shops, up from £27m in 2010. The SWA claims this reflects investment by producers to enhance their visitors’ centres, and create bespoke bottlings, tastings and blending sessions.

UK economy booster

Scotch whisky accounts for around a quarter of all UK food and drink exports, adding almost £5bn in gross value to the UK economy. More than 100,000 people are directly employed in the Scotch whisky industry, many of who come from economically deprived areas, while more than 40,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the sector.

Tax burden

Scotch whisky is one of the most highly taxed products in the world, with 80% of the price of an average bottle going to the exchequer’s pocket. Industry lobbyists and trade members have described this measure as “onerous”, but applauded UK Chancellor George Osborne’s recent decision to cut UK spirits duty by 2%, following a high profile campaign by the SWA, Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) and Taxpayers’ Alliance.

Auction record-breaker

As the value of Scotch whisky on the secondhand market hits a record-breaking high, old and rare bottlings are becoming increasingly coveted items at auction. The Macallan broke the Guinness World Record for the most expensive whisky sold at auction when a six-litre decanter of its no-age-statement “M” bottling was acquired for £381,620. The Scotch distiller’s The Macallan 64 Year Old in Lalique Cire Perdue sold for US$460,000 (£291,125) swiped the record in 2012.

Cognac competition

According to SWA figures, more Scotch whisky is sold in one month in France than Cognac in a year due to the country’s unwavering penchant for blended malts. France, the spirit’s second largest market, imported £445m worth of Scotch in 2014, the equivalent of 183m 70cl bottles.

Different mixing preferences

Many Scotch purists will declare any serve other than neat, or, occasionally, on the rocks, as a near-religious violation, but the spirit is enjoyed in numerous ways across the globe. Drinkers in the UK often choose to enjoy it with just a little water, but in Spain they mix it with cola. In Japan Scotch is enjoyed with lots of water and ice, and in China with cold green tea.

More than 100 licensed distilleries

There are 115 distilleries that are licensed to make Scotch whisky, which must be matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years. With many new sites and expansions planned, this figure is set the increase greatly in the coming years. Currently, around 20m casks of what will become Scotch whisky lie maturing in Scottish warehouses.