A new report compiled by the Ibec-affiliated Irish Spirits Association indicates that the amount of licensed spirits producers in Ireland doubled between 2014 and 2016 as the value of Irish-produced spirits increased 6.1% to €805 million in 2016.
According to The Irish Times, the report also predicts that sales will rise even further in 2017 due to exports of Irish-produced gins making a breakthrough in other markets. Gin production grew 31.6% in Ireland last year, making it the country's fastest-growing spirit in 2016. However, the Irish Spirits Association found that vodka is still the Republic's most popular spirit, despite sales falling by 25% over the past ten years.
Furthermore, the report revealed that 56% of spirits consumed in Ireland are produced domestically, with the value of Irish-produced spirit exports rising 29% from €624.27 million to €805.33 million between 2011 and 2016.
Meanwhile, the research showed that premium Irish whiskey sales were up 11.3% to 8.7 million cases in 2016, with whiskey exports now expected to exceed the 2020 target of 12 million cases.
