Jameson sells record 8.6m cases of whiskey

Jameson sold a record 8.6 million cases of whiskey last year despite the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.

The brand, which is by far the biggest Irish whiskey brand globally, saw sales jump 14 per cent in the 12 months to the end of June 2021 from 7.5 million cases a year earlier.

Sales were up 19 per cent in the US, Jameson’s main market, where it sold 4 million cases. The company also recorded double-digit growth in Russia, Britain, Germany, Australia, Ukraine and Poland. In the Republic, sales increased 6 per cent versus the prior year.

In so-called “emerging markets”, Jameson also saw strong growth with sales up 216 per cent in Nigeria, 85 per cent in India, 67 per cent in Brazil, 45 per cent in China.

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Difficult circumstances

Jameson is exported to more than 130 markets globally and has experienced 30 years of consecutive growth.

Irish Distillers, which owns Jameson, also reported 33 per cent growth in its prestige portfolio with all brands in double- or triple-digit growth led by Redbreast, which was up 31 per cent, and the Spot range, up 38 per cent.

“Despite the difficult circumstances arising from the global pandemic our portfolio, led by Jameson, has demonstrated incredible resilience. This was achieved despite the disruption to the hospitality sector in many markets throughout our financial year, coupled with increasing input costs,” said Conor McQuaid, chairman and chief executive of Irish Distillers.