From the highlands of Scotland to the craft stills of Kentucky, the global whisky industry is booming, having produced billions of litres of spirit in 2022 while supporting millions of jobs and generating tens of billions in economic impact, all driven by surging exports and a growing thirst for premium expressions worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Scotland's Scotch whisky industry produced 1.84 billion litres of pure alcohol, marking a 11% increase from the previous year
- The number of Scotch whisky distilleries in operation reached 133 active malt and grain distilleries by the end of 2022, up from 130 in 2021
- Scotland's malt whisky distilleries accounted for 72% of total Scotch production volume in 2022 at 1.33 billion litres
- In 2022, the USA sold 78.9 million 9-litre cases of whiskey, up 7% from 2021
- Scotch whisky retail sales in the USA reached $4.5 billion in 2022
- Global Scotch whisky consumption was 1.35 billion bottles of 70cl in 2022
- Scotch whisky generated £5.3 billion in UK exports in 2021
- The Scotch whisky industry supports 41,000 direct and indirect jobs in Scotland as of 2022
- US whiskey industry contributed $8.7 billion to GDP in 2022
- Scotch whisky exports value grew 28% to £5.9 billion in 2022
- USA was the largest Scotch whisky export market with £1.16 billion in 2022
- France imported 157 million bottles of Scotch whisky worth £684 million in 2022
- Global no-age-statement (NAS) whisky share in trade 60% in 2022
- Premium whisky segment to grow at 8% CAGR to 2027 reaching $90 billion
- Sustainable whisky production initiatives adopted by 70% of Scotch distilleries by 2023
Global whisky production and consumption surged in 2022, fueling economic growth across leading nations.
Economic and Employment
- Scotch whisky generated £5.3 billion in UK exports in 2021
- The Scotch whisky industry supports 41,000 direct and indirect jobs in Scotland as of 2022
- US whiskey industry contributed $8.7 billion to GDP in 2022
- Bourbon sector in Kentucky generated $9 billion economic impact and 22,500 jobs in 2022
- Scotch whisky tourism attracted 2.1 million visitors generating £400 million spend in 2019 pre-COVID
- Indian whisky industry employs over 5 million people directly and indirectly in 2022
- Global whisky industry tax revenue exceeded $50 billion in 2022 across major markets
- Scotland's whisky sector paid £2.8 billion in tax in 2022
- Irish whiskey industry contributes €700 million to economy and 1,000 jobs in 2022
- Japan's whisky industry supports 10,000 jobs and ¥300 billion value in 2022
- US distilled spirits including whiskey created 2.4 million jobs nationwide in 2022
- Scotch industry invested £1.2 billion in capital expenditure in Scotland 2018-2022
- Whisky distilleries in Scotland purchased £1.5 billion in barley annually average
- Global whisky advertising spend reached $2.5 billion in 2022
- Kentucky Distillers' Association members employ 12,500 people with $4.5bn payroll impact
- Scotch whisky supply chain supports 60,000 jobs in Scotland
- Australian whisky industry economic value $500 million with 2,000 jobs in 2022
- France whisky sector turnover €1 billion and 5,000 jobs in 2022
- UK whisky exports supported 34,000 jobs in 2022
- Canadian whisky industry contributes CAD 2.5 billion to economy
- Whisky maturation stock value in Scotland estimated at £5 billion in 2022
- US whiskey tourism generated $1.2 billion in Kentucky alone in 2022
- Global whisky auction sales totaled $150 million in 2022
- Scotch whisky R&D investment £50 million annually
- Indian IMFL whisky exports revenue $200 million in FY2022
Economic and Employment Interpretation
It seems the world runs on more than oil; it sloshes along on a river of whisky, funding nations, employing millions, and proving that humanity's most treasured liquid asset is aged in oak, not stored in banks.
Exports and Trade
- Scotch whisky exports value grew 28% to £5.9 billion in 2022
- USA was the largest Scotch whisky export market with £1.16 billion in 2022
- France imported 157 million bottles of Scotch whisky worth £684 million in 2022
- US bourbon exports reached 1.5 million barrels valued at $500 million in 2022
- Indian whisky exports volume 100 million cases worth $300 million in FY2022
- Irish whiskey exports hit €1 billion for first time in 2022, up 27%
- Scotch exports to USA volume 122 million bottles in 2022
- Japan whisky exports $200 million in 2022, mainly to Europe and USA
- UK total whisky exports £6.2 billion including Scotch in 2022
- Taiwanese whisky exports grew 50% to 1 million bottles in 2022
- Scotch to India exports value £50 million despite high tariffs in 2022
- Global Scotch export volume 1.66 billion bottles in 2022
- US spirits exports including whiskey $2.1 billion in 2022
- Canada whisky exports CAD 150 million primarily to USA in 2022
- Australia whisky exports $50 million to 40 countries in 2022
- EU imported 50% of global Scotch exports worth £3 billion in 2022
- Singapore as re-export hub handled 20 million bottles Scotch in 2022
- Brazil Scotch imports 25 million bottles valued £120 million in 2022
- South Africa whisky imports 15 million litres annually average 2020-2022
- Scotch to China exports recovered to 40 million bottles post-tariffs in 2022
- Duty-free Scotch sales 250 million bottles globally in 2022
- Mexican tequila-whisky trade balance with Scotch at £80 million imports 2022
- Scotch exports growth rate 11% volume, 16% value in 2022
- Global premium whisky trade value up 14% to $30 billion in 2022
- Whisky accounted for 25% of UK food and drink exports in 2022
Exports and Trade Interpretation
Amidst a global thirst for liquid gold, Scotch remains the reigning monarch, but its ambitious court—from bourbon's bravado to Taiwan's meteoric rise—is proving the spirit of competition is wonderfully intoxicating.
Market Trends and Forecasts
- Global no-age-statement (NAS) whisky share in trade 60% in 2022
- Premium whisky segment to grow at 8% CAGR to 2027 reaching $90 billion
- Sustainable whisky production initiatives adopted by 70% of Scotch distilleries by 2023
- Flavoured whisky sales to rise 12% annually to 100 million cases by 2027
- Craft whisky market projected to hit $25 billion globally by 2030 at 15% CAGR
- American single malt whisky sales forecast to 2 million cases by 2025
- Low/no-alcohol whisky launches up 200% since 2020, market to $1bn by 2028
- Asia-Pacific whisky market to grow 10% CAGR to $40 billion by 2030
- Cask strength whisky popularity up 20% in sales 2022-2023
- Whisky investment funds returned 15% average in 2022 outperforming stocks
- Organic whisky production to triple by 2030 with 5% market share
- E-commerce whisky sales projected 30% of total by 2027
- Peated whisky demand up 18% globally 2022, led by Islay styles
- Women whisky consumers grew to 40% market share by 2023
- Rare whisky bottle prices averaged 25% annual return 2018-2023
- Blended whisky to maintain 70% volume share but premium malts grow faster
- Direct-to-consumer (DTC) whisky sales up 40% post-2020 to $5bn forecast 2025
- Whisky cocktails in bars increased 15% menu presence 2022-2023
- Carbon-neutral distilleries target 50% of Scotch by 2030
- Gen Z whisky entry-level brands sales up 25% in 2023
- Global whisky market volume to reach 6 billion litres by 2030 at 4% CAGR
Market Trends and Forecasts Interpretation
The whisky world is maturing rather nicely, thank you, as it cleverly caters to everyone from the curious Gen Z novice and the cocktail enthusiast to the eco-conscious sipper and the canny investor, all while premiumizing its liquid portfolio and quietly building a sustainable future in both cask and bottle.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, Scotland's Scotch whisky industry produced 1.84 billion litres of pure alcohol, marking a 11% increase from the previous year
- The number of Scotch whisky distilleries in operation reached 133 active malt and grain distilleries by the end of 2022, up from 130 in 2021
- Scotland's malt whisky distilleries accounted for 72% of total Scotch production volume in 2022 at 1.33 billion litres
- Global whisky production excluding USA reached 2.4 billion litres in 2021, with Scotch leading at 1.7 billion litres
- Ireland produced 48.4 million litres of pure alcohol in whiskey in 2022, a 5% rise from 2021
- Japan's whisky production volume was 78 million litres in 2022, down 2% from prior year due to maturing cask shortages
- The USA produced 1.07 billion proof gallons of whiskey in 2022, dominated by bourbon at 89%
- India’s Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) whisky production hit 450 million cases in FY2022
- Scotch single malt production reached 700 million litres of pure alcohol in 2022
- There are over 20 million casks currently maturing in Scottish warehouses, equivalent to 30 billion litres
- Grain whisky distilleries in Scotland produced 510 million litres in 2022
- The Kentucky bourbon industry produced 13.2 million barrels in 2022, a record high
- Welsh whisky production capacity is set to reach 1.5 million litres annually by 2024 from new distilleries
- Tasmania, Australia, produced 1.2 million litres of whisky in 2022 from 25 distilleries
- Canadian whisky production was 28 million hectolitres of pure alcohol in 2021
- Blended Scotch whisky production volume was 1.14 billion litres in 2022
- The number of new Scotch whisky distilleries under construction or planning reached 15 in 2023
- Bourbon barrel production in the US hit 22.3 million barrels in 2022 for whisky maturation
- Speyside region hosts 50 malt whisky distilleries, producing 40% of Scotland's malt whisky
- Islay distilleries produced 30 million litres of new make spirit in 2022
- Highland Scotch malt distilleries number 32, contributing 25% to total production
- Campbeltown has 3 active distilleries producing peated whisky styles
- Lowland Scotch grain distilleries produced 400 million litres in 2022
- Islands region Scotch production is 100 million litres annually from 8 distilleries
- Taiwanese whisky production reached 5 million litres in 2022 led by Kavalan
- French whisky from 100+ distilleries totals 15 million litres yearly
- Swedish Mackmyra distillery produced 500,000 litres in 2022
- Global craft whisky distilleries number over 2,000 as of 2023
- Scotch whisky maturation stock grew to 25.5 billion litres by end-2022
Production Statistics Interpretation
It appears Scotland is not only preserving its rich history but also diligently ensuring the future remains thoroughly pickled, with 11% more firewater flowing from its stills and enough maturing stock to float a small continent—or at least to solemnly toast its global dominance while neighbors diligently try to catch up.
Sales and Consumption
- In 2022, the USA sold 78.9 million 9-litre cases of whiskey, up 7% from 2021
- Scotch whisky retail sales in the USA reached $4.5 billion in 2022
- Global Scotch whisky consumption was 1.35 billion bottles of 70cl in 2022
- Bourbon sales in the US hit 24.1 million barrels consumed in 2022
- Indian whisky consumption reached 350 million cases in FY2022, 70% of total spirits market
- Japan domestic whisky sales volume was 45 million cases in 2022
- Scotch whisky sales in Great Britain were £2.1 billion in 2022
- Premium whisky (over $100/bottle) sales grew 15% globally in 2022 to $10 billion
- US total spirits sales led by whiskey at 25% market share in 2022
- Irish whiskey US sales volume up 17% to 4 million cases in 2022
- Single malt Scotch sales globally increased 12% in volume to 140 million bottles in 2022
- Blended Scotch sales represented 80% of total Scotch volume in 2022
- Whisky on-premise sales in Europe recovered to 60% of 2019 levels in 2022 post-COVID
- China whisky consumption grew 20% to 15 million cases in 2022
- Ready-to-drink (RTD) whisky-based products sales hit 50 million cases globally in 2022
- US craft distillery spirits sales including whiskey reached $4.5 billion in 2022
- Scotch whisky e-commerce sales surged 25% to £500 million in 2022
- Bourbon premium segment sales over $30/bottle grew 10% in US 2022
- Global whisky market revenue was $75 billion in 2022
- Australia whisky sales volume 2.5 million cases in 2022, up 8%
- France Scotch imports for consumption 12 million bottles in 2022
- Germany per capita whisky consumption 1.2 litres in 2022
- UK off-trade whisky sales value £3.2 billion in 2022
- Taiwanese whisky sales doubled to 3 million bottles in 2022
- World whisky day 2022 saw 1 million social media mentions boosting consumption
- US millennial whisky drinkers increased 15% to 40 million adults in 2022
Sales and Consumption Interpretation
While the world may be a bit more chaotic, our collective decision to take our whiskey straight, blended, on-premise, or in a fancy bottle proves that the global spirits market is confidently pouring itself a very robust and premium-sized measure of solace.
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