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Americans are drinking Irish whiskey in record numbers says survey

Massive spike in popularity is attributed to males and young professionals

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, May 6, 2012, 7:29 AM

Updated Sunday, May 6, 2012, 7:29 AM

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Irish whiskey is the fastest growing spirit in America with a whopping 22 percent increase in sales.

Americans are drinking more Irish whiskey than ever new research shows.

Irish whiskey is the fastest growing spirit in America with a whopping 22 percent increase in sales.

The information comes from market research group Technomic, showing volume shares of Irish whiskey showed the largest increase in the spirit category.
The increase is attributed largely to males and Millennials (men and women born after 1981).

Spirits expert F. Paul Pacult told Imbibe magazine last year that the appeal of Irish whiskey can be attributed to its approachability: "though distinctive and complex enough to satisfy whiskey connoisseurs, the spirit is also gentle and amicable enough for a whiskey novice to get to know."

A similar sentiment was stated in an article published earlier this year by influential food blog Food Republic, founded by TV celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. Unlike Scotch, the writer noted that Irish whiskey “sets itself apart as the subtler, smoother spirit.”

Tequila, rye and corn whiskey also saw notable increases in volume, reports the NY Daily News. Vodka remains the leading spirit in the US with a 32 percent share of spirits volume.

According to the site Food Republic, the top 10 whiskeys to try include Jameson 12-Year-Old Special Reserve, Tullamore Dew 10-Year-Old Single Malt and Bushmills 10-Year-Old Malt.

Nster.com

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26 Comments

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Bythebay | May 08, 2012, 12:17 PM EDT

angrypaddy, not the Irish drinking it, it's the Americans!!!

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STEVENSTAR | May 07, 2012, 01:38 PM EDT

BUT AMERICANS HAVE MANY ISSUES, IM NOT SURPRISED ..

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EamonnDublin | May 07, 2012, 05:24 AM EDT

I don't drink alcohol. Am I missing something? Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

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mfinucane | May 07, 2012, 01:34 AM EDT

powers on the rocks is the way to go. i'll drink water & risk rusting my pipes befor i'll drink jamesons.nasty harsh stuff.

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Intercessor | May 06, 2012, 11:09 PM EDT

From what I understand, it was the Scots who kept the whiskey distilling tradition alive and well in the Appalachia Mountains during Prohibition in the States. I think the Irish were famous in the States for "Rum-running," like members of the Kennedy clan, specifically, old Joe Kennedy, who made enough money to get his son elected president of the USA.

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Bythebay | May 06, 2012, 07:25 PM EDT

Wiki's description of Irish whiskey production in Ireland immediately below. No doubt the current increase in the French Pernod Ricot's Jameson consumption in the US probably down to some good marketing, eg. the hawk of Achill!!

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seamus60 | May 06, 2012, 06:51 PM EDT

Have to go with DCveitvet. Jameson on the rocks is out on its own.

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EamonnDublin | May 06, 2012, 04:48 PM EDT

Hi, "BostonRugby" - You ask "what is behind the spike" in Irish Whiskey sales? Well, up until the early 1920's Irish Whiskey was far and away the world leader, producing 70% of the world's whiskey consumption. Then, prohibition in the United States (1920-1933) hit it very hard, as 75% of production had been exported to the USA. A "double whammy" landed the knockout in 1921, when, following Irish independence, its other main market, England, was hit on the head with import duties which, naturally, had not applied whilst Ireland was a part of Britain. Other punitive measures - reputed to be as a punishment - were introduced by Britain which effectively ended all Irish Whiskey exports to Britain. Up until that time, there were literally hundreds of distilleries across Ireland, many of them being only small family businesses. The Scots naturally saw their opportunity and they upped their game and took over the market. It has indeed taken a long time for the Irish to recover from its near total death in the early 1960s, and this has been greatly helped by the younger element of the world population preferring the smoother taste of Irish over Scotch - plus, the Irish pricing is very competitive. Jameson accounts for 70% of the Irish Whiskey market in the USA. Sláinte!! Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

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Bythebay | May 06, 2012, 04:02 PM EDT

Jameson Whiskey's owner, the French Distiller, Pernod Ricard, may very well be breaking all whiskey drinking records now with the defeat of French President Nicholas Sarkozy at the polls today!!

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Intercessor | May 06, 2012, 03:21 PM EDT

To Donal1951: A comment from the States. Maybe they should rename "Black Bush," and call it "George Dubyah!"

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Intercessor | May 06, 2012, 03:19 PM EDT

I wouldn't be surprised if they were also dying of liver failure "in record numbers!"

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CelticQueenUSA | May 06, 2012, 02:32 PM EDT

Powers straight or on ice w/water Slantia! (not good at gaelicd) Jack Daniels Black label also tops.

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Murph46 | May 06, 2012, 01:47 PM EDT

Uische Beatha !