Americans Are Imbibing More Irish Whiskey Than Even Before

Step aside, green beer. This St. Patrick’s Day, more Americans will be celebrating with a dram of fine Irish Whiskey, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.

The Council reports that while the entire category is growing fast, the higher priced categories are “on fire.” Since 2002, high-end premium and super premium Irish Whiskeys grew a staggering 1,106 percent and 3,385 percent, respectively.

In 2018, nearly 4.7 million 9-liter cases (+10% compared to 2017) of Irish Whiskey were sold in the United States, generating an astounding $1 billion (+12% compared to 2017) in revenue for distillers.

“This is an exciting time for whiskey hailing from the Emerald Isle. The category is on fire,” said Distilled Spirits Council Public Relations Director Maggie Quinn. “We are experiencing a global whiskey renaissance, and Irish Whiskey, with its triple-distilled soft, sweet and smooth flavor profile is captivating U.S. consumers. Further, it has a long and storied heritage as one of the first whiskeys, and that is attractive to millennials who are always seeking a backstory in their glass.”