The spirits sector once again demonstrated its strength with sales in Ireland increasing by just over 6% in 2022 to just under 2.7 million nine litre cases. Additionally, the value of exports also soared by 17.3% to almost €1.5 billion, according to the Irish Spirits Market Report 2022 from Drinks Ireland. This report is from the Ibec sector, which represents the interests of alcohol drinks manufacturers and suppliers on the island of Ireland. These increases continue the gains seen in 2021 and move both domestic sales and exports ahead to their highest levels ever.
Irish whiskey continues to experience spectacular growth, with export sales reaching 15.2 million cases in 2022. The United States remains the key export destination for this category. Following closely behind is the United Kingdom, which is the next biggest market globally for Irish whiskey. Notably, Poland and South Africa have also seen significant growth. In 2022, Poland grew by over 24% compared to 2021, becoming Irish whiskey’s fourth biggest market and surpassing Germany. South Africa saw an impressive growth of over 31% in volume, moving up one place to sixth.
The Irish Cream industry’s success story continues, as it draws even closer to the 10 million case benchmark in sales during 2022. This achievement is a testament to all the Irish Cream producers on the island of Ireland who consistently deliver the highest quality brands embraced worldwide. However, imitators remain a challenge to police, particularly in markets where the Irish Cream GI lacks the same protections it enjoys in the European Union. Addressing this issue is a focal point for Drinks Ireland.
Irish Poitín’s estimated sales in 2022 showed a slight decline compared to an exceptionally strong 2021. While sales align with figures from 2018 and 2019, we recognize that the domestic Irish and the GTR markets hold key opportunities for development in the short-term. The reopening of Global Travel Retail in 2022 was particularly welcome for Poitín. Nonetheless, there is still much that can be done to promote and grow this Irish spirits GI category.
The report also highlights a slowdown in the meteoric rise of gin in the last ten years, with a 1.7% decrease in 2022 compared to 2021. However, it is worth noting that this slowdown is driven by “standard” gin sales, while “premium” gin sales continue to thrive, boasting a 15% increase in 2022. This indicates that although gin drinkers may be consuming a smaller quantity, they are choosing more premium offerings.
