The Irish whiskey sector is set to dramatically increase in the coming years, which will be welcomed by whiskey drinkers up and down the country. This is due to the fact that the Irish Whiskey Association has been officially launched and that they intend to invest a massive €1 billion into the country in the next decade.

Minister Simon Coveney announced that there is a total of 15 new whiskey distilleries already in development in Ireland and that exports of Irish whiskey are set to double by the year 2020. He hopes that the new association will work together in order to promote Irish whiskey and also to make sure that Irish whiskey is protected going into the future.

The association released some facts and figures about the current state of Irish whiskey. They announced that:

Irish whiskey exports have grown by 220% since 2003 and are now valued at €350m

In 2003, Irish whiskey made up just over 9 % of beverages exports, which has grown to over 28% of total beverages exports from Ireland.

Export number to double to 12 million cases by 2020 and double again to 24 million cases by 2030.

Irish whiskey employs 5,000 directly and indirectly, set to grow to 6,500 by 2025

Turnover for the industry is almost €400 million, with an annual direct domestic spend of €237 million

Irish whiskey visitor centres attract over 500,000 tourists every year

Irish whiskey sells into 77 countries, with USA, France, Germany, Russia and the UK accounting for almost 75% of total sales.