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Whiskey Industry- Statistics & Facts

Whiskey is an alcoholic beverage that is distilled through the use of fermented grain mash from either—or a combination of—malted barley, corn, rye, or wheat. It is then left to age in wooden casks afterwards. The origins of whiskey distillation can be traced back to 2000 BC Mesopotamia, far before it gained worldwide prominence after the 15th century.

Trade

Whiskey is a strictly regulated spirit worldwide and may differ in base product, alcoholic content, and quality according to region. The United Kingdom, the home of Scotch whisky, was the single largest exporter of the spirit in the world in 2020, with exports valued at over five billion U.S. dollars. The United States was in a distant second at just over one billion dollars. On the other hand, the U.S. was, by far, the biggest importer of whisky in the same year, with imports valued at 1.7 billion dollars.

Sales

In 2020, whiskey sales volume in the United States amounted to nearly 73 million 9 liter cases and in the U.S. spirit industry, sales volume of whiskey is second only to that of vodka. For American made straight whiskey (a whiskey which must be aged in a charred oak barrel for at least two years), retail sales reached 9.4 billion U. dollars in 2020. In contrast, blended American whiskey (made from a mix of different whiskeys and/or grain spirits, coloring and flavoring) had retail sales of just over one billion dollars.

Brands

American whiskey is typically distilled from fermented mash of cereal grain and comprised of different types such as: bourbon, corn, malt, rye, and wheat whiskey. The leading U.S. whiskey brand is Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. Jack Daniels was also second amongst the leading straight whiskey brands in the United States, accounting for 19.1 percent of the sales volume share in that market. Other popular whiskey brands in the U.S. include: Fireball, Crown Royal, Jim Beam, and Jameson Irish Whiskey. In 2020, whiskey sales volume in the United States amounted to nearly 73 million 9 liter cases and in the U.S. spirit industry, sales volume of whiskey is second only to that of vodka.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Jan Conway, Dec 3, 2021

Key insights

Retail sales of straight whiskey in the U.S.
10.9bn USD
Retail sales of Canadian whiskey in the U.S.
6.7bn USD
Retail sales of Irish & other whiskey in the U.S.
2.13bn USD
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Size of the whiskey market worldwide from 2012 to 2025 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Spirits

Global whiskey market size from 2012 to 2025

Revenue of the whiskey market worldwide in 2022, by country (in million U.S. dollars)

Spirits

Global whiskey market revenue 2022, by country

Sales volume of whiskey in the United States from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 9 liter cases)*

Spirits

U.S. sales volume of whiskey 2010-2021

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