Irish Distillers sold 6.4m cases of Jameson whiskey during the first half of its financial year, ending in December, an increase of 11% year-on-year, as sales surged in America.

Sales of the Irish whiskey in the US exceeded 2.5m cases for the six-month period, an annual increase of 8%, and there were also significant sales increases in Ireland (+11%) as well as South Africa (+21%), India (+47%), Poland (+66%), and global travel retail (+43%).

The company's prestige range of whiskeys experienced sales volume growth of 26% during the period, driven by sales of the Redbreast range, which rose 20% and exceeded 1000,000 in 2022, again boosted by the US (+32%), Ireland (+11%) and global travel retail (+22%).

Sales of the Spot range of single pot still whiskey also grew 39% with strong performances in the US (+35%), Ireland (+50%), global travel retail (+124%) and Canada (+119%).

Powers Irish Whiskey recorded volume growth of 15% compared to last year, with accelerated growth in the US (+68%), which was supported by a new import and distribution agreement with Lafayette Imports.

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“Today’s results demonstrate the strength of our portfolio of Irish whiskeys," said Nodjame Fouad, chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers.

"I am incredibly proud of the work of the teams both here in Ireland and globally who are driving the growth of Irish Distillers’ portfolio in markets around the world and I would like to thank them for their continued creativity and dedication.

"As we look to the next six months of our financial year, we are encouraged by our half year results.”

The company has announced investment of €250m to build a new distillery for Jameson, Powers, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, the Spot family and Method and Madness at a 55-acre site in Midleton, Co Cork.

Some 800 jobs will be created during the construction phase, and the project is expected to be completed in 2025.

(Pic: Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)