Whisky Market Overview

Quick Stats

• Approximately 53 bottles (70cl @40% ABV) of Scotch Whisky are exported from Scotland to around 180 markets worldwide every second, amounting to over 1.6 billion bottles annually.
• If these bottles were lined up, they would stretch for about 467,000 kilometers, which is more than 11 times around the Earth!
• In 2022, the value of Scotch Whisky exports reached £6.2 billion.
• Scotch Whisky accounted for 77% of Scottish food and drink exports and 25% of all UK food and drink exports in 2022.
• Furthermore, it constituted 26% of Scotland’s international goods exports and 1.5% of all UK goods exports.
• The Scotch Whisky industry contributed £5.5 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy in 2018.
• Direct employment in the Scotch Whisky industry in Scotland exceeds 11,000 individuals, while over 42,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the industry.
• Of these jobs, 7,000 are located in rural areas of Scotland, providing vital employment and investment to communities across the Highlands and Islands.
• Scotland fulfills around 90% of the industry’s barley requirements.
• In 2019, Scotch Whisky distilleries welcomed 2.2 million visitors, making it the third most popular tourist attraction in Scotland.
• Around 22 million casks are currently maturing in warehouses across Scotland, representing approximately 12 billion 70cl bottles.
• To be labeled as Scotch Whisky, the spirit must mature in oak casks in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years.
• As of July 2023, there are 146 active Scotch Whisky Distilleries throughout Scotland