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