New figures have revealed that Irish whiskey exports to the US slowed in 2014. Despite the category's export value in the country hitting an estimated 157m/Euros (a 7% year-on-year jump) growth was weaker than previous years, according to the Irish Food Board. News of a slowdown may concern Irish whiskey distillers, for whom rapid global growth has been driven by buoyant US demand. Investment in the category last year saw William Grant & Sons open a new Tullamore Dew distillery, while smaller players such as Teeling Whiskey Co, Walsh Whiskey and Dublin Whiskey Co all started investing in new production sites. Overall, Irish whiskey exports remained strong, with double-digit sales growth world-wide. Despite the slowdown in the US, other markets such as Russia and South Africa showed impressive growth, it added.
