The value of Irish whiskey export sales fell 5% last year amid a tough trading climate for the category, especially in the US, according to trade body Bord Bia.
Irish whiskey exports were valued at €930m ($1.1bn) in 2025 and accounted for 45% of total drinks shipments from the country, data issued by Bord Bia showed.
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“The global whiskey market faced a challenging year, especially in the US, where Irish whiskey exports declined by 5%,” Bord Bia said in its report.
“Stocks were built up in late 2024 and the first half of 2025 in anticipation of tariffs, which were implemented in August 2025. This situation, combined with a 12% devaluation of the US dollar, made trading into the US challenging as the year progressed.”
Alcohol sales in the US came under pressure again last year, which hit the trend for “premiumisation” in the country, the trade body added.
“Emerging consumer trends such as GLP-1 usage are also impacting the market,” it said.
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By GlobalDataIn the EU, Germany was the largest market for Irish whiskey, while the spirit saw “stable” exports to France and a slight dip in sales to Poland.
Sales to the UK were also “slightly lower”, amid “a build-up of stocks at the start of the year, highly competitive conditions and squeezed consumer spending”.
Exports of Irish gin declined 14% in value “as markets continued to rationalise the range of brands offered for sale”.
Both gin and whiskey were negatively hit by US trading uncertainty, the group said. The spirits segments were also impacted by “slowing of premiumisation for whiskey and gin in the market due to increased pressure on consumer spending”.
After whiskey, liqueurs held the next largest export share by value in the year, at 21%. Irish cream liqueurs saw exports grow 10% to €430m, as the category “continues to benefit from premiumisation” in regions like the UK and North America.
Irish beer exports value increased 7% to roughly €350m. The value of exports to the UK were down 14% year on year, while shipments to EU markets were up 21%, with France being the largest market for Irish beer products in value terms.
Total Irish drinks exports value increased 2% in 2025 to €2bn. The EU, the UK and the US made up 81% of the exports.
The total value of Irish food, drink and horticulture exports grew 12% in 2025 to €19bn, which Bord Bia said was a “milestone performance” in “one of the most volatile trading environments in recent years”.
Bord Bia said it expected this year “to be a year of transition” for drinks, as “positive indicators in the US suggest that market sellout rates have improved, leading to lower inventories”.
It also highlighted Gen Z’s entry into spirits at a higher level as having a positive impact on spirits and RTDs in 2026, and said it expected “modest growth” for the EU, and further growth in markets like India, Japan, China and South Africa as the number of Irish exporters entering those markets increases.
