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Almost six million cases of Jameson were shipped last year

Jameson owners Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard shipped 5.7 million cases of Jameson whiskey last year as the company reported strong growth across the board.

Over the last 12 months Jameson sales increased by 12pc in volume and 16pc in value as the brand continued its 27-year streak of consecutive growth.

The Irish whiskey has continued to grow in importance for its parent Pernod Ricard, which also has the likes of Absolut vodka, Beefeater, and Malibu under its control.

Jameson now represents 23pc of the company's total sales in the US with the firm attributing most of its success to a strong advocacy base amongst its consumers.

Irish Distillers chairman Jean-Christophe Coutures said the firm has seen the global whiskey renaissance continue "with gusto".

“Here at home we’re proud to see our Irish whiskey sales growing due to a combination of increased tourism and also a growth in the cocktail market. Ireland’s emerging appreciation for cocktails is seeing our products mixed creatively by Ireland’s bartenders to serve up something new and different for consumers and we applaud this.

“However, despite the overall global success of our brands, the domestic market continues to pose challenges. Ireland has the third highest excise rates on spirits in Europe. It is damaging to our reputation that an American tourist can buy a bottle of Jameson in the US for almost half the price of the same bottle in Ireland, the home of Irish whiskey," Mr Coutures said.

Source: www.independent.ie