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# high spirits
Americans are acquiring a taste for Jameson - but it's not so bright at home
Sales are up nearly 10% in America, but are struggling at home.
SALES OF JAMESON in the United States have increased by almost 10% in the last year, according to distiller Pernod Ricard.
The USA is the biggest market for the whiskey. Overall, 2013/2014 seems to have been a strong year for the brand, with 4.7 million cases shifted worldwide.
Jameson is gaining ground in other major markets, including South Africa, where volumes are up by 8%, and Russia, where there has been 4% growth.
However, Jameson executives are becoming increasingly concerned about the sales of spirits in Ireland, and used its financial year results to hit out against what it says is an increasingly challenging environment.
Irish Distillers, which runs Jameson for Pernod Ricard, said that sales have grown to their current level of nearly 5 million from 477,000 in 1988 when the spirit joined the Pernod Ricard stable.
Looking to the future, chief executive Anna Malmhake said: “In stark contrast to this growth and optimism for our export markets, the outlook for our industry here in Ireland is extremely concerning.”
The penal excise increases on alcohol accumulated in the last two budgets endanger the export success of indigenous products such as Irish whiskey as well as the 92,000 jobs being supported by the drinks industry in every county throughout Ireland.
The spirits market declined by 11.5% in the six months to the end of June.
Read: High spirits – Jameson sales up 13%>
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