Shortly after the Kentucky Distillers’ Association announced bourbon’s $8.5-billion economic output, the Distilled Spirits Council released its Economic Impact study covering last year.

The highlights were (from the press release):

 American whiskey – Bourbon, Tennessee and Rye – volumes up 6.8 percent to 21.8 million cases and revenues up 7.7 percent to $3.1 billion. Note: The KDA report cited economic output, not revenues.

Cognac volumes up 12.9 percent to 5.1 million cases; revenues up 15.3 percent to $1.5 billion;

Irish Whiskey volumes up 18.7 percent to 3.8 million cases; revenues up 19.8 percent to $795 million;

Tequila volumes up 7.1 percent to 15.9 million cases; revenues up 7.5 percent to $2.5 billion; and

Vodka volumes, or one-third of all spirits volumes, up 2.4 percent to 69.8 million cases; revenues up 4.1 percent to $6 billion.

Total U.S. spirits export volumes increased 6.8 percent in 2016, driven largely by American whiskey – Bourbon, Tennessee and Rye – which increased 10.2 percent in 2016.

TOP 5 Export Growth Markets

Vietnam, up $29.2 million USD to a total of $45.9 million USD;

Spain, up $18.6 million USD to reach $104.1 million USD;

France, up $9.7 million USD to $97.6 million USD;

Singapore up 4.5 million USD to reach $30.7 million USD; and

Romania up $2.4 million USD to a total of $10.6 million USD.