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As the world of whisky continues to evolve, Irish whiskey makers are seeing more and more opportunity to close the gap between them and their tweedy Scotch cousins.
In recent years, the Irish whiskey industry has gone from a niche market in the world of whisky to one that is gaining more and more attention from consumers and industry experts alike. This is thanks in part to a resurgence in popularity, as the spirit is embraced by a new generation of drinkers. The growth is being driven increasingly by the craft Irish whiskey market, which has been bubbling quietly for the last several years and is now beginning to put Ireland’s whisky industry on the global map in terms of quality and variety.
The popularity of Irish whiskey has also been buoyed by a renewed focus on Irish heritage, as consumers look to intimately connect with their ancestry through the drinking experience. This has seen a renewed interest in Irish whiskey, with the country’s whiskeys slowly but steadily gaining market share.
This renewed interest is also allowing the Irish whiskey industry to compete more directly with its tweedy Scotch cousins. Many of the same processes and ingredients are used, but Irish whiskey production is in many ways less regulated. This allows Irish whiskey makers to be more flexible and innovative with their craft, allowing them to create distinctive, original and complex expressions.
The future looks bright for Irish whiskey makers, as they continue to present consumers with an ever-growing selection of exciting and diverse bottlings. With the market for both Scotch and Irish whiskey growing around the world, it looks like it won’t be long before Irish whiskey makers catch up with their tweedy Scotch cousins, reclaiming their rightful place at the top of the whisky world.
