Scotch is drunk in every continent. Europe & Asia are the largest consumers. Africa, especially north Africa drinks the least, along with the Middle East, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. The Association's 2024 data looks at Scotch markets by volume. Bet you can't guess who tops the list of scotch-drinking countries?
In 2024, India zoomed ahead of France, once, for many years, the top Scotch-consuming nation. Folks in India went through 192 million 700 ml bottles Scotch last year! And the Indian affinity for the fine amber liquid is growing rapidly year on year.
The French appreciation of Scotch is an established fact, till India showed itself to be a bigger fan of the aged malt drink. In 2024, the country went through 177 million bottles. Cheers!
In 2024, Scotch sales in the United States touched 132 million bottles. The US is also the most lucrative market in the world, worth $1.2 billion in 2024. It makes many brands of its own Scotch called Scotch whiskey (with an e), an industry begun mainly by Irish settlers.
In 2024 Japan bought 74 million bottles of Scotch. The country has developed its own unique varieties much prized in the international market. Quite similar to Scotland's Scotch, popular brands are Suntory and Nikka, which sell both blended and single malts.
One of the world’s major wine producers, Spain likes its Scotch too, often with Coke, and purchased 59 million bottles in 2024 as the country rides a 'whiskey wave'.
This beer/lager-drinking nation, famous for its top-class beer like Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, Pilsner, Beck's, has a major hankering for Scotch whisky as well -- 56 million bottles drunk dry in 2024.
In 2021 Brazil ran through 82 million bottles of Scotch. But in 2024 Scotch consumption decreased -- just 52 million bottles were had. Why, Brazil? Apparently because of a new alcohol tax reform and the upsurge of health-damaging counterfeit whisky that has made Brazilians wary of Scotch.
The Poles liking for Scotch has exponentially increased over the years overtaking countries like Mexico and others. 48 million khambas :) (bottles) is how much they drank in 2024. Wild Fields Polish Whiskey is now considered a fine blend.