Which country drinks the most whisky? You’ll Never Guess

When you think of whisky, you think of Scotland. That’s not a surprise. And if you live outside the UK, it won’t surprise you that a lot of Scotch is exported. Scotch is a product enjoyed around the world. 

Okay, that’s pretty obvious. Not the topic you’d expect a blog about. People around the world like whisky? Stop the presses! But which country drinks the most whisky? 

What we think is interesting is where people drink whisky. The top 5 Scotch importers are not the countries you’d expect.

Worldwide Demand for Scotch Whisky: Key Takeaways

• India was the largest Scotch whisky market by volume in 2025, importing the equivalent of 220 million 70cl bottles, while the US remained the largest market by export value. 
• Global demand for Scotch whisky continues to span established and emerging markets, with countries including Turkey, Spain, Germany, Japan and China all featuring among the world's leading importers. 
• Worldwide demand provides important context for whisky investors, but strong export figures don’t guarantee returns; individual cask characteristics, provenance, market demand, and exit strategy remain important considerations.

Which Country Imports The Most Whisky?

Your first guess at the largest Scotch importer is probably the United States. The US is a massive whisky market. And, in turn, the UK imports a lot of whisky from the United States. 

However, this has changed dramatically since the introduction of American tariffs, and exports to the US are now down by 15% (although at the time of writing, the Scotch tariffs have been recently removed.

 Today, India is the leader in terms of volume, while the US remains the top importer in terms of value.

Data from the Scotch Whisky Association shows that the most recent figures are those shown below.

Largest Scotch Whisky Markets by Volume in 2025

Rank	Country	Scotch Whisky Exports (based on 70cl bottles)
1	India	220 million
2	France	152 million
3	United States	120 million
4	Germany	59 million
5	Brazil	54 million
6	Japan	54 million
7	Spain	54 million
8	Turkey	53 million
9	Poland	43 million
10	China	34 million

Largest Scotch Whisky Markets by Value in 2025

Rank	Country	Export Value
1	United States	£933 million
2	France	£404 million
3	India	£286 million
4	Singapore	£274 million
5	Turkey	£255 million
6	Taiwan	£233 million
7	Spain	£208 million
8	Germany	£177 million
9	China	£161 million
10	UAE	£155 million

This data shows that there isn’t a straightforward answer to which country drinks the most whisky, because in terms of volume, India is a clear leader, but in terms of value, the US ranks first.

Why Has India Become the World’s Biggest Scotch Market by Volume?

India is currently the largest worldwide whisky market overall. However, the Scotch Whisky Association also tells us that it only comprises about 3% of the national market.

The Indian whisky market is massive, and despite having imported over 220 million bottles of Scotch last year, this is also linked to the complexities of geopolitics.

In 2025, the UK-India trade agreement was concluded, and tariffs on Scotch whisky were initially reduced from 150% to 75%, which opened up a space in the market for more high-volume imports.

Now that the agreement has been enforced, India could represent a growth market, while noting that in terms of premium Scotch and high-value whiskies, alternative destinations mean India ranks third in the top 10 importers.

This may also reflect the consumer spending power in each specific location, and why premium Scotch might be more saleable and in demand among consumers in some markets, such as the US and France.

Why Does the US Remain the Biggest Scotch Market by Value?

The US imported fewer bottles of Scotch than India in 2025, but the value of those exports was significantly higher. Scotch whisky exports to the US were worth £933 million, compared with £286 million for India.

This highlights an important distinction in international whisky markets: the country importing the most whisky isn't necessarily the country buying the most valuable whisky.

India's top position in volume is partly driven by the sheer size of its whisky market and the popularity of whisky as a spirit. However, the US has a long-established premium spirits market, with significant demand for higher-value Scotch whiskies.

This means that export value can tell us something different from export volume. A market importing fewer bottles may still represent a considerably larger market for premium Scotch if consumers are willing to spend more per bottle.

For whisky investors, this is worth paying attention to. Global demand isn't simply about how many bottles are being sold. The type of whisky consumers want, how much they are prepared to pay, and how established a market is can all influence the industry's long-term opportunities.

Ready to explore whisky cask investment?

Global demand for whisky isn't slowing down, and that's part of what makes cask ownership such an interesting alternative asset: you're holding a share of a spirit that's genuinely in demand worldwide, not just a collectible. If you're curious about how to get started in investing in whisky casks, Spiritfilled can walk you through selecting the right cask, secure bonded storage, and a clear plan for when you're ready to sell. Get in touch with our team to talk through your options, no pressure, just honest advice.

Which Countries Are Drinking More Scotch Whisky?

The 2025 export figures reveal some interesting changes beyond the headline figures for India and the US.

• India is particularly notable, with Scotch exports up 15% in 2025. Its enormous domestic whisky market, combined with improving access to Scotch, makes it one of the industry's most closely watched markets.
• Turkey is another interesting example. Scotch exports to the country increased by 43% in value during 2025, reaching £255 million, while export volume rose by 13% to the equivalent of 53 million 70cl bottles.

That difference is worth highlighting. While volume increased substantially, the value increase was much greater, suggesting the market's growth wasn't simply a result of more bottles being shipped. It also reflects the value of the whisky being exported.

Spain, Germany, Brazil and Japan also feature prominently in the 2025 rankings, demonstrating how geographically diverse demand for Scotch has become.

The picture is therefore much broader than the traditional assumption that Scotch is primarily consumed in the UK, US and a handful of European markets.

How Big Is the Global Scotch Whisky Market?

The scale of the international Scotch whisky market can’t be ignored, and with exports valued at a staggering £5.3 billion last year, this clearly shows the huge global demand for one of Scotland’s most famous products.

It’s also relevant that the industry has become more global, with Scotch today exported to international markets, ranging from established economies to emerging sectors which have seen demand grow for premium spirits.

With a whopping 43 Scotch bottles exported every second during last year, this means over 1.3 billion 70cl bottles were exported in just 12 months, based on the SWA’s equivalent bottle measures.

Spiritfilled explains that ‘The latest Scotch whisky export figures demonstrate just how global the market has become. 

India’s position at the top of the volume rankings is significant, while the US remaining ahead by value shows why looking beyond headline consumption figures is important. For whisky investors, these trends provide useful context, but they should never be viewed as a guarantee of returns.

 The individual characteristics of a cask, its provenance, maturation and potential exit strategy remain just as important as the wider market.’