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Whisky afficionados urged to 'come home'
24/02/2009
First Minister Alex Salmond is in the USA this week and is taking the opportunity to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 events.
At a reception hosted by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the First Minister highlighted the importance of the American market for whisky exports and called on US whisky aficionados to 'come home' during Scotland's month long festival celebrating whisky, a highlight of the Homecoming programme.
In a first for Scotland, a unique month long celebration of Scotland's national drink, Scotch whisky, will take place this May as a highlight of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme.
It is anticipated that the key events featured will attract in the region of 30,000 additional attendees with participating distilleries also expected to see a rise in visitor numbers, bringing a boost to businesses across Scotland.
Speaking from the reception in Washington DC, First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"With over a billion bottles of premium Scotch enjoyed across the world each year, the true international appeal of whisky has never been in doubt. Scotland's whisky is not only an excellent icon of quality and distinction of Scotland's produce; it plays a vital role in sustainable economic growth.
"Today the Scotch Whisky industry continues to enjoy a strong and prosperous relationship with the United States. In terms of value, the United States is the industry's largest export market. In 2007, over 120 million bottles of whisky left Scottish distilleries to arrive here on these shores. That is about four bottles of Scotch every second of every day of the year!
"Whisky Month presents a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate Scotland's famous national drink. With its wealth of distilleries and its scenic majesty I hope that thousands of visitors will join us for a dram this year and enjoy the spirit of Scotland in our Year of Homecoming 2009."
The most recent published government statistics are the Global Connections survey which estimated total exports to USA at around £1,800 million for 2006. The USA is ranked as Scotland's number one country export destination of goods and services. The export of food and drink is the largest industry sector of which whisky exports to the USA were estimated at around £375 million.
The Distilled Spirits Council is the national trade association representing America's leading distillers and nearly 70 per-cent of all distilled spirits brands sold in this country. Over the years, the Council has served as the distillers' voice on policy and legislative issues in our nation's capital, state capitals and foreign capitals worldwide.