Teeling Whiskey Profits Plunge 91%: What Does This Say About Ireland's Whiskey Landscape?

Wednesday, 07 January 2026 at 12:10

Ireland’s whiskey sector is under heavy pressure, and the latest figures from Teeling Whiskey make that painfully clear. The Dublin-based distillery saw its post-tax profit plunge by a staggering 91% in the fiscal year ending March 2025. Where Teeling posted a profit of 3.4 million in 2024, only 295,428 remained in 2025.

It wasn’t just profit that took a hit, revenue also dropped sharply. Turnover fell by nearly 14% to 23.7 million, compared to 27.5 million euros a year earlier. The key drivers: weakening whiskey sales combined with rising raw material and labor costs.

The home market was hit hardest. Irish sales fell from 10.4 million to 6.8 million. Outside Europe, there was also a clear decline, from 11 million euros to 8.4 million. The numbers underscore that this isn’t a one-off, but part of a broader crisis in the whiskey sector.

Not all doom and gloom for Teeling

It’s not entirely bleak, though. Within Europe, excluding Ireland, Teeling managed to post growth. Revenue in this region rose from just over 6 million to 8.5 million. That helped offset part of the global decline, though not enough to save the overall result.

The visitor center also continues to be a steady contributor. Service income, largely from distillery tours and hospitality, held almost flat at around 3.3 million. In May 2025, Teeling also celebrated a symbolic milestone: welcoming one million visitors since the distillery opened.

Trade tensions and a new threat

The losses are even more worrying given they don’t yet reflect recent trade tensions. Shortly after the fiscal year ended, the United States introduced a 15% import tariff on Irish whiskey. This measure is already creating significant uncertainty across the sector and could further weaken the export position of brands like Teeling.

What are Teeling’s plans for the future?

Teeling isn’t throwing in the towel. Instead, it’s looking ahead. The company has secured an option on an adjacent building with the aim of expanding production capacity. The estimated investment is around 10 million or more.

With Bacardi as the majority shareholder, financial backing doesn’t appear to be an issue.

The question is whether the market will recover quickly enough. Or is this the beginning of a rough stretch for Irish whiskey? What do you think?

Feel free to let us know in the comments.

FAQ

What kind of distillery is Teeling Whiskey?
Teeling is a modern Irish whiskey distillery from Dublin, known for innovation, experimental cask finishes, and a broad portfolio of single malts and blends.

Why is Teeling currently under financial pressure?
The distillery is facing declining whiskey sales, rising costs, and broader challenges across the Irish whiskey sector, including oversupply and trade restrictions.