Shot glass half full

The spirit manufacturing industry in Australia, as with the rest of the main spirit-consuming countries, is feeling the pressures of the continuing global financial crisis.

Yet even though consumer sentiment has declined strongly as a result of this, it is also true that the spirits industry’s products are expected to be less adversely affected than other discretionary spending items, as consumption of alcohol is often given a boost by difficult economic times.

Spirit manufacturers buy ingredients such as grapes, sugar, malt, wheat, maize, barley, rye and oats, which are fermented and distilled to produce beverages that include vodka, gin, whisky and liqueurs.