Sales of Jameson whiskey grew by over 12 per cent in the year to the end of June, boosted by a €40 million global advertising campaign.
The whiskey, which is the flagship brand of Irish Distillers Group, experienced strong growth in the US, and rapidly gained popularity in emerging markets such as South Africa and Russia.
Sales of the whiskey in Ireland rose by 13 per cent, outperforming the overall domestic spirits market by 2.6 per cent.
Irish Distillers has invested €40 million in an advertising campaign targeted at spirit drinkers in their twenties and thirties.
"2006 . . . proved to be one of the most successful years ever for Jameson," said Paul Duffy, chief executive of Irish Distillers.
The company's Australian wine brands, Jacobs Creek and Wyndham Estate, outperformed the competitive wine market by 5 per cent, and sales of West Coast Cooler increased by 52 per cent.
Overall, Irish Distillers' parent company, Pernod Ricard, reported a sharp rise in year earnings on the back of its Allied Domecq takeover.
However, its shares fell as it missed forecasts for operating profit.
Pernod, the world's second largest wines and spirits group, expects sales in the current year ending next June to grow at the top end of its long-term target of 4 to 6 per cent and maintained a goal for "strong double-digit" growth in underlying net profit.
Group net profit in the year ended June 30th, including charges linked to the Allied Domecq merger, rose 32 per cent to €639 million from a proforma €484 million a year earlier.
Pernod said integrating Allied brands such as Mumm champagne and Malibu rum had cost it between €350 and €400 million in the last financial year compared with an original estimate of €450 million.
"As early as the 2006/07 year, Pernod Ricard will benefit from the full €270 million expected synergies ... that is a year earlier than initially planned," the company said.
Some analysts were disappointed the group did not raise its target for operational savings arising from the Allied buy while others fretted about earnings power going forward given a planned rise in advertising spending.
