The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) reported another year of steady growth in 2015 with supplier sales up 4.1 percent and volumes up 2.3 percent. DISCUS reported strong growth in every whiskey category for the second year with revenues rising 8 percent. Tequila grew by 9.4 percent in sales and Cognac grew at 16.2 percent. Other highlights included the U.S. market reached $72 billion in sales, which supports about 1.4 million jobs in the hospitality industry. American whiskeys led export growth, growing 4 percent due to consumer interest, while overall spirit exports grew at 3.4 percent. 2015 was also the sixth consecutive year of increasing beer market share. “The positive performance of distilled spirits is the result of many factors including market modernization, product innovation, consumer premiumization and hospitality tax restraint,” said Distilled Spirits Council President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz.