ALMOST a fifth of Scotch whisky exports go to Commonwealth countries, figures show.

Exports to the Commonwealth were up 1% on 2012 to £793million last year, from a global total of £4.3billion, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Singapore is the largest market for Scotch whisky with exports of £330m last year, followed by South Africa with exports of £163m, Australia at £84m and India with £69m.

David Frost, SWA chief executive, said: "As economies in other countries develop, young, professional consumers are developing a taste for Scotch whisky which they rightly regard as an aspirational drink of quality."