The US makers of Jim Beam, Canadian Club and Makers Mark have been sued for $100 million (€76.8m) by an importer that claims Beam Inc and its Cooley Distillery unit broke a contract to supply it with Michael Collins Irish Whiskey.

Kentucky-based animal health and nutrition group Alltech is moving part of its whiskey business to Ireland, birthplace of the company’s president and founder, Dr Pearse Lyons.

American spirits giant Beam Inc has hired five Irish graduates to promote its Irish whiskey brands in the US market.

Irish-related merger and acquisition & activity has further picked up since the start of the year, with foreign purchases by Irish companies playing a major role.

IRELAND’S last remaining independent whiskey producer, the Cooley Distillery, has been acquired by US spirits giant Beam Inc — the producer of the Jim Beam bourbon brand — for nearly €73 million.