David Bolton

ETF Managers Group, in partnership with Spirited Funds LLC, launched its newest fund, the Spirited Funds/ETFMG Whiskey and Spirits ETF.

The exchange-traded fund is designated on the New York Stock Exchange Arca as WSKY.

WSKY invests primarily in companies that derive most of their revenue from producing and marketing whiskey and spirits, plus a small number of companies that derive part of their revenue from the industry. Major names in the underlying index include Pernod Ricard (France), Diageo (England). Brown Forman (U.S.), Thai Beverage (Thailand), Kirin Holdings (Japan) and United Spirits (India), among others.

“We believe we’re at year 5 of a 25- to 40-year supercycle that could see continued growth in consumer demand for whiskey and spirits, much like what has occurred with craft breweries over the past two decades,” David Bolton, president and chief executive officer at Spirited Funds, said in a news release.

High-end premium and super-premium bourbon and Tennessee whiskey brands saw revenues increase 50 percent and 155 percent, respectively, from 2010-2015, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

Total U.S. spirits sales were $72 billion in 2015.