We can talk craft spirits all we want.
Everyone else is drinking Tito’s and Truly.
Austin-based vodka brand Tito’s is the top-selling spirit in the United States, according to preliminary 2019 figures released by IWSR US Beverage Alcohol Review database (which offers drinks market analysis) and reported by the trade journal The Spirits Business.
Tito’s grew over 20% in volume in 2019. Meanwhile, Diageo’s Smirnoff slips to number two — yes, vodka is the number one spirits category — followed by Jack Daniel’s, Fireball (!) and Crown Royal.
Related: Tito’s Vodka Probably Isn’t as “Handmade” as It Wants You to Think
Some other interesting figures from the IWSR report:
- Total alcohol consumption in the U.S. grew by 0.3% in 2019
- Mezcal was the fastest-growing spirits category, followed by Japanese whisky, Irish whiskey and tequila
- Wine consumption fell for the first time in 25 years. Beer and cider also declined, although craft beer, low/no-alcohol beer and imported brews all showed nice gains.
- Hard seltzers fueled a nearly 50% increase in the ready-to-drink category.
If you’re worried that vodka and White Claw aren’t quite the artisanal spirits that should be leading the way in the spirits world, take comfort in this: When we’re drinking, we seem to be drinking the slightly higher quality tipples.
“It’s interesting to note that the value increase of beverage alcohol in the U.S. continues to outpace volume growth, a clear indicator that U.S. consumers are willing to pay for more premium products,” as noted by Brandy Rand, chief operating officer for the Americas at IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.
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