Distilled spirits industry in the US has gained a market share over beer and wine in 2012, according to The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).
The increase in market share of distilled spirits in 2012 was primarily due to product innovations, regulatory modernization of spirits, consumer trading up and ongoing whiskey renaissance.
In 2012, liquor companies sold around 202 million 9-liter cases of spirits, an increase of 3% from 2011, while revenues grew by 4.5% to $21.3bn. The revenue share of spirits category in the beverage alcohol sector grew consequently for the third year to 34.3%.
Among the spirits categories, the fastest-growing category was Irish whiskey, whose volume was up by 22.5%. Meanwhile, other spirits like single malt Scotch whiskey's volumes rose by 13% and bourbon and Tennessee whiskey's volumes grew by 5.2%.
Vodka, the largest spirits category, also saw an increase in volume by 4% to 65 million 9-liter cases, with super premium vodka's volume up 10%. Flavored products also accounted for increased market share of distilled spirits.
DISCUS president and CEO Peter Cressy said, "Regulatory modernization over the course of the last decade, with the steady repeal of prohibition-era Blue Laws, has paid real revenue dividends for the distilled spirits industry."
