Close Menu
News

Growth improves for world’s biggest spirits brands

The world’s best-selling spirits brands witnessed improved growth last year as categories such as Indian whisky and rum recovered, according to The Spirits Business‘s 2019 Brand Champions report.

Growth was improved for million-case spirits brands last year

Compiled by The Spirits Business editorial team, The Brand Champions is a ranking and analysis of volume sales data from the world’s largest spirits producers.

The report, which will be published online in the coming days, found that more million-case brands were in growth in 2018 compared to the previous calendar year.

In 2018, 107 brands cited in The Brands Champions report experienced growth, while in 2017 98 brands increased their volume sales. Meanwhile, 38 brands recorded double-digit volume growth last year, compared to 29 in 2017.

Sales of the leading Indian whisky brands markedly improved as their domestic market rebounded from macro-economic challenges. Million-case rum brands also clawed back growth as international brands implemented new marketing strategies.

The world’s largest spirit brand remains Korean soju Jinro, whose volume sales hit 78 million cases in the 2018 calendar year. The brands that occupied the top 10 best-selling list were unchanged, however there were some movements in leaderboard positions.

Just one brand passed the million-case mark for the first time last year: Allied Blenders & Distillers’ Sterling Reserve Premium Whiskies. Meanwhile, Sailor Jerry spiced rum dropped below the threshold.

In addition to listing the world’s best-selling spirits, the report names individual Brand Champions for each category, in addition to a Supreme Brand Champion for the total spirits industry.

The report is available to view in the June 2019 edition of The Spirits Business magazine, out now.

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No