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Top 10
The world’s fastest-growing spirits brands
Brandy and vodka dominated our list of the world’s fastest-growing brands, but which spirit took the top spot in 2023?
This year’s collection of the top 10 fastest‐growing spirits comprises a mixed bag.
While there was a strong representation from brandy and vodka brands, one emerging ready-to-drink brand managed to return to the fastest-growing list with impressive gains. Gin, rum and Tequila were also among the brands to record huge double-digit growth in 2023.
One notable category missing from the top 10 was Indian whisky, which dominated our previous fastest-growing list.
There were also three new entrants to our Brand Champions report that managed to take coveted spots in the top 10.
To read the full Brand Champions 2024 report, click here.
Read on to discover the top 10 fastest-growing spirits brands.
10. Lunazul Tequila
2023: 1.3m
2022: 0.9m
% change: 37.6%
One of two Tequila brands in Heaven Hill’s portfolio, Lunazul smashed through the million-case barrier after growing by an impressive 37.6% last year.
Lunazul Tequila sold 1.3 million nine-litre cases in 2023 compared with 918,000 in 2022. It means the Tequila brand has almost doubled its sales since 2021, when it sold 620,000 cases.
Matt Blevins, chief marketing officer at Heaven Hill Brands, described the brand as “one of the most accessible and exceptional Tequilas in the 100% Blue Weber agave category”.
9. Nemiroff
2023: 3.4m
2022: 2.4m
% change: 41.7%
Ukrainian vodka brand Nemiroff had a tough 2022 when its sales plummeted to 2.4m nine-litre cases. However, the brand returned to growth last year, soaring by 41.7% to 3.4m cases and prompting us to name it this year’s Vodka Brand Champion.
Its performance was attributed to the success of the De Luxe range, which reported growth in the UK, Finland and France.
Nemiroff CEO Yuriy Sorochinskiy said the brand is now back on track to reach its goal of becoming a “top-three premium vodka”.
Despite the huge gains, the brand remains some distance from its sales high of 5.6m cases in 2021.
8. Old Port Rum
2023: 2.1m
2022: 1.5m
% change: 42.0%
Just ahead of Nemiroff on our best-selling list was Old Port Rum, which increased by 42% last year to take the eighth spot on our fastest-growing list.
Produced by Indian spirits company Amrut Distillers, Old Port has now returned to its pre-pandemic sales high of 2.1m cases, after growing its sales for the second year in a row.
7. Old Kenigsberg
2023: 1.5m
2022: 1.0m
% change: 44.7%
One of three brandies to post huge growth last year was Old Kenigsberg, produced by Alliance 1892 Brandy Factory.
The brand reported growth of 44.7% last year – its highest case sales for five years at 1.5m. It also marked a return to growth for the brand after it fell to 1m nine-litre cases in 2022 (down from 1.2m the previous year).
6. Tsarskaya/Imperial Collection Gold
2023: 2.3m
2022: 1.6m
% change: 45.6%
Tsarskaya/Imperial Collection Gold surpassed 2m cases for the first time in 2023, following growth of 45.6%.
Earlier this year, the Russian vodka brand released a limited edition Tsarskaya Gold vodka for the Chinese New Year holiday in February.
It is produced by Russian group Ladoga, which is based in St Petersburg.
5. Belaya Berizoka Vodka
2023: 2.0m
2022: 1.3m
% change: 46.3%
Tsarskaya/Imperial Collection Gold is not the only Russian brand to feature on our fastest-growing list, with Belaya Berizoka Vodka taking fifth position.
The brand’s case sales soared by 46.3% in 2023 to reach 2m cases for the first time. It’s an impressive feat when you consider that the brand only surpassed 1m cases in 2022.
The brand’s name translates to ‘White Birch’ in English.
4. Courrier Napoleon Brandy
2023: 1.6m
2022: 1.0m
% change: 55.5%
Indian brandy Courrier Napoleon reported its largest case sales to date – 1.6m in 2023. The brand soared by 55.5%, marking its third year of growth.
It’s not the first time a brand owned by Tilaknagar Industries has appeared on our fastest-growing list. Last year, Mansion House brandy occupied the same position following a 59.8% increase in 2022.
3. Barrister
2023: 1.1m
2022: 0.7m
% change: 57.1%
Ladoga-owned Barrister Gin, this year’s Gin Brand Champion, was a newcomer to the million-case ranks. The brand swooped in with growth of 57.1% to 1.1m cases in 2023.
It was also one of only two gin brands in our report to increase their sales last year.
According to Veniamim Graber, president of Ladoga Group, the brand increased its market share and global presence. The past year saw Barrister focus on the Middle East, Central Asia, Mongolia and China, where its exports tripled.
2. Finnish Long Drink
2023: 1.8m
2022: 1.1m
% change: 69.8%
Last year’s fastest-growing spirit brand (based on 2022 figures), Finnish Long Drink, repeated its sales success in 2023 with growth of 69.8%. The canned ready-to-drink brand entered the million-case ranks in 2022 after skyrocketing by 114.2%.
The brand has a number of celebrity investors including actor Miles Teller, professional golfers Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas, and Norwegian DJ Kygo. More recently, Marcy Venture Partners, co-founded by rapper Jay-Z, took a minority stake in the brand.
The expression is available in 43 US states and was recently launched in Western Canada. In 2021, the company raised US$25 million to boost distribution and scale production.
1. Aznauri Brandy
2023: 1.1m
2022: 0.6m
% change: 89.5%
A new entrant to The Brand Champions report took the top spot on our fastest-growing list, Aznauri Brandy, which reached 1.1m cases after growing by 89.5%.
Crowned this year’s Brandy Brand Champion, Aznauri has had steady upward growth since 2019 – even during the Covid‐19 years.
“Today, the primary market of the Aznauri brand is Ukraine,” explains Alexey Druzenko, CEO of Global Beverage Trade, Aznauri’s parent brand. “An important success factor is our high level of distribution. By the end of 2023, we achieved 90% distribution within [Ukraine].”
The brand also exports to markets such as Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Nigeria, the US, China, Australia, Japan, Israel, Poland and Slovakia.