Scotch suffers in control states as RTDs grow
Canned cocktails soared by almost 22% in both volume and value in US control states last month as Scotch whisky contracted in all markets but one.
According to data from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) for 18 markets, the ‘cocktails’ category, which includes canned ready-to-drink (RTD) products, soared by 21.8% in volume last month compared to May 2025.
In terms of the value, the segment rose by 21.7%.
Growth in cocktails was lower than the previous month (April), when volume and value sales were up by a third.
NABCA noted that Scotch whisky continued to decline in nearly all states, except for Oregon. Scotch fell by 8.1% in volume and by 7.9% in value across all markets in May.
Tequila reported a 0.2% drop in volume for May and a 4.2% decrease in value.
Besides ‘cocktails’, the only other product in growth was cachaça, but it is the smallest spirit segment. The segment rose by 10.4% in volume and by 21.5% in value.
After Scotch, the largest volume fall came from Canadian whisky (down by 7.4%), followed by gin (down by 6.9%), brandy/Cognac (down by 6.7%), rum (down by 6.5%) and Irish whiskey (down by 5.9%).
Value-wise, Canadian whisky suffered the biggest decline of all spirits categories, down by 9.5%. Besides cocktails and cachaça, all segments decreased in value, including rum (down 7.3%) and Irish whiskey and brandy/Cognac, both down 6%.
Total spirits sales in May saw a 1.7% drop in volume and a 4.4% value fall. For the 12 months to May 2026, volume was down by 1.1%, and value decreased by 3.1%.
Looking at the state-by-state performance, only Michigan, Mississippi, Iowa, and North Carolina grew their spirits volumes last month. By value, only Mississippi saw an uptick in spirits sales (up by 5.6%) in May.
In the on-premise channel during May, spirits sales declined by 3.1% in volume and by 5.2% in value, with most states reporting decreases. Exceptions included Idaho, Michigan, and North Carolina.
Over the last 12 months, spirits sales in the on-trade saw a minor 0.4% rise in volume, while value dipped by 1.7%.
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