The distilled spirits sector achieved accelerated growth in 2016 with supplier sales up 4.5% to $25.2 billion, volumes up 2.4%t to 220 million cases and a seventh straight year of market share gains relative to beer, the Distilled Spirits Council announced at its annual economic briefing. 

“The continued growth of the spirits sector clearly demonstrates that adult consumers’ taste for and interest in premium distilled spirits, across all categories, is trending upward,” says Distilled Spirits Council president and CEO Kraig R. Naasz. “Spirits makers continue to develop new innovations to appeal to a growing audience of adult millennials, and they are responding by purchasing and enjoying our products.” 

Naasz cited recent public opinion research, which showed 78% of the public view the spirits sector favorably and a significant majority support sales of spirits in grocery stores, as well as equal taxes and the same regulations for spirits, beer and wine. 

“Our sector is viewed favorably by the majority of the public, which also thinks we should be treated equally with respect to regulation and taxation,” says Naasz. “From a public policy standpoint, our goal is to continue to modernize the marketplace and provide consumers with the choices and convenience they seek when it comes to spirits.” 

American Whiskey Boom Continues 

American whiskey – Bourbon, Tennessee and Rye – continued to captivate U.S. consumers with volumes up 6.8% to 21.8 million cases and revenues up 7.7% to $3.1 billion.  Several other spirits categories performed exceptionally well in the U.S. market including: 

Cognac volumes up 12.9% to 5.1 million cases and revenues up 15.3% to $1.5 billion; Irish Whiskey volumes up 18.7% to 3.8 million cases and revenues up 19.8% to $795 million; Tequila volumes up 7.1% to 15.9 million cases and revenues up 7.5% to $2.5 billion; and importantly, Vodka volumes, which represent one-third of all spirits volumes, up 2.4%t to 69.8 million cases; revenues up 4.1% to $6 billion. 

The Council estimated that overall retail sales of distilled spirits in the U.S. market reached nearly $78 billion in 2016, supporting more than 1.4 million jobs in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors.  

The spirits sector’s strong performance in 2016 resulted in market share gains relative to beer for the seventh straight year, as reported by Council Chief Economist David Ozgo.  Spirits’ market share increased by one-half a point to 35.9%.  Each point of market share is worth approximately $700 million in supplier revenue. 

Ozgo cited key factors contributing to the spirits sector’s continued growth, including: 

• The American Whiskey trend has plenty of room for growth as the country trends back toward historic levels of whiskey consumption; 
• Cocktails are exceptionally well-positioned to meet adult  millennials’ demand for unique and varied experiences; 
• Spirits fit nicely into the trend of consumer interest in brands with authentic, interesting backstories; 
• Local distilleries are driving modernization of state and local laws and generating excitement in the overall spirits category; and 
• Spirits have become a fixture in popular culture and are part of the norm. 

U.S. Distilled Spirits Export Volume Growth Continues Despite Strong Dollar 

Total U.S. spirits export volumes increased 6.8% in 2016, driven largely by American whiskey – Bourbon, Tennessee and Rye – which increased 10.2% in 2016. 

Distilled Spirits Council senior vice president for international affairs Christine LoCascio attributed the volume growth to global fascination with the American Whiskey story; the exporting of cocktail culture; and the mixabililty and versatility of America’s native spirit.

The 2016 top five export growth markets by value were: Vietnam, up $29.2 million USD to a total of $45.9 million USD; Spain, up $18.6 million USD to reach $104.1 million USD; France, up $9.7 million USD to $97.6 million USD; Singapore up $4.5 million USD to reach $30.7 million USD; and Romania up $2.4 million USD to a total of $10.6 million USD. 

LoCascio cited the Council’s successful partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote U.S. spirits abroad through the Market Access Program. Since participation in the federal program began in 2005, the Council has held spirits promotions in 17 foreign markets. This collaboration has contributed to a 62.5% increase in revenue from export sales over the past decade, from $873 million in 2006 to $1.42 billion in 2016. 

2016 Distilled Spirits Policy Achievements

2016 was a significant year of growth for the Council as membership climbed to more than 150 distillers for the first time. “In bringing together companies of all sizes to support the spirits sector, we were able to advance our agenda at the local, state, federal and international levels,” says Naasz. 

He highlighted the passage of spirits sales in Colorado grocery stores, the defeat of tax increases in 10 states, victories in 21 wet/dry elections, improved tastings laws and the passage of multiple “Brunch Bills” permitting patrons to order cocktails before 1 p.m. 

At the federal level, the Council-led coalition of beverage alcohol organizations continues to build support for a reduction in the federal excise tax on spirits, beer and wine. The coalition secured a majority of both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senators as co-sponsors last Congress and is heralding the re-introduction of the Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Actthis Congress. This Council-led effort is well positioned to achieve federal excise tax relief as part of an overhaul of the nation’s tax code in the new Congress.