"One big takeaway from this report is that alcohol sales were down in a lot of categories last year, including vodka sales (down 3%) and cordial sales (down 3.2%). American whiskey sales were also down, albeit by a relatively low rate of 0.9%. The real winner, though, seems to be ready-to-drink cocktails, sales of which were up 16.8% to $3.8 billion on the year."
"Among the reasons the Distilled Spirits Council cites for the growing popularity of ready-to-drink cocktails are the way it checks off a few boxes: being relatively high-quality while also appealing to people looking to drink less. "Consumers are showing a strong preference for spirits ready‑to‑drink cocktails because they're made with real spirits, offer great convenience and flavor, and include lower‑alcohol options," said the organization's president and CEO, Chris Swonger, in a statement."
"Within that category, however, there were still some fluctuations in 2025. The Council notes that, within the ready-to-drink space, malt-based seltzers lost 14% of their market share last year, while spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails gained 11%. It isn't surprising that, as more prestigious names begin working on ready-to-drink cocktails, drinkers who might have avoided them before are opting in - and that's having a significant impact on the industry."
Alcohol sales declined across multiple spirits categories in 2025, with vodka down 3%, cordials down 3.2%, and American whiskey down 0.9%. Ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails grew 16.8% to $3.8 billion, driven by perceived higher quality, convenience, flavor, and lower-alcohol options. Within RTDs, malt-based seltzers lost 14% market share while spirits-based RTDs gained 11% as premium brands entered the space. Gen Z's lower drinking rates relative to older cohorts continue to influence demand patterns. These dynamics point to increased investment, product development, and premiumization focused on RTD innovation.
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