Spirits Slip 2% In Control States In The First Half 

After a 0.9% decline in 2024, spirits volumes declined a further 2% in control states during the first half of this year, according to NABCA, including a 2.3% decrease in the month of June. The largest control state, Pennsylvania, bucked the trend with a 1.9% increase during the first six months of this year.

As has been the case recently, Tequila (+3.2%) and pre-packaged cocktails (+24%) were the only two spirits categories to register year-to-date volume increases in control states. The overall U.S. spirits market grew 1.3% by volume last year, and is projected to register its 30th consecutive annual gain in 2025—according to Impact Databank—with growth expected outside control states.

Tito’s vodka (-1.6% year-to-date) remains the largest-selling spirits brand in NABCA markets by a two-to-one margin over Smirnoff vodka and Fireball whisky. Aside from low-proof RTDs, Don Julio Tequila remains the fastest-growing brand among the largest-sellers in control states, with a 34.5% volume increase year-to-date.

Sazerac Co. remains the leading supplier in control states, and the company became number-one by volume overall in the U.S. spirits market for the first time in 2024, according to Impact Databank, after acquiring Svedka vodka from Constellation Brands late last year. On a value basis, Diageo remains far and away the largest spirits marketer in the U.S.

Last year, spirits volume in the 17 control states slipped 0.9% to 61.28 million 9-liter cases, while dollar sales dipped 0.3% to $13.6 billion. Control state markets make up an estimated 20% of the U.S. spirits market in volume terms, according to Impact Databank.—Juan Banaag

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