Great distillates continue to be an object of desire, and even a refuge for investors. The segment of non-alcoholic or low alcohol products (with low alcohol content), with fewer calories, is growing, as are cocktails based on non-alcoholic fruit juices (mocktails). There are even some suitable for vegans, and spritzes are still in fashion. It seems that rums, tequilas and mezcals are gaining ground, although whiskey and gin remain the undisputed leaders.
Javier de las Muelas, businessman who owns Dry Martini, states that the new trends involve distillates and liqueurs with organic ingredients, many of them of Asian and South American origin.
The owner of the Ideal Cocktail Bar in Barcelona, ??Josep Maria Gotarda, says that, although both gin and rum “continue to sell a lot”, trends point towards smoked products, both single malt Scotch whiskeys and mezcals. Innovation in product creation is constant.
The general director of the distributor Primeras Marcas, Philippe Eberlé, confirms that a “renaissance” of whiskey is taking place, although in the last year sales have decreased due to the contraction of the Chinese market.
In fact, in the year-on-year 12 months until last November, according to the consulting firm Nielsen, sales of whiskey fell by -2.40%, sales of rum by -0.80%, sales of gin by -4.80%, those of vodka -0.20% and those of brandy -5.80%. Only tequila (5.70%) and liqueurs (0.80%) grew. Globally, spirits fell -1.90%.
Since the end of the pandemic the market had not fallen. The hospitality industry has not been able to compensate for a food channel that is recovering a little. Manuel Giró, CEO of MG Destilerías, is confident that starting in the second half of the year “we will return to the path of growth.” Producers and distributors claim that volume is decreasing, but value is increasing through high-end products in which there is no shortage of special editions.
