White Spirits - US - October 2015
Overview
 
What you need to know
Total retail sales of distilled spirits – white and dark – posted 2.7% gains in estimated 2015. Growth has been small but consistent year-over-year from 2011 to estimated 2015, with low, single-digit growth. Overall sales are expected to continue upward at a similar pace, as dark spirits trend and vodka, the largest spirits segment, continues to post small but positive gains.

Opportunities exist in the $55.4 billion white and dark distilled spirits category for each white spirits segment – vodka, white/light rum, tequila, and gin – namely advancing their premium and super-premium offerings, and providing greater flavor sophistication and complexity through aging, ingredients, and distillation and production methods.

Definition
This report includes white spirits sold for home preparation and/or consumption. The following types of white spirits are analyzed:

●	Vodka
●	Rum
●	Gin
●	Tequila

Market size and forecast data includes both white/light and dark rums. Mintel consumer data focuses on consumer attitudes and behaviors toward white/light rum only. Attitudes and behaviors toward aged, dark, and spiced rums are included in Mintel’s Dark Spirits – US, December 2015.

This report excludes the following categories, which are covered in Mintel’s Dark Spirits – US, December 2015:

●	Whiskey/whisky, which includes the following subsegments:
●	Canadian whisky
●	Straight American whiskey, including bourbon and unaged white whiskey (also known as moonshine; the report covers legally sold, unaged white whiskey marketed as moonshine, not the illegally made varieties often associated with the term in various regions of the US).
●	Scotch whisky
●	Blended American whiskey
●	Irish whiskey
●	Brandy and cognac, as well as Armagnac

RTD (ready-to-drink) premade alcoholic beverages, including wine coolers, flavored malt beverages, and RTD premixed cocktails, are covered in the Mintel report Alcoholic Beverage RTDs – US, December 2015.

●	Dollar sales data in this report include all distilled spirits segments (dark and white), while volume sales data solely cover white spirits. White spirits, unless otherwise noted, are defined as vodka, rum, gin, and tequila.