The distilled spirits industry continued its impressive 18 straight years of growth, rising 2.0% in 2015 to 215.9 million 9-liter cases.

Employment gains and wage increases have led to increased consumption of premium, quality products at home and on-premise. According to the Beverage Information Group’s Liquor Handbook 2016, consumers are spending more and drinking more – 4.2 million cases more than in 2014, to be exact.

The American straight whiskey category shows no signs of slowing down after a 4.8% increase in 2015. Premium brands continue to grow most rapidly, as consumers show a willingness to trade up. After remaining flat for years, the blended whiskey category rose 6.0% to 5.2 million cases last years.

As millennial consumers experiment within non-Bourbon segments of the whiskey category, imports are up as well. Canadian Whisky and Scotch rose 2.2% and 5.1%, respectively, in 2015, while Irish Whiskey saw its twelfth straight year of double-digit growth, rising 12.9% to nearly 3 million cases.

Other distilled spirits categories saw mixed results in 2015. Vodka, tequila, brandy/cognac and cordials/liqueurs all experienced positive growth. But gin and rum continued their downward trend, declining 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively.

Domestic gin has been steadily decreasing over the past few years, pulling the overall segment down. Rum consumption remains the second-largest spirit category, but decreasing volumes show consumers’ willingness to explore other categories.

In 2016, consumers are expected to continue that experimentation, especially as improving economic conditions raise disposable income. That should lead to nineteen straight years of growth for the distilled spirits industry.

Millennials seem to be driving a number of categories, with older Millennial consumers representing the largest share of drinkers in the bourbon, Irish whiskey, cognac, and prepared cocktails categories. Brands now understand the value of Millennial influence, as they produce new products that provide new variety.

Andrew Sims is Sales & Marketing Manager for The Beverage Information & Insights Group, the data and research unit of Beverage Dynamics’ parent company. The Liquor Handbook 2016 is a comprehensive source of information on U.S. spirits and sales trends. It includes consumption and projection information by category and by market, tracks leading brands and reports historical data. The publication can be purchased at www.bevinfostore.com or by calling Sims at 203-855-8499 ext. 2251.