After a three-year hiatus, there’s a return to the top spot, but the brands remain largely unchanged from last year. Drinks International is responsible for this list.
Last year saw the EU and the UK remove their retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey, meaning that the category could be financially competitive in two of the international cocktail industry’s most important markets.
The results on the bestselling list haven’t been as dramatic as you might expect – nine of the ten brands appeared on the list last year – but every bar polled did stock at least two brands from the category.
Maker’s Mark returns to the number one spot for the first time since 2019, beating Bulleit by the narrowest of margins. Both were house poured in 18% of the bars and second choice in around 11%. It was only as a third-choice selection that the Beam Suntory Kentucky straight bourbon edged out Diageo’s number-one brand from last year.
Buffalo Trace falls a single position to third, a house pours in 15%. In 2018, the brand’s parent company, Sazerac, pledged $1.2bn to boost the brand’s production over a 10-year period which, to date, has led to a 50% increase in whiskey production. Time will tell if this growth impacts the brand’s popularity in our polled bars.
Michter’s was recently named the World’s Most Admired American Whiskey by Drinks International and remains a favorite among bartenders, evidenced by its standing as a top-three serve in 30% of bars, despite bottlings demanding the highest price tag on the list.
Given rye whiskey’s specialist use in several cocktails, Rittenhouse is the second or third most popular American whiskey in 10% of our polled bars but most popular in only one.
The Heaven Hill-produced Elijah Craig was noticeable by its absence last year, having missed out on the top 10 by just a few votes. It returns this year to round out the list.
How we did it
The Annual Brands Report results culminate a survey of 100 bars from 33 countries around the world that have been nominated or won international awards. The report offers a picture of the buying habits of the world’s best bars – not only which brands sell best, but also what’s trending to indicate the hot ones.
To view the page-turner edition of the Brands Report click here.
