Maker’s Mark has retained its spot as the bestselling American whiskey brand in the world’s best bars. Under the influence of Beam Suntory, Maker’s Mark has increased its volumes and its presence in the on-trade. Of the 100 bars polled, the instantly recognizable brown square bottle with red wax seal was declared the bestselling American whiskey in more than 10%, while it was a top three in almost half.
Historically, Maker’s Mark is the top-performing brand in this section, having topped the list five times ahead of Bulleit, the Diageo brand, which is once again the runner-up. However, Bulleit is the in-form brand, having been in the top two every year since 2016.
Consistency is the theme of American whiskey. The only brand promoted to the bestselling list this year is Four Roses in 10th, and last year saw its first absence from the ranking since 2015, highlighting the power of brand loyalty in this category.
The favorite to break apart the power couple atop the list is Michter’s.
Since its debut in 2016, the Kentucky-based brand has experienced a consistent rise on the bestselling list to break into the podium for the first time this year. And having won Bartender’s Choice and topped the trending list, it’s the in-vogue whiskey brand.
Looking closer at the top trending list, the premium brands are proving popular. The likes of Jack Daniels have been replaced with the more top-end Blantons in 2024.
How we did it
The Annual Brands Report results culminate a survey of 100 bars worldwide 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.
The Brands Report will be serialized on drinksint.com throughout January.
