Super-premium wines and spirits have shown an unprecedented rise in sales over the 2016 Christmas period, according to Dalcassian Wines & Spirits, one of Ireland’s largest drinks distributors.
The report shows a 25% rise in the sale of super premium brands but indicates the wider alcohol market remains static.
The company distributes over 100 wine and spirits brands to restaurants, bars and the off-trade in Ireland. They recorded a 20% increase in total turnover over the Christmas period, which Managing Director John Dillon says is down to the growth in premium and above wine and spirit products.
Gin, and in particular premium gin, was the clear winner this Christmas. The emergence of a wave of new high-end, small-batch craft gins from Irish distilleries and the increased availability of premium international gin brands has been instrumental to the rapid growth of the category over the Christmas period.
The new Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin was Dalcassian Wines & Spirits’ single largest grossing spirit brand over the Christmas period, followed by other premium gin and Irish whiskey brands in their portfolio including Opihr and Bloom gins from one of the world’s oldest gin distilleries, G & J Distillers in Warrington.
Super-premium whiskey also saw a spike in sales in December, with consumers opting for Irish craft brands such as the Irishman, Writers Tears and Dubliner Irish whiskey with a trend towards higher-end cask finished & single malt expressions.
Managing Director of Dalcassian Wines & Spirits, John Dillon says, "It appears companies are starting to spend on entertainment and gifting again and the on-trade has noticed the return of the company Christmas party. But it no longer embodies the excesses of boom times. Again we see a trend towards trading up and ordering by premium brand. But the shot culture has dwindled and the volume of alcohol consumption is flat if not marginally down."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
