The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (For Liquor Stores too)
We all know that December is usually the highest revenue-generating time of the year for most businesses, but did you know that it’s also the top-selling month for liquor stores too? December sees a significant increase in total revenue compared to the rest of the year, especially during the first two weeks leading up to Christmas.
Overall Christmas Favourite – Top Categories by Revenue
In December, wine and spirits contributed to the sales volume more than any other month. Contributing a combined 63% of total revenue across categories including beer, grocery (snacks, non-alcoholic drinks sold in liquor stores), and refreshments and coolers, it looks like you can’t go wrong with wrapping up a nice bottle of wine or spirits.
Top Spirits Brands
When in doubt, a good spirit will always make a great gift, especially if it comes with an inside joke (come on, we’ve all had those moments). Giving you the energy you need to carry yourself from party to party and dinner to dinner, Christmas is the perfect time to bring out the gins, rums, whiskeys, and liqueurs.
The category winners are:
1. Alberta Pure (13%)
2. Smirnoff (13%)
3. Bacardi (8%)
Over half of the spirits market is dominated by vodka and rum, with the top 6 brands making up 53% of total sales.
Tip: Tis’ the season for a warm, spiked cup of rum and eggnog or hot chocolate with Baileys Irish Cream liqueur!
Top Wine Brands
If your holiday plans are looking a little fancier or, ironically, might just be a cozy night in, look no further than a nice bottle of wine. No matter the occasion, novices and connoisseurs everywhere can appreciate the subtle touch of a red, white, rosé, or bubbly. Here are the top wine brands you can’t go wrong with.
The category winners are:
1. Jackson Triggs (17%)
2. Copper Moon (11%)
3. Bodacious (6%)
If the liquor store is too packed for your liking, or out of stock, you can also find these top three wines at your local grocery store.
Tip: Pair your glass of wine with some cheese, crackers, and olives - charcuterie is a fan favorite!
The Gift that Keeps on Giving: Coolers & Beers
While spirits and wines might be the go-to beverages of choice for the holidays, we can’t forget about two other beloved categories. In fact, despite being the highest-selling category in the month of December, Spirits and Liquor only contributed to 7% of sales in 2022 overall, while red and white wines placed third and sixth in revenue at 8% and 6% respectively.
So if you’re looking for some drinks to last you throughout the holidays and well into the new year, coolers and domestic beers may be the way to go.
Top Cooler Brands
The category winners are:
1. White Claw (19%)
2. Nude (13%)
3. Hey Y'all (12%)
Does this surprise you? 3 of the top 4 brands are flavored seltzers. Looks like a hint of bubbly never hurt anybody.
Top Beer Brands
The category winners are:
1. Budweiser (22%) (Labatt)
2. Old Milwaukee (13%)
3. Coors (7%)
In Closing
There you have it—the data has spoken! Christmas is a busy time of the year, and trying to find the perfect gift doesn’t make it any easier. But with all of the options available when it comes to liquor, there’s sure to be something on this list that will help you to become one of the best gift-givers in the room.
Looking for something specific for your dad? Check out our Father’s Day breakdown for the top beverages Dads everywhere are drinking.
Happy Holidays!
