Country singer Kenny Chesney might’ve been onto something in his 2010 song “You and Tequila.” The agave-based alcohol is reaching new levels. So much so tequila sales and its cousin mezcal are predicted to do something they’ve never done before.
According to a new study published by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, which describes itself as “the most trusted, accurate and widely used source for beverage alcohol trends in the world,” tequila and mezcal, this year, will top U.S.-made whiskey in sales for the first time ever.
Additionally, the agave-based alcohols are predicted to overtake vodka in sales in 2023 and become the most purchased spirit, with a value estimated at approximately $13.3 billion. In comparison, vodka will likely hit the $12.5 billion mark while U.S.-made whiskey will reach $12.3 billion.
According to IWSR, Casamigos, Clase Azul, and Piedra Azul have been the fastest-growing tequila brands between 2016 and 2021. Casamigos is a tequila company co-founded by Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney (Syriana). There’s no word on where the controversial Kendall Jenner’s Tequila 818 or any other selections within the celebrity-founded tequila craze lands in all this.
During the same time frame, the fastest-growing mezcal brands have been Pierde Almas, Bozal, and Ilegal. Pierde Almas is an artisan-made mezcal from Oaxaca.
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IWSR’s study also finds that mezcal sales grew by 53 percent from 2020 to 2021, and tequila grew during the same time by 27 percent. Together, both are expected to grow in value by 81 percent from 2021 to 2026. Now, that’s a lot of tequila.