A relative newcomer to the ready-to-drink (RTD) class took the Model Champion spot this 12 months, because the section continues to defy the downward development in spirits gross sales.
RTDs continued to develop in 2025, rising by 2% in quantity, and 4% in worth, in opposition to an general drop in beverage alcohol volumes of two% internationally.
Gross sales of RTDs did fall by 1% within the essential US market, however spirits-based merchandise grew 14%, signalling a category-wide shift away from malt-based and brewed drinks.
Massive gamers continued to dominate the highest 10 best-sellers, with little motion within the rankings since final 12 months. However one model’s unprecedented triple-digit development might sign {that a} shakeup within the RTD class is coming.
Preserve studying for a full breakdown of the very best flyers from the Model Champions 2026 report.
The info is listed to at least one decimal place for ease of studying, however the proportion modifications had been calculated on the complete knowledge equipped. All knowledge is recorded in tens of millions of nine-litre instances.
Proprietor: Suntory International Spirits
2021: 6.0m | 2022: 6.3m | 2023: 6.6m | 2024: 6.8m | 2025: 6.4m
Progress: ‐6.0%
Place final 12 months: 8
A pointy drop for Jim Beam’s RTDs after a number of years of regular development. Jim Beam retained the highest spot in our world whisky Model Champions record this 12 months, regardless of sluggish gross sales. However the announcement that the model’s important distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, would pause manufacturing in 2026 advised troublesome occasions forward for this one unassailable producer.
Proprietor: Bacardi
2021: 5.0m | 2022: 6.4m | 2023: 6.2m | 2024: 6.2m | 2025: 6.5m
Progress: 4.5%
Place final 12 months: 9
Bacardi’s flagship RTD model defended the number-nine spot this 12 months. Constructing on a 2023 visible replace, Breezers re-entered the UK market final summer season, enjoying on nostalgia amongst older drinkers and trying to seize Gen Z’s demand for fruit-forward RTDs. A stable 4.5% enhance in gross sales appears to point the gambit is paying off.
Proprietor: Suntory International Spirits
2021: 13.4m | 2022: 12.0m | 2023: 11.2m | 2024: 9.7m | 2025: 8.7m
Progress: ‐10.1%
Place final 12 months: 7
Suntory International Spirits appears to have diverted a few of its consideration away from this line of low-ABV canned highballs. Although gross sales fell at a barely decrease fee than the earlier two years, 2025 noticed one other double-digit decline for Horoyoi.
Proprietor: Brown-Forman
2021: 10.8m | 2022: 11.3m | 2023: 11.2m | 2024: 10.5m | 2025: 9.9m
Progress: ‐5.4%
Place final 12 months: 6
Gross sales of Jack Daniel’s core vary RTDs fell for a second 12 months operating in 2025. If we had been to rely the Tennessee whiskey producer’s full vary of RTD merchandise – which incorporates Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola – collectively, they might comfortably take the number-four place on this record. Nevertheless, the downward development skilled by the core vary was additionally mirrored throughout the portfolio.
Proprietor: Stateside City Craft Vodka
2021: N/A | 2022: 0.2m | 2023: 1.3m | 2024: 4.7m | 2025: 10.6m
Progress: 126.9%
Place final 12 months: 10
One of many nice success tales of the RTD class, this 12 months’s Model Champion greater than doubled its gross sales in 2025. Surfside’s co-founder, Clement Pappas, attributed the model’s continued development to “elevated product distribution and model‐constructing all year long, which fuelled robust model momentum.”
The Pennsylvania-based model has continued to put money into advertising and marketing at music festivals alongside high-profile collaborations with the NBA and NFL. It has additionally managed to considerably enhance its presence in California, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Texas, which Pappas characterises as “a heavy push into nationwide accounts, mixed with excellent distributor partnerships and disciplined execution in market.”
Based on NIQ knowledge, Surfside was the main spirits-based onerous tea and lemonade model in 2025, with gross sales led by selection eight-packs. Surfside’s founders have indicated that they’ll proceed to deal with sports activities partnerships, significantly in golf, in addition to introducing new flavours and codecs.
Surfside is already the fastest-growing alcohol model in US retail. At this fee, it gained’t be lengthy earlier than it begins to threaten the largest gamers within the more and more profitable RTD class.
Proprietor: Brown-Forman
2021: 7.4m | 2022: 9.1m | 2023: 10.0m | 2024: 10.9m | 2025: 12.9m
Progress: 18.6%
Place final 12 months: 5
An excellent 12 months for New Combine, which managed to navigate the shifting RTD market to attain double-digit development. Although the road of Tequila-based drinks hasn’t managed to rise within the rankings this time, subsequent 12 months might be one other story.
Brown-Forman rolled out New Combine within the US final November, adopted this summer season by the introduction of three lower-ABV canned Spritzes below the El Jimador model. That is one to look at very carefully.
Proprietor: Suntory International Spirits
2021: 9.1m | 2022: 10.3m | 2023: 11.6m | 2024: 12.6m | 2025: 13.2m
Progress: 4.8%
Place final 12 months: 4
The ever-reliable whisky Highballs from Suntory held quick within the number-four spot this 12 months. Although the model didn’t fairly obtain the identical fee of development as 2024, which noticed an 8.8% rise, it stays one of many world’s favorite RTDs. Spectacular, particularly once we think about that it’s at the moment obtainable solely in Asia.
Proprietor: Suntory International Spirits
2021: 19.0m | 2022: 18.0m | 2023: 20.4m | 2024: 21.9m | 2025: 19.9m
Progress: ‐9.2%
Place final 12 months: 3
The drop in gross sales of Suntory Lemon Bitter indicators a reversal of fortunes for the model after final 12 months’s wholesome 7.4% uptick. This will likely simply be attributable to Suntory International Spirits focusing its attentions elsewhere within the portfolio, as Lemon Bitter’s sister manufacturers proceed to develop.
Proprietor: Gallo
2021: 8.8m | 2022: 16.4m | 2023: 21.0m | 2024: 24.7m | 2025: 24.0m
Progress: ‐2.9%
Place final 12 months: 2
Gallo-owned Excessive Midday dropped barely in 2025 after a number of years of regular positive aspects. The vary of vodka seltzers has beforehand scooped two Model Champion titles and even overtook Tito’s Handmade Vodka to grow to be the biggest-selling spirits model by quantity within the US in 2022. Whether or not or not limited-edition choices and continued partnerships on the planet {of professional} golf will put Excessive Midday again into development stays to be seen.
Proprietor: Suntory International Spirits
2021: 27.8m | 2022: 27.3m | 2023: 27.8m | 2024: 30.5m | 2025: 34.6m
Progress: 13.6%
Place final 12 months: 1
Suntory has defended first place within the RTD Model Champions this 12 months, because the shochu- and vodka-based -196 Highballs neared the 35m-case mark.
It stays a way off White Claw’s 60m-case peak – the onerous seltzer model is excluded from this record as its vary is basically malt-based, not spirits-based – however as Suntory continues to push -196 in Europe and the US, 2026 may very well be an excellent greater 12 months for the model.
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