If you make or sell spirits, the last couple of years have been difficult. After decades of growth, sales across the board are declining, down 1.1 percent in 2024, according to the Distilled Spirits Council, with some categories like scotch and brandy in especially dire straits. Bartenders in many areas say that people are drinking less than they did pre-pandemic. But there’s a notable bright spot: spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails, or RTDs, which are significantly defying the trend—up 16.5 percent in 2024.
While RTDs are canned, they shouldn’t be confused with hard seltzer, which is typically made with a brewed base of malt or sugar. RTDs use actual vodka, whiskey, tequila, and other spirits alongside ingredients you’d find in a typical cocktail, such as bitters and citrus juice. RTDs made with spirits could be as simple as an Old Fashioned or as complex as a Pencillin, and there’s a wide array to choose from.
