December closed 2025 on a modestly positive note for spirits, with 9L volume increasing +0.4%, despite dollar volume declining -1.4%, resulting in a negative price mix of -1.8%.

The volume gain was primarily calendar-driven, reflecting 10 additional selling days versus last year. Michigan and Utah each benefited from three extra days, while Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, and North Carolina each added one day. Excluding these added-day impacts, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming, Iowa, and Montgomery County also delivered positive 9L volume performance in December.

For full year 2025, spirits ended down -1.4% in 9L volume and -2.8% in $Vol, yielding a -1.4% price mix.

Category Growth Narrow

Despite the positive December 9-liter volume result, category growth remained narrow. Only Cocktails (led by canned RTDs), Cordials, and Tequila posted positive 9-liter volume. On a full-year basis, Cocktails and Tequila were the only categories to remain positive in both 9L volume and dollar volume, while Domestic Whiskey, Gin, and Scotch were the only segments to sustain a positive price mix.

Wine showed improvement versus prior months in December, with 9 liter volume up -3.0%, though dollar volume declined -4.4%, resulting in a -1.4% price mix. For the full year, wine remained challenged, finishing down -5.7% in 9 liter volume and -4.3% in dollar, producing a +1.4% price mix.

On-Premise

The On-Premise channel posted a meaningful rebound in December, with 9-liter volume increasing +3.2% and dollar volume up +1.3%, supported by positive 9 liter volume results in 10 of the 14 reporting states.

Full year On-Premise performance remained slightly negative, ending at -0.3% in 9-liter volume and -2.1% in dollar volume, resulting in a -1.8% price mix. On-Premise wine also strengthened in December, with 9 liter volume down just -0.4% and dollar volume increasing +1.3%, generating a +1.7% price mix. Full year On-Premise wine finished at -4.5% in 9 liter volume, -2.7% in dollar volume, and a +1.8% price mix.

 Full details by state are available at https://www.nabca.org/control-state-results-0