Scotch Volume Jumps 11% in Control States, Driven by New Hampshire

March Control States spirits sales improved versus February, with 9 liter volume increasing +1.2% and dollar volume decreasing -1.6%, resulting in a -2.8% price mix, National Alcohol Beverage Control Association reports.

Performance was impacted by five additional selling days with two additional selling days in Utah and three additional selling days in Michigan. On a rolling 12-month basis, spirits finished down -1.0% in 9L volume and down -2.7% in $Vol, yielding a -1.7% price mix.

Other categories besides Cocktails (driven by Canned RTDs), Tequila, and Scotch saw some improvement against prior months. Cocktails, Tequila, Scotch, Cordials, Gin, and modestly Vodka saw positive volume growth. Scotch continued to see significant growth +11.4% in 9L volume and +2.2% in dollar sales. This significant growth again was driven primarily by New Hampshire (+256.8%) supported by strong promotional activity.

Wine sales improved in March, with volume down -1.8% and sales declining -1.9%, resulting in a -0.1% price mix. Utah's two additional selling days has impacted this. On a rolling 12-month basis, wine trends are modestly improving, with volume at down 4.4%, and sales down 3.1%, and price mix remaining flat at +1.4%.

On‑Premise channel spirit sales improved, with 9L volume increasing 2.4% and sales flat, as only 5 of the 14 reporting states recorded declines. Rolling 12‑month on‑premise results are mixed, withvolume up +0.6% and sales down -1.4%, resulting in a -2.0% price mix.

On‑Premise wine volume declined -5.2% and sales decreased -4.3%, generating a +0.9% price mix. On a rolling 12‑month basis, on‑premise wine finished down -3.6% in volume and -2.7% in sales yielding a +0.9% price mix.

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