Get the salt and limes ready

This year, for the first time ever, Americans will spend more money on tequila and mezcal than US-made whiskeys. And by 2023, agave-based spirits are projected to surpass vodka as the most popular spirit in the country, according to new research from IWSR.

🍹 By the numbers…

• The tequila and mezcal market in the US is expected to be worth $13.3 billion in 2023, compared to vodka’s $12.5 billion and American-made whiskeys’ $12.3 billion.
• Out of the agave-based duo, Mezcal is far and away the faster-growing drink. In the US, tequila grew by 27% in value in 2021 over 2020, compared with mezcal, which grew 53%.

🌎 Around the world: The UK, Russia, Germany, and Japan are among the 10 largest tequila and mezcal markets. Of those top 10, the fastest-growing is Canada, where agave-based spirits are expected to grow 93% by volume and 109% by value from 2021 to 2026.

🧠 Dig deeper: Beer has long been the undisputed booze king of America. But over the past two decades, that dominance has been dwindling – and now it’s on the precipice of losing its crown.