Tequila, Whiskey, Cognac Lead Control State Growth in 2017

The spirits category did deliver growth in control states in 2017--sales were up 4.7% and volumes grew 2.5%--but not quite as strong as in 2016 when sales were up 5% and volumes grew 2.8%. This marks the fifth consecutive year of deceleration in the 17 control states (plus Montgomery County MD), according to NABCA data.Jerry Janicki, NABCA's svp of operations and coo, attributes the downward trend to two main factors: the US economy, and the spirits business cycle. He tells