The good summer hasn't just boosted cider, it was also a huge boon to liqueurs. Off-trade volumes of liqueurs rose 12% in the 12 weeks to end-August compared with the same period a year ago, according to Nielsen data in a new WSTA report. With beer sales toiling in the sun - up 3% - liqueurs took advantage, and none more so than Pimm's, classified a liqueur by Nielsen. Sales of the brand rose 48.6% year on year over the period to £28.5M. Pimm's No 6 with Blackberry & Elderflower, launched last April, made up £3.9M of the growth, while Pimm's No 1 brought in £5.4M more than it did last year. The liqueurs category also benefited from interest in dark spirits, according to Mintel. "Brands close in style to dark spirits are doing well by tapping into the trends of mixability and flavour innovation," said Mintel's senior drinks analysis, Chris Wisson. Overall off-trade alcohol volume sales grew 3% over the 12 week period, with cider and perry and sparkling wine up 12% and beer up 3% while sales of RTDs, still wine and Champagne fell.
