Tequila Shows Most Growth In 2023 Spirits Industry Report

The spirits industry had quite the rollercoaster ride in 2023. And since last year was so tumultuous, the adult beverage world is still wondering where the market is heading for 2024. 

According to The Brand Champions Report, the spirits industry saw some slowdowns. But they also saw some growth in some usual and not-so-usual places.  

For instance, four whiskies from India made the top ten spirits for the year. Whisky from India? That's wild. White Claw made the top ten as well because of America. The top-selling spirit is a soju from South Korea. And what was the spirit with the largest growth? 

Tequila baby. Lunazul Tequila to be exact. 

Tequila is my favorite spirit in the industry. It may also be my favorite spirit animal. I like it neat, on the rocks and mixed with some other goodies.  

Related: Best Tequilas To Bring To Your Next Party

For instance, when I’m out and about, I like to order tequila with my favorite soda, Ginger Ale. Moscow Mule is nothing compared to a Mexican Mule. It has way more kick. This dude has a pretty good recipe, too.  

Or I like to rock my tequila with some Sprite and grapefruit juice. Red Grapefruit to be exact. Most people call it a paloma, but I like to do it Carlota-style and add Sprite. So take this guy's recipe and add a splash of Sprite. Also, add something extra like a dash of Tajin.

I love tequila with a jalapeño because I’m a spicy lady. I’m a fan of putting slices of  jalapeño in my tequila on the rocks. I let it marinate and bam, my tequila has an extra kick. But you need to check out these jalapeño tequila jelly shots below. Talk about spicing up the party. Sign me up.

And to wrap it up, the OG of tequila drinks: The Margarita. There are so many different variations and flavors of the margarita, it's hard to go wrong unless your bartender sucks. Pick any of these recipes, get the right mixologist, and you can't lose  

Just be careful, and don't have too many drinks, or you could end up on a rollercoaster like below. But, it won't be quite as fun.

Las Vegas, Nevada: This city is known for gambling, entertainment and strippers...I mean showgirls. But we are also known for some damn good food. Yep, Vegas is also known for its culinary prowess. We have some of the best restaurants and fine dining choices in the world. Ands the most famous thing this city serves, besides bad beats, is shrimp cocktail. 

True, we may not have a lot of .99 cent choices anymore, but do you really want to risk your life over the bottom feeder? I meant the shrimp, not your ex. 

Anyways, Vegas has a storied history with the little and sometimes not so little prawns. A Raw headless delicacy shrimp cocktail made its mark in Sin City. According to Delishably, sure, some say the dish was first introduced to the public during prohibition as an oyster cocktail. Others say it was first invented in San Francisco, when a miner took raw oysters and dipped them in ketchup. That just sounds nasty, but I digress. 

According to Food Republic, shrimp cocktail may have come from prohibition or a miner in San Francisco. But it wasn't until the dish made its way to Vegas, and shrimp became the main ingredient that it became popular.  

Related: The 5 Best Pizzas In Las Vegas

According to Golden Gate Casino's website, in the 1950’s casino owner Emilio “Gumba” Giorgetti was catching some grief from local authorities here in Las Vegas because they didn't think he should operate a casino. So “Gumba” contacted his Bay Area lawyer for advice on how to proceed. His lawyer put together a group of San Francisco investors and they began to look for a new business venture. They found it at a casino called Sal Sagev, which is Las Vegas backwards. They leased the first floor of the casino, and eventually named it The Golden Gate.  

One of the partners in the Golden Gate, Italo Ghelfi, introduced the .50 cent shrimp cocktail in 1959, as a promotional item. It clearly became a huge hit, according to the GOlden Gate Casino.  

And here we are today. The Shrimp Cocktail capital of the world. Well, I don't know if we really are, but we are the entertainment and sports capital. So, we might as well add shrimp to that. 

Anyways, here’s my five favorite Shrimp Cocktails in Las Vegas 

I'm down for any Mexican restaurant that specializes in seafood. There's just something special about the way they make their food, even the non-seafood dishes. Mariscos Playa Escondida located at 1204 E Charleston Blvd Suit 140 is no exception. The menu is packed full of all the good stuff. Plus, their shrimp cocktail is one of the best in Vegas. It's colorful, fresh, add a beer and you are doing it right. There are a plethora of shrimp dishes and other seafood items that are delectable. Fried snapper, shrimp cocktails -- duh -- and even oysters are some hot items on the menu.

Chile Caliente is by far one of the best places to grab a bite to eat in Las Vegas. The menu makes one's mouth water, and quite frankly, it's tough to pick a dish off the menu because you'll want to order the whole damn thing. And their shrimp cocktail? Well, as you can see, it's basically Mexican sushi. Yum. This is a spot that is a hidden gem and loved by locals. You can get breakfast, burritos, tacos and amazing seafood. The shrimp cocktail is a family recipe that's tangy, fresh and has the right amount of shrimp and avocado. It's the perfect marriage of flavors. Plus, scoop the shrimp cocktail on some crackers, and it's truly divine.