[Provided by GS Retail]
[Provided by GS Retail]

Single malt whisky has topped overall sales on Wine25Plus, the liquor smart-order platform operated by GS25 convenience stores, for the first time this year.

Single malt accounted for 61 percent of whisky sales on Wine25Plus this year, up 15 percentage points from a year earlier. Sales of premium single malts priced at 100,000 won ($65) or more surged 126 percent year on year, and the average transaction value for whisky was more than double that of wine.

GS25 said the post-pandemic "mixology" trend built around low-cost whisky and highballs has shifted toward "authentic whisky consumption" centered on single malts. The culture of savoring the spirit's original flavor is also spreading, driven by whisky content circulating on social media.

Men in their 20s posted the largest growth in single malt whisky sales compared with two years ago, up 75 percent. Whisky accounted for 56 percent of total liquor spending among that age group — the highest share of any demographic. While consumers in their 40s and 50s still spend more in absolute terms, the growth trajectory signals that men in their 20s are emerging as a new core consumer segment in the whisky market.

Among individual products, premium single malts suited for neat or straight drinking ranked among the top sellers — including the Balvenie 12-year and 14-year expressions, the Glenfiddich 15-year 700ml, and the Kavalan Solist 700ml glass-set package. The sales share of blended whiskies in the 20,000–40,000 won range, which had been consumed mainly for highballs, fell 30 percent.

"Whisky consumption, which had been centered on highballs and mixology, is rapidly shifting toward single malts," said Kim Seon-mi, a merchandise director on the Wine25Plus team at GS25. "We plan to proactively secure a diverse range of differentiated whiskies, including exclusive products, limited editions and independently bottled expressions."


andy@heraldcorp.com