This week, online ordering and food delivery platform DoorDash released its 2023 trends report, noting two new spirits of choice that emerged in the past year.
In 2023, DoorDash witnessed a 648% increase in whiskey orders and a 317% increase in rum. “We saw old classics make a comeback,” said Alanna Shipley, Consumer Insights Expert at DoorDash, who shared that cinnamon whiskey, Tennessee whiskey and bourbon versus white rum, spiced rum and coconut rum were the top orders within their respective categories.
Shipley told me that both spirits weren’t ordered alone, however. “We saw an array of different food pairings for these popular sips,” she said. “Whiskey lovers leaned into sweets, pairing the drink with candy like sweet tarts, [and] we saw those ordering rum pair the spirit with savory eats like sour cream and onion chips.”
Though whiskey and rum achieved a surprising increase this past year, since DoorDash expanded into alcohol delivery in 2021, they’ve been tracking the most popular orders. Here, vodka tops the list of most-ordered alcohol.
The second most popular after vodka is cabernet sauvignon, then prosecco, Irish whiskey, cinnamon whiskey, pinot grigio, pinot noir, hard seltzer which according to DoorDash experienced an 83% increase in orders year-over-year, followed by tequila and moscato.
When analyzing the top favored alcohol orders specifically for the year 2023, vodka maintains its premier position with hard seltzer closely tailing it, then comes tequila, sauvignon blanc, prosecco, whiskey, pinot grigio, lager beer, pinot noir, and rum.
DoorDash identified some other alcoholic trends that were in high demand the day after consumption. They highlighted what they refer as “holiday hangovers”, where the morning following events like St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and New Year’s Eve saw a large increase in orders for ibuprofen, experiencing more than a 400% surge after Halloween, and other remedies for a hangover.
Along with ibuprofen, a top ordered item was cognac, with additional orders for items like cheesesteaks, nacho fries, bacon egg and cheese, and cold brew coffee.
DoorDash’s yearly report revealed regional trends outside of wine and spirits. Cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston were highlighted for their high number of coffee orders. Plus, insights about the most unique food combinations, favorite desserts, and top grocery lists for 2023 were identified.
The report also shared future indicators for 2024. This includes an expected increase in reliance on on-demand delivery services during festive periods and holidays, and an emphasis on late-night snacking. According to their data, late-night orders from midnight to 5 a.m. have seen a 36% surge year-over-year and this trend is predicted to continue.
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