Jinro world's top spirit, Emperador now 2nd

Hite-Jinro’s soju brand, Jinro, remains the world's best selling spirit after growing sales 6% to 65.3m 9-litre cases last year, according to DI's soon-to-be-published The Millionaires’ Club 2013.

After announcing itself as the world’s biggest brandy brand in last year's list, the Philippines’ Emperador has jumped from fourth to second place in the overall ranking, following growth of 54%.

The brandy climbed from sales of 20.1m cases in 2011 to 31m cases in 2012.

Diageo’s Smirnoff drops to third place despite 4% year-on-year growth to 25.8m cases.

The word’s fourth largest spirit is the soju Lotte Liquor, which grew 6% to 25.4m cases and in fifth place, usurping Bacardi, is the Phillipines-based gin Ginebra San Miguel which sold an estimated 23m cases.

The Millionaires’ Club magazine - the data from which was supplied by spirits research agency Intellima - will launch alongside the May issue of Drinks International and will be available to download on Drinksint.com in May.