Johnnie Walker - world top performer

Spirit giant Diageo had four of its brands featured in the top 10 of the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR)/just-drinks "World's Top Performing Spirits Brands".

Diageo which is represented by Red Stripe in Jamaica, is also the leading brand owner within the report, with a total of 20 brands featured in the rankings.

The report evaluates the brands through a combination of variables based on; volume, retail value and five-year growth - and a just-drinks reader survey of industry opinion of the best-performing brands of 2010.

Both the IWSR's research and the reader survey data confirm that Johnnie Walker holds the undisputed leading brand in the global spirits market. Smirnoff is ranked second in the report, with Captain Morgan and Baileys fifth and eighth, respectively.

Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky was identified as the brand with the most growth potential in the just-drinks reader survey.

According to Gavin Pike, global brand director of Johnnie Walker, "Johnnie Walker has been a truly international brand for a very long time, having been available in 100 countries from as early as 1920. The reasons for its success, of course, start with great liquid, but the astute marketing acumen and advertising have helped to build the iconic value of the brand."

In addition to the top 10 brands, the following Diageo brands were also featured in the ranking, which contains a total of 109 brands.

Bells - 19th, Gordons - 33rd; J&B - 42nd; Old Parr - 46th; Tanqueray - 48th; Black and White - 52nd, White Horse - 54th; Pimm's - 68th,Classic Malts - 69th; Bushmill's - 70th; Vat69 - 75th, Sheridans - 85th, Gilbey's - 93rd, Zacap - 100th, Myer's - 101st and Dimple - 106th.