What Is The World's Best-Selling Liquor?

Nope, it's not Smirnoff vodka, but it came pretty close: The world's best-selling liquor, according to an industry report, is Jinro soju.

Never heard of it? If you live outside of Korea, there's a good chance you haven't. It's a distilled rice liquor that New York Daily News says is a "sweeter version" of vodka. According to the Jinro producer, Koreans drink nearly 1 billion of their 360-mililiter bottles of soju per month, and they sold 61.4 million 9-liter cases last year. That's twice as much as the number two on the list, Smirnoff — the vodka maker only sold 24.7 million cases last year.

Why is it so successful? A brand representative said to CNN that it's not only because it's cheap — less than $1 US per bottle — but because it's also a lower proof, at 19 percent ABV.

Also on the list: Bacardi Rum, Johnnie Walker, and another soju maker, Lotte Liquor.