Virginians go for Texan vodka

Virginia is for lovers of vodka distilled from corn in Austin, Texas, apparently. 

For the seventh straight year, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is Virginia’s most popular spirit at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores, according to a Friday announcement.

The spirit generated $75 million in sales at Virginia ABC stores in fiscal year 2024. That’s an increase of $3 million over 2023. 

The second-most popular spirit at Virginia ABC stores is Hennessy VS cognac, which sold over $38 million. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 ranked third with $28 million. The fourth-most popular spirit was Patron Silver tequila, with $25 million in sales, while Jim Beam straight bourbon whiskey delivered $23 million in sales. 

Rounding out the top 10 were: Jameson Irish whiskey ($20 million), Lunazul Blanco tequila ($19.4 million), Maker’s Mark straight bourbon ($19.2 million), Grey Goose vodka ($18 million) and Crown Royal Canadian whiskey ($17 million). 

The bestsellers list released Friday follows last week’s report of unaudited financial results for fiscal 2024. The authority reported $1.5 billion in gross revenues last year, up from $1.47 billion in gross revenues in fiscal 2023. ABC revenues include the sale of distilled spirits, Virginia wines and mixers, and the collection of license fees and other revenues.

The products that saw the biggest increases in sales among those that ranked in the top 50 were tequilas. In fiscal 2023, Lunazul Blanco ranked No. 10. Teremana Blanco jumped from  the 43rd spot in fiscal 2023 to 24th this year, with $9.8 million in sales. Teremana Reposado moved from 42nd place to 27th, posting $9.1 million in sales. Lunazul Reposado rose from No. 45 to 28th place in fiscal 2024, delivering $8.8 million in sales. 

Not everyone can be the belle of the ball, though. D’ussé VSOP cognac saw the largest decline among the state ABC’s top 50 products by percentage. With $6.6 million in sales in fiscal 2024, D’ussé sold $1.6 million less than in fiscal 2023. The spirit ranked 28th last year but came in 39th this year. Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey fell from the 14th spot to No. 17 in fiscal 2024, and Casamigos Blanco tequila fell from 11th in fiscal 2023 to 14th this year. 

The best-selling categories at Virginia ABC in fiscal 2024 matched those in fiscal 2023. Vodka was the top seller with 1.6 million cases sold, followed by tequila at 996,000 cases sold. Straight bourbon whiskey came in third with 814,000 cases sold, and ABC stores sold 537,000 cases of cordials and 437,000 cases of rum.  

Tequila saw a 12.4% increase in cases sold this year, making it the fastest growing spirit in the cases sold category for the second year. Domestic cordials increased by 7.6%, while straight rye whiskey saw 4.9% growth. Far from fizzling, sloe gin sales grew by 18.4%. Even so, with 167 cases sold, it remains Virginia ABC’s smallest category. 

Sales of Virginia-distilled spirits raked in $25.8 million in fiscal 2024, with Fredericksburg’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery at the top. The top sellers in this category were: Bowman Brothers Virginia Straight Bourbon ($2.2 million), John J. Bowman Virginia Straight Bourbon ($1.1 million), Isaac Bowman Port Finish Whiskey ($619,572) and Richmond-based Cirrus Vodka’s 750 mL size ($490,955) and one-liter bottle ($432,535).

This year, Virginia ABC opened five new stores, including the authority’s 400th store, which is located in Jonesville.

The top five stores by gallons sold were:

• Store 256, in Virginia Beach, 108,681 gallons
• Store 219, in Fairfax, 106,587 gallons
• Store 331, in Short Pump, 89,882 gallons
• Store 278, in Virginia Beach, 89,498 gallons
• Store 280, in Chesapeake, 89,283 gallons

The profits Virginia ABC collects from distilled spirit sales at ABC stores, and taxes collected on beer and wine sales go to the state. Since its establishment in 1934, Virginia ABC has contributed $13.9 billion to the commonwealth’s general fund supporting major education, health and transportation initiatives.