This was the most popular spirit sold at Virginia ABC stores in Fiscal Year 2023

Tito’s Handmade Vodka was the top spirit of choice among customers at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority stores during Fiscal Year 2023, garnering $72 million in sales.

Tito’s sales grew by $5.1M compared to the prior year as it continued its six-year run as the top selling product in the commonwealth.

Tito’s was followed by Hennessy VS cognac ($44 million), Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey ($30.1 million), Patron Silver tequila ($28.6 million) and Jim Beam straight bourbon whiskey ($24 million).

Among the top 10 best-selling products, Jameson Irish whiskey rose to No. 6; Maker’s Mark straight bourbon remained at No. 7; Crown Royal Canadian whiskey dropped to No. 8; Grey Goose vodka rose to No. 9; and Lunazul Blanco tequila joined the top 10 – rising from No. 20 to No. 10.

Fireball whiskey fell to No. 14.

The biggest movers among the top-50 products all were tequila brands: Lunazul Reposado (up 127%), Lunazul Blanco (up 71%), Casamigos Blanco (up 67%), Teremana Reposado (up 57%) and Teremana Blanco (up 45%).

Among the top-50 products, Fireball represented the largest decline by percent (18.4%) and total sales (declining by $3.2 million); followed by Crown Royal Regal Apple, which declined by 15.2% or $2.2 million.

Best-selling categories

Virginia ABC’s best-selling categories remained relatively steady, led by vodka at 1.64 million cases sold. Tequila (885,876 cases) overtook straight bourbon whiskey (780,777 cases). Cordials/liqueurs (514,517 cases) and rum (470,292 cases) rounded out the top-five categories.

The tequila category showed strong growth, with an 18.4% increase in cases sold. Tequila grew from an 11.8% to 13.7% market share.

The fastest-growing category was sloe gin, which grew 64% but is Virginia ABC’s smallest category, at only 141 cases sold.

Among those with more significant sales, the fastest-growing categories were moonshine at 25.6%; tequila at 18.4%; specialty (such as gift sets) at 14.8%; domestic ready-to-drink cocktails at 10.1% and straight rye whiskey at 9.8%. The biggest declines were seen in Cognacs/Armagnacs at 14.6%; and Canadian whiskey at 10%.

Best-selling Virginia spirits

Virginia ABC offers nearly 300 Virginia-distilled spirits, and their sales grew to $24.1 million, with more than one million bottles sold.

The top-sellers in the category were Bowman Brothers Virginia straight bourbon ($1.6 million), Cirrus Vodka ($1.2 million), John J. Bowman Virginia straight bourbon ($841,852), Isaac Bowman port finish whiskey ($623,848) and Virginia Highlands War Horn Whiskey ($446,898).

Top-performing stores

Virginia ABC added four stores in FY23, bringing its total to 399. The top-five stores by gallons sold were Store 256 in Virginia Beach (113,346); Store 219 in Fairfax County (103,139); Store 278 in Virginia Beach (97,326); Store 225 in Virginia Beach (94,302) and Store 280 in Chesapeake (92,432).

Store 331 in Short Pump led the Richmond region at 91,075 gallons, followed by Store 169 in Richmond's Carytown at 81,198 gallons.