Pennsylvania drank a lot of Tito’s Vodka, Fireball Whisky, and Barefoot Wine in 2019-2020
Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky topped liquor sales in Pennsylvania’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, according to the Liquor Control Board’s annual report that was released yesterday.
Crown Russe Vodka, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Nikolai Vodka, Hennessy Cognac, New Amsterdam Vodka, and Captain Morgan Spiced Rum were also big sellers at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in this period.
Apothic Red Winemaker’s Blend was the top-selling wine, while seven varieties of the affordable Barefoot Wine brand were in the Top 25 bestselling wines by unit sales.
Online sales, which rose dramatically this year, were dominated by Tito’s, with Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Maker’s Mark Straight Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Straight Bourbon, Tanqueray London Dry Gin, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Grey Goose Vodka, and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky trailing behind.
Breaking away from this pattern a bit, Bluecoat Gin from Philadelphia led the top-selling spirits that are made in Pennsylvania, followed by Stateside Urbancraft Vodka, Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog, Faber Vodka, Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey, Faber Gin, Original Bartenders I’m Bananas Over You Cocktail, Boyd & Blair Vodka, Wigle Rye Whiskey Small Cask Series, and Off the Rail Vodka.
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery Concord from Breinigsville topped Pennsylvania-made wines, with The Winery at Wilcox Clarion River Red from Wilcox close behind. Mazza Vineyards Concord, Franklin Hill Vineyards Sir Walter’s Red, Franklin Hill Vineyards Carnival White, Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery Catawba, Adams County Winery Rebel Red, Nissley Grapeful Red, Mazza Vineyards Niagara, and Sand Castle Winery Alpine Spice also made it to the Top 10.
Unsurprisingly, the coronavirus pandemic drove sales on March 13, 15, 16, and 17 that rivaled the usual Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve rushes. Pennsylvanians stocked up just before the state-wide shutdown, spending nearly $30 million on March 16 alone, the top sales day of the fiscal year. Limited curbside pickup began in April, bringing in $3.64 million in four days from just the few locations that were open.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board runs 600 stores across the state and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers, adding billions in store profits and taxes to the General Fund.
Other standout facts from the annual report include:
- E-commerce sales in fiscal year 2019-2020 totaled $26.8 million for 1.3 million units, a 436.9 percent increase in dollar sales and an 851.9 percent increase in unit sales over the prior year’s online sales of $5 million and 135,776 units.
- Box wine dollar sales in 2019-2020 of $128.4 million grew $4.5 million or 3.6 percent over 2018-19, largely because holders of wine expanded permits continued to buy box wines from the PLCB (and subsequently sell at retail) while Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores were temporarily closed in support of coronavirus mitigation efforts.
- Unflavored vodka was the top-selling spirits category in 56 counties, while American whiskey was the top category in 11 counties.
- California cabernet sauvignon was the top wine category in 30 counties, while another 30 counties had box red wine as the top wine category; California chardonnay followed in four counties, and beverage wine followed in three.
- Sales in Allegheny, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties – the top-ranking three counties by dollar sales – accounted for almost 35 percent of statewide sales.
See the top-selling wines and spirits below and read the entire report here.
Top 25 spirits by unit sales in Fine Wine & Good Spirits in 2019-2020
1. Fireball Cinnamon Whisky – 50 mL – 4,679,193 – $4,626,289
2. Tito’s Handmade Vodka – 1.75 L – 1,059,156 – $35,872,180
3. Tito’s Handmade Vodka – 1 L – 965,077 – $23,598,604
4. Tito’s Handmade Vodka – 750 mL – 932,568 – $17,292,947
5. Crown Russe Vodka – 1.75 L – 787,171 – $7,729,510
6. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey – 750 mL – 732,522 – $16,642,963
7. Nikolai Vodka – 375 mL – 730,393 – $2,913,213
8. Hennessy Cognac VS – 750 mL – 626,918 – $22,883,659
9. New Amsterdam Vodka – 50 mL – 620,984 – $599,109
10. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum – 750 mL – 618,314 – $9,900,512
11. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum – 1.75 L – 616,982 – $16,020,283
12. Fireball Cinnamon Whisky – 750 mL – 568,478 – $10,187,252
13. Jameson Irish Whiskey – 750 mL – 527,051 – $15,087,249
14. Tito’s Handmade Vodka – 50 mL – 479,750 – $936,726
15. Bacardí Superior Rum – 1.75 L – 478,031 – $10,207,259
16. 99 Peaches Schnapps – 50 mL – 476,844 – $457,439
17. 99 Bananas Schnapps – 50 mL – 465,605 – $449,581
18. Jacquin’s Vodka – 375 mL – 439,058 – $2,058,427
19. Crown Royal Regal Apple Canadian Whisky – 750 mL – 427,557 – $11,310,887
20. 99 Apples Schnapps – 50 mL – 409,516 – $393,506
21. New Amsterdam Peach Vodka – 50 mL – 401,270 – $388,251
22. E&J Apple Brandy – 50 mL – 387,925 – $373,436
23. Platinum 7X Vodka – 1.75 L – 387,007 – $6,672,782
24. Bacardí Superior Rum – 750 mL – 386,503 – $5,543,530
25. Absolut Vodka – 750 mL – 385,738 – $6,917,912
Top 25 wines by unit sales in Fine Wine & Good Spirits in 2019-2020
1. Apothic Red Winemaker’s Blend – 750 mL – 627,101 – $6,670,292
2. Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay – 750 mL – 561,263 – $7,562,200
3. La Marca Prosecco – 750 mL – 557,856 – $8,279,711
4. Barefoot Pinot Grigio – 1.5 L – 511,713 – $5,733,309
5. Cavit Pinot Grigio delle Venezie – 1.5 L – 484,128 – $6,228,098
6. Barefoot Moscato – 1.5 L – 480,097 – $5,411,036
7. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Chardonnay – 1.5 L – 474,522 – $5,985,359
8. Barefoot Pink Moscato – 750 mL – 458,738 – $3,214,243
9. Barefoot Pink Moscato – 1.5 L – 441,080 – $4,967,651
10. Barefoot Moscato – 750 mL – 420,706 – $2,938,879
11. Roscato Rosso Dolce – 750 mL – 395,066 – $3,901,677
12. Cavit Pinot Grigio delle Venezie – 750 mL – 358,729 – $2,604,697
13. Barefoot Chardonnay – 1.5 L – 349,546 – $3,907,571
14. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon – 1.5 L – 348,754 – $4,342,618
15. Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – 750 mL – 321,033 – $4,817,764
16. Sutter Home Family Vineyards White Zinfandel – 1.5 L – 320,586 – $3,532,479
17. Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – 750 mL – 295,674 – $3,464,440
18. Josh Cellars Chardonnay – 750 mL – 284,514 – $3,670,599
19. Sutter Home Family Vineyards Chardonnay Family Vineyards (4×187 mL) – 748 mL – 271,419 – $1,966,183
20. Barefoot Riesling – 1.5 L – 270,318 – $3,054,446
21. Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio delle Venezie – 750 mL – 269,139 – $3,133,487
22. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – 750 mL – 268,702 – $4,344,268
23. Starborough Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – 750 mL – 266,991 – $3,200,605
24. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Pinot Grigio – 1.5 L – 260,285 – $3,228,955
25. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley – 750 mL – 260,034 – $2,735,659
Top 10 spirits made in Pennsylvania sold by Fine Wine & Good Spirits in 2019-2020
1. Bluecoat Gin – 750 mL – 48,233 units – $1,275,415
2. Stateside Urbancraft Vodka – 750 mL – 42,339 – $1,116,648
3. Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog – 750 mL – 110,720 – $993,049
4. Faber Vodka – 750 mL – 32,491 – $491,082
5. Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey – 750 mL – 13,147 – $488,202
6. Faber Gin – 750 mL – 25,334 – $377,304
7. Original Bartenders I’m Bananas Over You Cocktail – 1.75 L – 25,074 – $317,662
8. Boyd & Blair Vodka – 750 mL – 12,815 – $303,479
9. Wigle Rye Whiskey Small Cask Series – 750 mL – 6,692 – $275,190
10. Off the Rail Vodka – 1 L – 37,299 – $260,716
Top 10 wines made in Pennsylvania sold by Fine Wine & Good Spirits in 2019-2020
1. Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery Concord – 750 mL – 52,645 units – $569,494
2. The Winery at Wilcox Clarion River Red – 1.5 L – 32,963 – $493,487
3. Mazza Vineyards Concord – 1.5 L – 26,502 – $256,988
4. Franklin Hill Vineyards Sir Walter’s Red – 750 mL – 17,897 – $222,489
5. Franklin Hill Vineyards Carnival White – 750 mL – 15,131 – $188,122
6. Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery Catawba – 750 mL – 16,922 – $183,733
7. Adams County Winery Rebel Red – 750 mL – 11,253 – $166,206
8. Nissley Grapeful Red – 750 mL – 11,154 – $153,786
9. Mazza Vineyards Niagara – 1.5 L – 11,838 – $153,260
10. Sand Castle Winery Alpine Spice – 750 mL – 8,724 – $147,872
Top 10 e-commerce items sold by Fine Wine & Good Spirits in 2019-2020
1. Tito’s Handmade Vodka – 1 L – 51,858 – $1,347,680
2. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey – 750 mL – 17,023 – $400,123
3. Jameson Irish Whiskey – 750 mL – 12,944 – $374,961
4. Tito’s Handmade Vodka – 750 mL – 18,671 – $350,566
5. Maker’s Mark Straight Bourbon – 750 mL – 9,873 – $277,573
6. Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Straight Bourbon – 750 mL – 7,170 – $253,055
7. Tanqueray London Dry Gin – 750 mL – 9,636 – $250,418
8. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum – 750 mL – 13,804 – $246,928
9. Grey Goose Vodka – 750 mL – 7,411 – $242,864
10. Fireball Cinnamon Whisky – 750 mL – 11,210 – $206,777
Top 10 sales days at Fine Wine & Good Spirits in 2019-2020
1. 3/16/2020, Monday – COVID-19 – 1,810,128 – $29,878,404
2. 11/27/2019, Wednesday – Thanksgiving – 1,497,364 – $23,104,897
3. 12/23/2019, Monday – Christmas – 1,454,883 – $21,900,755
4. 12/31/2019, Tuesday – New Year’s Eve – 1,385,864 – $21,263,630
5. 3/17/2020, Tuesday – COVID-19 – 1,324,807 – $20,396,815
6. 12/24/2019, Tuesday – Christmas – 1,234,452 – $19,361,921
7. 12/20/2019, Friday – Christmas – 1,250,235 – $18,832,945
8. 3/13/2020, Friday – COVID-19 – 1,113,002 – $17,460,646
9. 12/21/2019, Saturday – Christmas – 1,113,865 – $17,170,148
10. 3/15/2020, Sunday – COVID-19 – 969,744 – $15,556,359
