From cheap vodka and boxed wine to more expensive craft beer and high-end Champagne, the top-selling items at Utah’s state-run liquor stores were all over the price and taste map in fiscal 2018.
Barton Vodka — which costs $11 for a 750 ml bottle — led all items with sales topping $3.1 million, according to the 2018 Year in Retail report issued by the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Conversely, Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label, a celebrated Champagne that typically costs $57 a bottle, jumped seven spots to become Utah’s top-selling wine with sales above $1 million.
Several factors may have played into the jump, said DABC spokesman Terry Wood. That particular Veuve Clicquot variety in a 750 ml bottle went on sale three times during the year — including December, when it’s a popular item for New Year’s Eve celebrations. (It’s on sale again this month for $49, reduced $8 from its normal price.)
“It has a well-known name in the industry,” he said, “and people realized that was a decent price for a good wine.”
In recent years, there also has been a spike in sparkling wine sales, he said, which may also have played a factor.
The top-selling beers at Utah liquor stores — which have a higher alcohol content than the 3.2 brews sold in grocery and convenience stores — also were a mixed bag, according to the report, a summary of sales during the 12 months that ended June 30.
Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA, a craft brew made in Salt Lake City, brought in the most revenue — more than $1.78 million.
But consumers actually bought more Icehouse beer — 1.2 million bottles. At $1 a bottle — half the price of Hop Rising — the Icehouse brew brought in nearly $1.3 million.
During the fiscal year, Utah’s 45 liquor stores had more than 11.3 million retail transactions, the report notes. Consumers spent an average of $37.56 per transaction; restaurant and bar owners spent an average of $931.60.
The busiest liquor store in Utah was one customers can visit but rarely do. The Salt Lake City Club store — named because Utah bars used to be called clubs — is next to the DABC headquarters and warehouse, 1625 S. 900 West, Salt Lake City. It’s where restaurant and bar owners go to pick up their large alcohol orders. In 2017, the store sold $28 million in alcohol, a 12 percent jump.
The liquor store in Cottonwood Heights was second, selling $20.5 million, followed by Sandy at nearly $19 million.
The DABC set another record, bringing in nearly $453.7 million during the year, a 6 percent increase from the previous year. The agency keeps a portion of the revenues to cover operating costs. The rest, under state law, is returned to the state coffers. The majority of liquor profits go into the general fund, while smaller portions are used for the school lunch program, liquor-law enforcement and education programs that work to prevent underage drinking.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A sale label on product at Utah state liquor store in Murray, Wednesday, July 18, 2018.
Here are a few more details about the state’s top-selling liquor items:
• In the spirits category, Patrón Silver Tequila and Jack Daniels Black Label are the second and third most popular items purchased. The brands brought in more than $2.4 million each. Tito’s Handmade Vodka saw a significant leap in sales, jumping nine spots to make it into the top 10.
• Boxed wines continued to dominate wine sales, with six items represented in the top 10. The 3-liter Black Box Cabernet — which sells for $24 and is equal to about four regular bottles of wine — led the wine list in the number of units sold. Consumers purchased 44,125 boxes, equaling $992,714 in sales.
• Utah-made beers performed well, occupying four of the top 10 spots in the beer category. Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA (glass bottle) topped the list, and its can variant landed in the fifth spot. Red Rock Elephino and Wasatch Devastator Double Bock also made the tally of top-selling heavy beers.
Here are the top sellers at the liquor stores, ranked by sales with the bottle size and number of units sold in parentheses.
SPIRITS
1. Barton Vodka (1,750 ml bottle) • $3.1 million (270,996); 2. Patrón Silver Tequila (750 ml) • $2.43 million (47,775); 3. Jack Daniels Black Label (1,000 ml) • $2.43 million (84,803); 4. Smirnoff Vodka (1,750 ml) • $2.29 million (95,022); 5. Jack Daniels Black Label (1,750 ml) • $2.19 million (44,822); 6. Jameson Irish Whiskey (750 ml) • $2.13 million (75,624); 7. Tito’s Handmade Vodka (1,750 ml) • $2.13 million (52,986); 8. Crown Royal (1,750 ml) • $2 million (38,585); 9. Crown Royal (750 ml) • $1.98 million (71,099); 10. Jameson Irish Whiskey (1,000 ml) • $1.95 million (55,634).
BEER
1. Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA (355 ml) • $1.7 million (896,072); 2. Icehouse (355 ml) • $1.29 million (1,286,331); 3. Stella Artois (330 ml) • $1.2 million (500,838); 4. Pacífico Lager Mexico (355 ml) • $1.2 million (610,317); 5. Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA Can (355 ml) • $944,907 (474,828); 6. Red Rock Elephino IPA (500 ml) • $919,974 (230,570) 7. Natty Daddy (355 ml) • $863,656 (909,112); 8. Busch Ice Lager (355 ml) • $807,442 (815,598); 9. Wasatch Devastator Double Bock Can (355 ml) • $639,932 (321,574); 10. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Cans (355 ml) • $618,918 (327,471).
WINE
1. Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label (750 ml) • $1 million (18,816); 2. Black Box Cabernet (3 liter) • $992,714 (44,125); 3. Meiomi Pinot Noir (750 ml) • $969,019 (44,515); 4. Lamarca Prosecco (750 ml) • $940,251 (61,721); 5. Bota Box Pinot Grigio (3 liter) • $935,191 (44,415); 6. Black Box Chardonnay (3 liter) • $926,756 (40,789); 7. Kendall Jackson Chardonnay Vintner (750 ml) • $894,380 (54,294); 8. Franzia Sunset Blush (5 liter) • $854,998 (53,170); 9. Franzia Chillable Red (5 liter) • $784,721 (49,052); 10. Franzia Chardonnay (5 liter) • $718,090 (35,944).
