North Carolinians buy one spirit at ABC stores more than any other — a lot more
North Carolina owes a lot to vodka drinkers.
Based on two years of sales, the most-purchased spirit in stores is Tito’s Handmade Vodka — and it’s not a close race.
Liquor stores statewide sold 165,250 cases of half-gallon bottles of Tito’s between fiscal year 2024 and 2025.
ABC’s second-highest seller? A .75-liter bottle of Tito’s.
Still, data from the Office of the State Auditor shows that liquor stores sold 73,000 more half-gallon bottles of Tito’s in that period than .75-liter bottles.
In the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years combined, ABC stores sold more than 300,000 cases of Tito’s, which is “well ahead of any other brand or spirit type,” according to the office.
Christine Mackey, the chief strategy and communications officer for the NC Restaurant and Lodging Association, said the group doesn’t have much insight into whether the data is skewed toward sales to restaurants or bars.
Other top-selling brands in ABC stores included Don Julio Reposado tequila, Smirnoff 80 proof vodka, Platinum 7X vodka, High Noon vodka seltzers and Pinnacle Vodka. The top sellers came in various size bottles or packs.
The data comes from a performance audit of the ABC Commission that analyzes vendor performance and revenue.
North Carolina regulates the sale and distribution of alcohol through local ABC boards operating stores. The data includes individual sales as well as to bars and restaurants.
There are 452 alcohol retail stores across North Carolina and 171 local ABC boards operating them.
Combining the revenue from two fiscal years, the ABC system in the state generated $1.4 billion — $713 million in FY2024 and $696 million in FY2025.
By gross sales over fiscal years 2024 and 2025, Mecklenburg County landed on top with $280 million. Wake County came in second with $222 million in gross sales, and Greensboro rounded out the top three with around $81 million.
NC State Auditor Dave Boliek said in a press release that the ABC system is a “major source of state funding.”
He said tracking certain benchmarks within the ABC system holds the process to “a high standard.”
This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 10:29 AM with the headline "North Carolinians buy one spirit at ABC stores more than any other — a lot more."
