Tequila shines in Mecklenburg County as Tito’s leads record $71 million in sales
Mecklenburg County liquor store sales set a record nearly $71 million profit last fiscal year, with Tito’s vodka and tequila brands dominating Mecklenburg County’s ABC Board’s recently released annual top 10 list.
Two new names on this year’s list were both tequilas — Don Julio Reposado and Teremana Reposado. Resposado means “rested” in Spanish, with the tequila aged in oak barrels for two months to a year, according to liquor.com.
Don Julio González founded the tequila distillery, La Primavera, at age 17 in the Jalisco Highlands of Mexico, according to the company’s website. In 1985, his sons created a tequila in their father’s honor.
Teremana, also produced in Jalisco, is a small batch tequila that made its U.S. debut in 2020. Teremana was founded by actor and professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Vodka is the most purchased alcohol category in Mecklenburg County ABC stores, according to the ABC Board’s recently released annual financial report for fiscal year 2024. And for the second year in a row, tequila has become a strong favorite with people enjoying “sipping it or in crafted cocktails, such as the margarita, paloma and tequila sunrise,” the report said. The fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.
Mecklenburg has 31 ABC stores with over 350 full- and part-time employees. Last year, the remodeled Brookshire Boulevard store reopened following the 2023 opening of the ABC store at Rivergate shopping center in Steele Creek. Online and mobile app ordering became available at all stores in March 2024, according to the report.
Overall, Mecklenburg County liquor store sales rose 4% in fiscal year 2024 compared to 2023, which previously held the sales record at nearly $68 million. Liquor store sales in Mecklenburg County have continued to rise over the past five years, with a 51% gross profit increase this year compared to 2020, according to the report.
About the top 10 liquor list
Texas-based Tito’s vodka made the latest list three times as the No. 1 seller at 0.75-liter bottle, No. 2 at 1.75-liter and No. 9 at 1 liter. Mecklenburg ABC saw a total of over $20 million of Tito’s sold during the 2024 fiscal year, capturing 28% of all sales.
The top four spots on the list of 10 most purchased brands also saw a newcomer for this first time since 2021. Casamigos Resposada Tequila, which made its debut on the list in 2023, climbed to third with over $5.6 million in sales as Hennessy VS dropped to No. 5 with nearly $5 million. Casamigos is owned by actor George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldma.
Patron Silver ranked No. 4 with $5.5 million in sales, sliding from the runner-up spot in 2021 and $7.5 million in sales.
Fallen from the list are whiskeys: Jameson, Jack Daniel’s Black Label and Crown Royal.
Here’s the list, which is based on sales dollars:
Top Liquors in Mecklenburg County
1. Tito’s Handmade Vodka (0.75-liter)
2. Tito’s (1.75-liter)
4. Patron Silver (tequila)
5. Hennessy VS (cognac)
7. Don Julio Reposado
9. Tito’s Handmade Vodka (1 liter)
10. Teremana Reposado Tequila
Note: Bottle size is 0.75 liter unless otherwise noted.
This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM.
