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UPDATE: Today (Friday), Matt tried out a different look at alcohol sales in Virginia. Instead of ranking it by dollars, he ranked it by volume. He had to use the 2006 numbers because he didn't have the 2007 numbers by volume yet. But the results are striking: Apparently, Virginians love their cheap vodka! Hit the first link below to see.

Check out Matt Chittum's blog, Datasphere, today for a fascinating look at Virginians' favorite liquors.
Matt took the 2007 figures from the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and broke it down into a nifty bubble graph. The result? It appears that Virginians bought more Jack Daniels last year than any other distilled liquor.
What? You mean Jim Beam didn't come in at No. 1? Even after they recently celebrated their 11 millionth barrel?
I might be responsible for one of those barrels. But I digress.
According to the ABC data, Jim Beam came in second, followed closely by Grey Goose, Seagram's Crown Royal and Absolut.
Check out the graph and let me know what you think.

According to this article in today's Washington Post, a "perfect storm" of conditions may conspire to drive up beer prices in 2008. Some craft beers may go up as much as $1 per six pack.
Besides higher prices for hops and barley, one reason is an increased demand for beer in China. What's driving the Chinese to drink more beer?
A friend suggests that it's all the preparations for the Olympics. Just imagine what'll happen when all those Americans arrive.
Two solutions: Either cut back on beer consumption or start brewing your own.

Here's a warning for all you teetotalers out there: This blog entry is going to be devoted entirely to alcohol. Please forgive me now and read no further.
Specifically, I would like to dedicate this column to my grandfather's all-time favorite liquid on earth, Jim Beam. It was followed closely by oil and gasoline, which he mixed lovingly for his chainsaws, and bug spray.
Full disclosure: I got the idea for this blog entry from the Jim Beam folks themselves, who sent me a press release last week about a new bottle label featuring a portrait of Fred Noe, the latest in a long line of Jim Beam distillers. Cheers, Fred! You have your face on a bottle of "the finest bourbon on earth."
Incidentally, it also happens to be "National Bourbon Heritage Month." I swear, there's a month for everything.

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