Who sells the most?

Even if you've never touched a drop of Jameson, you've probably heard that the Local in downtown Minneapolis sells more of the Irish whiskey than any other bar on the planet.

This got me wondering: Who else sells the most? Which bar sells the most Surly? The most Summit?

Being the No. 1 seller of a certain product says a lot about a bar's customers. And getting to that No. 1 spot can be a hotly contested affair. The top account for Crispin Cider in the Twin Cities is a neck-and-neck race between two heavyweights, Brit's Pub and the Local (again).

Crispin's founder, Joe Heron, finds the whole thing kind of exciting.

"It's the English vs. the Irish!" he said.

After surveying brewers, distributors and bars, I came up with a varied list of beverages and the establishments where each is king. The numbers represent each drink's dominance in the Twin Cities market over the past 12 months. To keep things interesting, my survey runs the gamut from local favorites to internationally recognized brands.

The answers might surprise you.

Sells: More than 720 pints a week.

Behind the numbers: How did a tiny St. Paul burger joint become ground zero for one of the Twin Cities' hottest (and hoppiest) beers? Co-owner Jeremy Woerner said his customers in the Merriam Park neighborhood are simply a beer-savvy bunch. Crowds pack the bar every day of the week, especially during happy hour (2:30-5:30 p.m. daily), when Furious is priced at $2. "I'm willing to bet it's the cheapest Surly in the world," Woerner said. The place gets so busy, Surly owner Omar Ansari had this to say: "I hardly ever go there, because I can't get a seat!"

No. 1 bar: Sheik's Palace Royale in downtown Minneapolis.

Sells: More than 85 bottles a year at $450 a pop.

Behind the numbers: Any respectable strip club (excuse me, gentlemen's club) is going to sell a lot of high-end champagne. The $450 price tag might sound insane, but it's chump change for ballers and businessmen looking to have "the best time of their lives," said Sheik's area director Gary Scellin. Apparently, guests at Sheik's typically buy a bottle for one of two reasons, Scellin said: "They're either celebrating something, or the entertainer says they like Dom." Yep, it's that simple.

Sells: 216 bottles a year, served as single $7 shots.

Behind the numbers: Mac's is a no-frills neighborhood bar where a cold glass of beer and a side of wings is considered heaven. So what's it doing selling so much of this orange-flavored, upper-echelon liqueur? The bar is a regular hangout for off-duty bartenders and servers -- and Grand Marnier happens to be a favorite beverage among industry workers.

"I'm not exactly sure how it became the thing," said Mac's co-owner Mike Curry, "but it definitely is."

No. 1 bar: Bradstreet Craftshouse in downtown Minneapolis.

Sells: Three to four bottles a night, mixed into cocktails at $10 each.

Bradstreet's director of food and beverage, Vinny D'Agostino, said the bar needed a brand that could distinguish itself from the dozens of flavored vodkas on the market. "For a vodka company to know where they get their corn from, that's really unique," he said. "We're proud to have it here." Prairie is used in Bradstreet's top-selling cocktail, Cooper's Union, made with Gruet sparking wine, grapefruit juice, St. Germain Elderflower, orange bitters and lemon.

No. 1 bar: Groveland Tap in St. Paul.

Sells: More than 1,200 pints a week ($4.50 regular, $2.50 during happy hour, daily from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close).

Behind the numbers: Some people call Groveland "The Summit House" for its devotion to the St. Paul brewery. While the St. Paul bar carries all eight Summit styles (including the Unchained Series), the Extra Pale Ale will always be top dog. "Their style is very synergistic with our style," said Groveland co-owner Luke Shimp. "As they've grown, we've grown." Word is Sweeney's Saloon is hot on Groveland's tail, though. "They're giving us a run for our money," Shimp said.

No. 1 bar: A virtual dead heat, with Sally's Saloon, which borders the University of Minnesota, edging out Liquor Lyle's in Lowry Hill.

Behind the numbers: Sally's ranking makes sense -- cheap beer reigns supreme during the school year. As for Lyle's, it's the perfect marriage: beloved shabby beer, beloved shabby dive bar. The two were made for each other -- especially during the bar's multiple two-for-one happy hours.

thorgen@startribune.com • 612-673-7909

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