If you're going to be stuck at home for who knows how long, forget bread and milk. The coronavirus pandemic has shown that the real must-have items are Tito's, tequila and toilet paper.
Sales for alcohol in the U.S. shot up more than 50% the week after the country entered a state of emergency, according to Reuters news agency. When asked about their best-selling liquor during quarantine, local liquor store managers are quick to respond with "Tito's."
Marketed as "America's Original Craft Vodka," Tito's Handmade Vodka is "the go-to vodka," says Nathan Craig, store manager at Harry's Wine and Spirits on Signal Mountain Road.
"Tito's is the alcohol version of toilet paper," quips Imbibe Chattanooga cashier Esther Ellis.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Tito's Vodka is seen at Imbibe on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn.And don't forget chardonnay or an IPA to get you through the day. Fruity and food-friendly Kendall Jackson Chardonnay has been very popular with Harry's customers, and Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Chardonnay is another everyday wine that continues to be a top-seller at the store.
Imbibe Chattanooga offered a handful of bottles in categories comprising Old World reds and whites, New World reds and whites, sparkling and roses on its curbside menu during quarantine. Its top-sellers were the bargain-priced Prince de Richemont Blanc de Blancs, an $8 bottle of French brewed bubbly; and French winery Isle Saint Pierre's simple, smooth red blend priced at $10 a bottle, says Imbibe beer buyer and manager Cody Harris.
Beer drinkers showed support for their local brewers at Imbibe, where Hutton & Smith Brewing Company outsold all other brewers by far. The most popular picks were the brewery's dry-hopped Igneous IPA and juicy, tropical Promenade IPA, of which the store sold around 45-50 packs a week compared to 15-20 packs of everything else, Harris says.
As the weather warmed in May, tequila quickly moved to the top of everyone's list as margaritas clearly emerged as the warm-weather cocktail of choice for Chattanoogans stuck at home. Harris says triple sec and premade margarita mixes also began "flying off the shelf."
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Tito's Vodka, tequila, margarita mix and triple sec are seen at Imbibe on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn.Perhaps it's because, "It's basically three ingredients you can throw together," says Harris.
Making a margarita really is that easy, if you've never made one at home. The classic version is three parts tequila, two parts triple sec orange liqueur and one part fresh lime juice. Line the rim of a glass with coarse salt, using lime juice to make it stick, then add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake until the shaker is frosted, strain into a glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with lime. Feel free to adjust the proportions to your liking, and add in agave nectar or simple syrup if you want more sweetness.
If you're looking for something to go with all the Tito's left in your liquor cabinet, I once read that Martha Stewart saves pickle juice to use in cocktails, and I've found it's delicious with vodka. Most people already have a jar of pickles on-hand, and some say using it as a mixer prevents hangovers as well.