Alabama ABC's biggest customers

By Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

Just how much liquor does Alabama drink?

We requested data from the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to find out. These 25 bars bought the most liquor wholesale in 2016 for on-premise consumption. This doesn't include beer or wine, and it doesn't include single bottle sales.

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JOE SONGER

No. 25: Copper Top

The bar in downtown Tuscaloosa's Temerson Square known for its cheap beer and pool bought $169,842 worth of liquor in 2015. About a mile away from campus, it's a frequent stop for University of Alabama students. (The Birmingham News/Joe Songer)

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Kristen Heptinstall, al.com

No. 24: Chuy's

Chuy's began in Austin in 1982, but its location at the Summit in Birmingham was the first in Alabama. It bought $172,148 worth of liquor last year. The Tex-Mex chain now has another location in Tuscaloosa.

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Erin Edgemon | eedgemon@al.com

No. 23: Grand Bohemian Hotel

The Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook is a luxury hotel in Lane Parke with a rooftop restaurant and bar called Habitat Feed & Social open for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch. The hotel bought $174,141 worth of wholesale liquor last year. (Tamika Moore/tmoore@al.com)

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

No. 22: Carrigan's Public House

Carrigan's Public House, a bar that also serves creative takes on classic dishes, bought $178,044 worth of alcohol last year. Though it also serves wine an beer, it's known for its craft cocktails like four unique martinis and the "Little Guy Growing Up," made from tequila, byrrh, orange, mint and prosecco.

(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com/al.com)

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No. 21: Cobalt Restaurant

Cobalt Restaurant in Orange Beach offers coastal cuisines cooked in three distinct kitchens under the Perdido Bay Bridge - and it bought $181,397 worth of wholesale liquor in 2016. The restaurant has several boat slips available by small boats and medium sized yachts, for those who wish to arrive by the water.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

No. 20: The Collins

It's no surprise that The Collins made this list - the downtown Birmingham bar is known for its custom cocktails. It doesn't have a cocktail menu, but you can give the bartenders any classic cocktail or just tell them what you like and they'll whip up something unique for you. Last year, the Collins bar bought $193,453 in wholesale liquor.

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

No. 19: Lulu's

LuLu's at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores bought $194,822 worth of wholesale liquor last year. Restaurateur Lucy Buffet, native of Mobile and younger sister of Jimmy Buffett, move the restaurant to its current location on the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shoes in 2003, where it has become a dining and entertainment destination that serves 3,500 people each day during peak season. (Courtesy LuLu's)

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No. 18: Overton and Vine

Overton and Vine, located at 3150 Overton Road, was established in 1995 and specializes in craft beer, fine wine an liquors. Last year, Overton and Vine bought $195,494 in wholesale merchandise from the ABC.

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Amber Sutton | asutton@al.com

No. 17: The Alley Bar

The Alley Bar on Commerce Street in Montgomery offers a venue for folks to have a drink listening to live music. Last year, it bought $203,644 worth of wholesale liquor.

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Frank Couch

No. 16: Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

Houston, Texas-based Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen opened its first Alabama location in 2014 on the site of the former Ralph & Kacoo's off U.S. 280 in Birmingham. It's known for its gulf coast cuision including crispy fried alligator, fried seafood and fish and po' boy sandwiches. Last year, it bought $207,176 in wholesale liquor. (Frank Couch\fcouch@al.com)

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

No. 15: Black Market Bar

Black Market Bar and Grill started off on U.S. 280 before opening the second location in Five Points South, which it moved to the former Metroprime location in 2015. The Five Points South location is the only one that made this list - last year, Black Market Bar and Grill in Five Points bought $216,302 worth of alcohol from the ABC.

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No. 14: 17-16

17-16 on Magnolia Avenue in Auburn bought $216,712 in wholesale liquor last year. The 10-year-old bar is great for watching sports and has weekly beer pong tournaments. Big liquor sellers include regular specials on margaritas and tequila shots.

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No. 13: Quixotes

Quixotes Bar and Grill in Auburn sells cocktails and beers as well as bar food like quesadillas and chicken wings. Recently the bar has had a summer special called the "Dog Days of Summer" with $3 craft beers and all dogs are welcome guests. Last year, Quixotes bought $220,559 worth of wholesale liquor.

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No. 12: FUBAR

FUBAR on Washington in Huntsville has theme nights, dancing and occasional bikini contests. Last year, FUBAR bought $220,606 in wholesale liquor.

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

No. 11: Pirates Cove Yacht Club

Pirates Cove in Alberta is tough to reach by car. You get there by heading down U.S. 98 through Elberta and head down County Road 95 for about 15 minutes, or take Baldwin County Road 20 from Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. Many people arrive by water, and often boats at the marina or on the beach outnumber the cars in the parking lot. Despite the difficulty to get to, Pirates Cove is among the state's largest alcohol buyers, with $220,677 worth of wholesale liquor in 2016.

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No. 10: Bar Louie Huntsville

Bar Louie in Bridge Street Towne Center in Huntsville has an extensive menu and full bar that includes more than 20 specialty martinis. The 6,000-square-foot bar opened in 2013, the first location in Alabama for the chain that also has locations in Nashville, Chattanooga and Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Last year, Bar Louie Huntsville spent $228,985 on wholesale liquor.

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

No. 9: The Palace

The Palace in Birmingham is the only gentlemen's club that made the top 25 list. The club at 610 3rd Ave. W. bought $237,844 worth of wholesale liquor last year. The Palace has two stages, a happy hour and serves lunch and dinner.

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No. 8: Courtyard 280

Courtyard 280 Oyster Bar & Grill has been a mainstay on U.S. 280 for years. Live music makes it a popular place for dancing. It also has pool and ping pong tables. Last year, the bar bought $254,355 worth of wholesale liquor.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

No. 7: Innisfree Irish Pub

Innisfree Irish Pub has two locations in Alabama, and unsurprising to anyone who's ever been there, they are both on this list. The Tuscaloosa location on University Boulevard came in 7th with $255,728 worth of wholesale liquor last year.

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Ben Flanagan | bflanagan@al.com

No. 6: Rounders Tuscaloosa

Rounders was established on the strip in Tuscaloosa in 2009. The bar is nearly 10,000 square feet and three distinct venues in one. It has three full service bars - and a lot of booze. In 2016, Rounders bought $259,087 worth of wholesale liquor. Rounders has a high energy night club, a space for live bands and an open-air rooftop. The bar also offers VIP table service. Also, country megastar Luke Bryan stopped by there earlier this year.

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Haley Laurence | hlaurence@al.com

No. 5: The Tin Roof

Tin Roof, a mainstay in Birmingham's Lakeview neighborhood on 7th Avenue South, has live music and plenty of space for dancing. They also have food for lunch, dinner and late night. Last year, Tin Roof bought $294,773 worth of wholesale liquor.

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Niki Doyle

No. 4: Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Course and Spa

The Grand Hotel in Point Clear is currently undergoing a $32 million renovation and rebranding. It's about to join the Autograph Collection by Marriott. But in the meantime, it's got several places to drink, like the Lakewood Golf Club, the Blue Marlin Bar and the Grand Steakhouse, not to mention room service. Last year, the hotel bought $311,991 worth of wholesale liquor. (Tamara Ikenberg/tikenberg@al.com)

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Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com

No. 3: Innisfree Irish Pub

Innisfree Irish Pub in Birmingham's Lakeview District is constantly crawling with people any given Friday or Saturday night, so it's no surprise that the Irish-themed bar is the third largest buyer of alcohol in the state. Last year, Innisfree Birmingham bought $327,186 worth of alcohol.

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Mercer, Kate

No. 2: The Hangout

The Hangout isn't just a music festival - the Gulf Shores restaurant and bar bought $367,978 worth of wholesale liquor last year. The Hangout offers several signature cocktails, like the "Shark Attack," which is Malibu Coconut rum and pineapple juice, and the "Hangout Manhattan," a twist on the classic cocktail that includes Grand Marnier. It also offers several classic drinks like the caipirinha, a watermelon mojito and several variations on the Moscow Mule. (Press-Register, Kate Mercer)

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No. 1: Sky Bar Cafe

In a massive jump from the no. 2 to no. 1 spot, Sky Bar Cafe in Auburn bought a whopping $627,196 worth of wholesale liquor last year form the ABC. If you've been there, you're probably not surprised - Sky Bar is always packed. It's basically your typical college bar but on a far grander scale - Sky Bar has several bars, two stages, a boom boom room, three levels and daiquiri machines.