Fiscal year 2013 marked the 15th consecutive record-setting year for sales for the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Gross sales surged to $769 million, up $35 million from FY2012, said Kathleen Shaw, an ABC spokesperson. Meanwhile, profits rose to $134 million, an increase of $2 million over the previous year, Shaw said.

Retail sales grew 5.5 percent and licensee sales (sales to restaurants) increased 1.5 percent from the previous year, the report indicated.

“The growth in sales is attributed in part to expanded Sunday sales and the opening of six new stores across the state,” said ABC chairman J. Neal Insley.

Vodka led the state sales report, netting a combined $212 million in sales for domestic, imported and flavored varieties. Locally, Carin Carr, manager of the ABC store on Main Street, Gloucester C.H., said that bourbon sold well at that store.

At the Hayes ABC store, bourbon and vodka are big s...