By Leo Shane III
Gannett Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Hard-liquor sales in Ohio reached a record in 2003. Total sales of liquor rose to $536 million, up 5.3 percent from 2002, according to the Division of Liquor Control. Tax collections on the sales rose to $203.5 million, up nearly 7.4 percent.

Liquor stores sold about 9 million gallons of spirits, up 3.2 percent from 2002 but well below the 10-million-gallon state average of the late 1980s.

The biggest seller: Kamchatka vodka.

Liquor control officials have seen a steady increase in liquor bought since 1995, but say those totals are far from alarming when compared to the 1980s numbers.

"The industry is doing well. The state is benefiting from it, but we're still maintaining the level of control we've had," said Matt Mullins, division spokesman. "People are buying a more premium-priced product."

About $3.8 million of the state taxes is set aside for alcohol treatment programs. The rest goes for other state spending.

Top selling brands

1. Kamchatka Vodka

2. Jack Daniels #7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey

3. Bacardi Light-Dry Rum

4. Absolut Vodka

5. Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey

6. Jim Beam Straight Bourbon

7. Korski Vodka

8. Jaegermeister

9. Captain Morgan Spiced Gold

10. Smirnoff Vodka

Source: Ohio Department of Commerce