Once upon a time, when I travelled I looked for records stores. I still do, but now I get just as excited by a good liquor store. I like whisky, and in Ontario our booze is controlled by a state monopoly that limits selection and taxes the good stuff prohibitively. Good US liquor stores are special places for me. My favourites...
http://www.totalwine.com/ in Las Vegas--unquestionably the best warehouse style store I've been into. Not only is their scotch and artisanal US distillery section on point, this place is cheap enough to make a fellow giggle. For the past three years I've visited, they always have interesting independent bottlings of single malts, standard classics at exceptionally good prices (Laphroiag 10 for $30? Lagavullin 16 for $50? Yes please) and baller stuff at fair prices. The selection does seem to change pretty wildly year to year.
http://www.liquorbarn.com/ in Lexington--good for local stuff, especially rye, but otherwise underwhelming for the size. I never understand why Canadian Whiskey has cachet in bourbon land. They have huge walls of the stuff, or course at a fraction of what it costs here. Whenever I'm driving through kentucky, I stock up on cheap stuff there.
http://www.binnys.com/ in Chicago--good for the high end independant stuff, and always a sure source of Chicago's Koval, which makes some really interesting whiskies. They also often have Anchor's Old Potrero. Not as cheap as Vegas, but tight selection.
http://www.riversidewine.com/ in Chattanooga--this is what I love in a good, small liquor store: low-key building managed by people who care about what they sell and curate their selection carefully while keeping prices low. Excellent for bourbon and rye, good for scotch. They also have an interesting Madeira selection, which apparently is popular there.
Please let me know where your favourite liquor store is, because I'll come and visit.
http://www.totalwine.com/ in Las Vegas--unquestionably the best warehouse style store I've been into. Not only is their scotch and artisanal US distillery section on point, this place is cheap enough to make a fellow giggle. For the past three years I've visited, they always have interesting independent bottlings of single malts, standard classics at exceptionally good prices (Laphroiag 10 for $30? Lagavullin 16 for $50? Yes please) and baller stuff at fair prices. The selection does seem to change pretty wildly year to year.
http://www.liquorbarn.com/ in Lexington--good for local stuff, especially rye, but otherwise underwhelming for the size. I never understand why Canadian Whiskey has cachet in bourbon land. They have huge walls of the stuff, or course at a fraction of what it costs here. Whenever I'm driving through kentucky, I stock up on cheap stuff there.
http://www.binnys.com/ in Chicago--good for the high end independant stuff, and always a sure source of Chicago's Koval, which makes some really interesting whiskies. They also often have Anchor's Old Potrero. Not as cheap as Vegas, but tight selection.
http://www.riversidewine.com/ in Chattanooga--this is what I love in a good, small liquor store: low-key building managed by people who care about what they sell and curate their selection carefully while keeping prices low. Excellent for bourbon and rye, good for scotch. They also have an interesting Madeira selection, which apparently is popular there.
Please let me know where your favourite liquor store is, because I'll come and visit.
