Best Places to Shop for Bourbon - San Diego

[yerrbo]

Ahoy from San Diego! I love all the discussion about these wonderful Whiskeys, however I live in San Diego (which is supposed to be a fairly large city) and there just aren't that many places that carry the kind of selection we talk about in here. So recently I've been ordering from Hi Time in Costa Mesa, but I'd like to find a reasonable place nearby at which I can get some of the interesting Whiskeys I see discussed so often. Now, I do shop at Bevmo, but I never seem to see stuff like TH, GTS, EHT:Tornado, etc. and I'd love to know about any retail liquor stores anyone knows about locally that might carry such inventory. Any ideas out there? Thanks in advance!

-Jeff

[savagehenry]

Unfortunately, Hi Times and BevMo are your best bet. The Bevmo in Oceanside recently put 5 bottles of JPS 18 on the shelf, but they are $100.
Holiday Wine in Escondido looks to have a good selection, but the prices suck.
Leucadia Liquor also has a great selection, but they are gougers, charging ebay prices for some stuff.
Good luck!

[yerrbo]

Unfortunately, Hi Times and BevMo are your best bet. The Bevmo in Oceanside recently put 5 bottles of JPS 18 on the shelf, but they are $100.
Holiday Wine in Escondido looks to have a good selection, but the prices suck.
Leucadia Liquor also has a great selection, but they are gougers, charging ebay prices for some stuff.
Good luck!

I feared as much! I've been frequenting Hi Time recently but ordering online with them just isn't the same as having your local store with people you can get to know and who can help you out. I also spend a good amount of money on Whiskey and wouldn't mind a store that would at least also give me a heads up when something interesting is coming out, again, something I won't find from Hi Times or BevMo. I saw the Holiday Wine selection in Escondido and $500 for Pappy 20 is just plain ridiculous! Looks like I just might be SOL. At least San Diego has a number of good Whiskey bars.

[savagehenry]

At least San Diego has a number of good Whiskey bars.

Yes! If you have not been to Small Bar on Park, the Stagg was $10 last time I was there. I killed the bottle, but my wife went back a couple weeks later and they had another. Starlite is the best one I've been to so far. I need to hit the Aero Club next.

[yerrbo]

I actually live a few block from Small Bar and they have a good selection at decent prices. I second Starlite and I would definitely mention Seven Grand, although a bit expensive, as having what I believe may be the best selection of any Whiskey Bar in San Diego. They also make fantastic Whiskey Cocktails. Also, Seven Grand has a Whiskey club they're starting up and I'm considering joining, I'll let you know what I think if I do.