Bourbon in Hawaii

[camduncan]

Hey All, It looks like I'm going to be taking the family to Hawaii in June. Does anyone have any recomendations on places to find bourbon? Either a liquor store or bar?

I was hoping to find some Pappy, but looking at their web site, it doesn't look like they retail in Hawaii.

[BBQ+Bourbon]

Hey All, It looks like I'm going to be taking the family to Hawaii in June. Does anyone have any recomendations on places to find bourbon? Either a liquor store or bar?

I was hoping to find some Pappy, but looking at their web site, it doesn't look like they retail in Hawaii.

Which Island are you visiting? If you're going to Oahu, you will be shopping at All Blocks Covered. If you've seen one you've seen them all. Kauai might have a better selection but the stores I visited had nothing of interest. I've not been to the big island or Maui, but I assume the remaining islands have little or nothing to offer. You'll find some Makers and when you consume it in the paradise that Hawaii is, Makers seems more than adequate.

Enjoy your visit. You'll fight yourself when it's time to get on the plane home.

[HighTower]

The Liquor Collection is a small boutique liquor store at Ward Warehouse in Hawaii. I recently had a friend over there who picked me up Maker's 46 and Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. Prices were higher than mainland, but you would expect that. Keeping in mind there's no shipping or customs charges, $58 for WTKS and ~$50 for Makers 46 wasn't too offensive.

I would suggest calling or emailing Ming, the owner. She is really nice to deal with, and I'm sure givien a bit of time before your trip she may be able to get something more obscure to you (as long as you get the idea of Pappy 20 out of your head) hahaha

Scott

[marco246]

Check out my "Big Island Bourbon Survey" via Search. Pickings are actually pretty slim in the state. Beam Global is very well represented in in its various JB expressions and in Maker's Mark and 46, there's Wild Turkey and two or three Heaven Hill bourbons, the Tennessee whiskeys are here, and that's about it. There is nothing by Buffalo Trace except Blanton's. In desperation, last year I ordered a mixed case of bourbon from the Party Source in Bellevue, KY. Also, whenever I go to the Mainland I bring back a bottle or two of something exotic like Pappy.

Cheers!

[darkluna]

I end up drinking Wild Turkey when I visit Maui, as the choices are very limited. But that's OK, because I happen to like WT

[camduncan]

After checking out the list you wrote macro246, I could definately find a few things we don't get in Australia:

--Joshua Brook (80p, plastic bottle)-----$9

--Ten High------------------------------9

--Fighting Cock-------------------------23

--Knob Creek----------------------------34

--Blanton's SB---------------------------40

--Jefferson's Reserve (15 y/o)------------65

Plus you mentioned Rye. The only ones we get here are Jim Beam, Wild Turkey and Baby Saz.

Scott, I'll look up The Liquor Collection for sure. I'm thinking worst case scenario, I'll bring back 3 bottles of Knob Creek or Makers 46.

[Waiahi]

If you are going to be staying around Waikiki/Honolulu, The Liquor Collection at Ward Warehouse would be your best bet to find varieties of KSBW...however, they are rather pricey.

Forget the ABC stores as well.

Find the local grocery stores in the suburbs outside of the Waikiki and Honolulu area....stores like Safeway, Times Supermarket or Foodland. They will at least have WT, JB, KC, MM, EW.

If you're looking for bargains as well, go to Wal Mart. They don't have much selection, but they have the cheapest price for Wild Turkey 101 ($18.99) and Makers Mark ($21.99) than can be found anywhere else on this island (barring an unusual sale somewhere).

But by far, the best Bourbon selection and price would be Tamura's Wine in Aiea.

If you're really serious about getting some good Bourbon's for a good price while you're here, get a rental car and ask for directions to get to Aiea. If you plan to visit the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor (probably our most popular tourist attraction in the State), Tamura's Fine Wine and Liquor is about two miles down the road.

They have all sorts of Bourbon's I've never seen anywhere else on this island, and I'm basically a whiskey hound.

But above all...since you are coming from AU, I would suggest that the very first thing you do once you arrive, is to go straight to the duty free shop, and note what kind of Bourbon they carry and at what price for the international shopper.

You would be kicking yourself if you bought a bottle of Makers or WT somewhere and found that you could have bought it for cheaper at the Duty Free Shop as your returning to AU.

I visited Sydney and Tasmania several years ago, and I wanted to bring back some Toohey's. I bought some from a bottle shop in Sydney, only to find I could have bought it far cheaper at the Sydney Duty Free Shop.

[Waiahi]

BTW - sorry to inform you, but even the best stores here do not carry either Buffalo Trace or Pappy Van Winkle.

I have some bottle so Buffalo, and one bottle of Lot B, but I got those from Las Vegas at Lee's Discount Liquor and brought them back so my friends and I to enjoy.

Most people here in Hawaii don't really care for Whiskey. Most people's idea of whiskey is a Jack and Coke or taking a shot of Jack. Most bars, at best, will have Jim Beam white label, maybe Wild Turkey and/or Maker's Mark.

Tequila, vodka and rum are far more popular here.

However, if you like Rum, you can also find some locally made, high quality rums made in Maui & Kauai.

If you are a beer drinker, I highly reccomend you spend one of your days here visiting Hanauma Bay on the East end of O'ahu. For dinner, go to the Koko Marina shopping center and go to the Kona Brewery Restaurant.

Very very great microbrewed beers made here in Hawaii. Excellent food and the beers are comparable to high end microbrews anywhere, as well as seasonal varietys that use local ingredients like a Kona Coffee Porter and a Lilikoi (passion fruit) wheat ale.

If you'd like anymore advice about visiting Hawaii, let me know.

[HighTower]

After checking out the list you wrote macro246, I could definately find a few things we don't get in Australia:

--Joshua Brook (80p, plastic bottle)-----$9

--Ten High------------------------------9

--Fighting Cock-------------------------23

--Knob Creek----------------------------34

--Blanton's SB---------------------------40

--Jefferson's Reserve (15 y/o)------------65

Plus you mentioned Rye. The only ones we get here are Jim Beam, Wild Turkey and Baby Saz.

Scott, I'll look up The Liquor Collection for sure. I'm thinking worst case scenario, I'll bring back 3 bottles of Knob Creek or Makers 46.

DID SOMEONE SAY JEFFERSONS 15YO?!?!?!

Mmmmmmmmmm :grin:

[camduncan]

Thanks for the info Waiahi - it gives me some definate leads to chase before I head over..

[camduncan]

We booked the flights on the weekend, and will book accomodation this week :cool: :cool: All the family is very excited and our 2yo daughter is even saying 'Waikiki' when we ask her where we're going :grin:

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll start to follow up with the recomended stores in early May to ensure anything I am after can be ordered if need be..

[camduncan]

It's just short of 2 months until we are in Hawaii, so I'll be contacting The Liquor Collection and Tamura's Wine to see what they have in stock and/or can order in. I'll report back here if I get a reply, otherwise I'll just go and visit the stores when I'm there.

[sku]

It's just short of 2 months until we are in Hawaii, so I'll be contacting The Liquor Collection and Tamura's Wine to see what they have in stock and/or can order in. I'll report back here if I get a reply, otherwise I'll just go and visit the stores when I'm there.

[camduncan]

While you're at Tamura's, pick up some poke (raw fish with spices and sauce); it's some of my favorite on the islands. (There's a picture in the link below).

http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2008/08/vacation-time-hawaii-journal-day-1.html

Poke doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy (I'm not a big fish fan), but my wife can't wait to try it!

[camduncan]

This time in three weeks we'll be enjoying our first day/night in Hawaii. It's come around really quick.:shocked:

We've got a shopping day planned that takes us past The Liquor Collection and Tamura's. I plan on stopping at both to check out what they've got in stock. My hope is to find some Makers 46, Knob Creek Single Barrel as these aren't available in Australia, and something else interesting like the Jeffersons 15 mentioned.

I also want to pick up something basic to drink while we're there for the week. Does ABC carry half size bottles? Do they have anything interesting?

Also, does anyone know if I can pick up Kentucky or bourbon produce (like bourbon balls and bourbon bbq sauce) in Hawaii?

[camduncan]

Thanks to everyone for their replies and PM's..... We fly to Sydney in a few hours, then onto Hawaii this evening :cool: In 24 hours or so, we'll be on the beach in Waikiki

[sku]

Thanks to everyone for their replies and PM's..... We fly to Sydney in a few hours, then onto Hawaii this evening :cool: In 24 hours or so, we'll be on the beach in Waikiki

[BBQ+Bourbon]

Congrats on your vacation! The only bad part of visiting Hawaii is that moment where you step from the jet bridge to the threshold of the plane. I have to force myself to move that last step.....

[camduncan]

Arrived safe and sound.... if a bit jet-lagged. Staying a block back from the beach in Waikiki at Aston Pacific with surf, city & mountain views from the 32nd floor Enjoyed my first ocean swim in 4 years (and we live near the beach:skep: )

Checked out the local ABC stores and Food Pantry... found the typical Jim Beam, Makers Mark, Jack Daniels & Wild Turkey as well as Ri1, Woodford Reserve, Red Stag, Knob Creek, Knob Creek Single Barrel, Makers 46, Jack Daniels Tennesse Honey and Jim Beam Rye..... a better selection than some Australian bottle shops :bigeyes:

[camduncan]

Caught a cab from Waikiki to Tamuras Fine Wines at Honolulu..... scored a Bottle of Makers 46, Old Overholt Rye 80 proof and Vintage 23 Rye. I finally get the 'bottom shelf' concept everyone on here talks about.....

[callmeox]

Have you done any more bottle hunting?

[Barrel_Proof]

Have a great time, Cam!

[camduncan]

Have you done any more bottle hunting?

Only at the local Waikiki stores so far. We've got the car for another 2 days, so I'm hoping to check a few more stores out.

[camduncan]

Have a great time, Cam!

We are loving it here Cliff! It reminds me a lot of the Gold Coast, but with enough differences to be really exciting!

[camduncan]

Made it back with 4 bottles and a few minatures in my luggage, and grabbed a nice find (Woodford Reserve Derby bottle) at the Sydney duty free store on arrival back in Australia. I posted the attached picture in the 'What did you purchase' thread, but wanted to put it here as a thank-you to everyone who helped me out.

Hawaii is an awesome place and we will definately be returning. We're even thinking of heading back at the same time next year for a week or two with my in-laws :bigeyes: :cool: