Dallas Store Suggestions...?

[timd]

Howdy,

Just relocated back to Dallas (North Dallas/McKinney area) after being away for 20 years! Coming down from Michigan, so yes - I brought this weather with me...

Anyhow, looking for some good tips on stores I should scope out - I enjoy Scotch as well as Bourbon, specialty bottlings, and most importantly great prices on good stuff. Found R1 for $22 at the Goody Goody In Anna/Melissa the other night along with a great price on a cool bottle of Scotch.

Unusual, rare, and specialty bottlings are of interest - but mostly just stores that get Van Winkle, BTAC and the other "standard" type stuff at fair prices.

Appreciate any tips or leads - would like to stick around N. Dallas, but as any good Whisk(e)y lover knows - I'll drive far and wide for good stuff at good prices!

Thanks in advance! and Gig 'Em (yes, I'm an Aggie...)

[doubleblank]

The Goody Goody store on Greenville Ave in Dallas wouldn't be too far and usually gets the stuff you're looking for (it's one of the larger stores they have). Unfortunately, the bottles were released awhile back. There's a Sigels up in the Addison area that's worth going to.

Randy

[wadewood]

Welcome back to Texas; what took you so long? I figured it out in just 9 years. The Texas TABC website has a page that lets you see all stores with current permits - http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/publicinquiry/Roster.aspx. Might be helpful if you want to do some dusty hunting.

We also have a Houston bourbon get together scheduled for May 7th at my house. If you are interested in coming down, shoot me a PM for details.

FYI- Randy & I are also both Aggies.

Wade

[timd]

Welcome back to Texas; what took you so long? I figured it out in just 9 years. The Texas TABC website has a page that lets you see all stores with current permits - http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/publicinquiry/Roster.aspx. Might be helpful if you want to do some dusty hunting.

We also have a Houston bourbon get together scheduled for May 7th at my house. If you are interested in coming down, shoot me a PM for details.

FYI- Randy & I are also both Aggies.

Wade

Glad to be home! And to so easily find other Aggies!

My wife is from Houston, so we'll be down there often to visit her side of the family - I love the Specs downtown. It's one of the finest liquor stores in all my travels from LA to Chicago to NY to Kentucky (The Party Source). On par with Binny's even - minus the 'hand picked' selection.

Thanks for that link - very helpful.

I've got more than my fair share of BTAC this year - I had great resources and contacts up in MI, just looking for the kinds of places that get that stuff so I can be sure to start sucking up ASAP - I like to make friends with my liquor store people, and pick a handful of shops to frequent and favor.

I've been to Sigels in Addison - waaaaay overpriced. The Goody Goody there was rock solid in pricing, and better selection - but that was last June, so could have changed.

Going to hit the Colony stores today - see how they look. Only a 20 minute drive.

Thanks for the response guys - and for the bourbon tasting invite! I may just have to schedule another visit with the in-laws (bourbon would make it worth it!)

[MarkEdwards]

FYI- Randy & I are also both Aggies.

My dad was a Dallas police officer, and was telling his lieutenant the latest Aggie joke he had heard. Said lieutenant's face kept getting redder and redder. When my dad finished up the joke, the lieutenant muttered, in a very irritated voice, "My son goes to A&M !"

I think my dad said he hotfooted it out of there.

I also agree with the Goody Goody recommendation. They have lots of good stuff.

[jcg9779]

Thanks in advance! and Gig 'Em (yes, I'm an Aggie...)

Sic 'em, Bears!

I remember Centennial Wine & Spirits in the Colony having decent prices, but I haven't lived in Dallas since January of 2009, so that may have changed. I agree that the Addison stores are overpriced - I guess that's what happens when they are beside a dry county!

[timd]

I also agree with the Goody Goody recommendation. They have lots of good stuff.

Any other suggestions, Mark? The Goody Goody in The Colony had Weller 12 yr - a "new to me" treat - we didn't have that up in Michigan! And it was relatively cheap, too. Skipped the Centennial, because the wife & kids were getting itchy.

[MarkEdwards]

Any other suggestions, Mark? The Goody Goody in The Colony had Weller 12 yr - a "new to me" treat - we didn't have that up in Michigan! And it was relatively cheap, too. Skipped the Centennial, because the wife & kids were getting itchy.

Unfortunately, I don't get to Dallas very often, but there are loads of liquor stores in Dallas. If you find one liquor store, there will be 20 more on the same street.

[timd]

Thanks, Mark! Takes some getting used to this "wet/dry area" thing they have in Dallas. No place else I've lived in had it, and I haven't lived in Dallas since I was old enough to legally partake - all the other Texas cities (and elsewhere I've lived) are fully wet...

Pretty dang backwards for the 5th largest metro area in America!

I'll enjoy exploring...

Any social gatherings/clubs here in DFW for Whisk(e)y I should look into?

[MarkEdwards]

Any social gatherings/clubs here in DFW for Whisk(e)y I should look into?

Check out the Goody Goody website. They have a calendar of tastings for various things, including bourbon. In fact, Majestic and Centennial may have something similar.

I don't know of any bourbon socials to speak of - I'd love to hear about any myself. :grin:

[StraightNoChaser]

Monticello Liquors in Dallas touts themselves as having DFW's largest inventory of small batch, single barrel and hard to find bourbons so that's one place to start. They do indeed carry quite the selection!

In my experience, however, markup is a huge problem in the DFW area. If you need a spot to pick up inexpensive mass release bourbons, then Beverage Depot on NW Highway and 35 is your best bet. Cheapest prices in all of Dallas for spirits, they just don't stock many hard to find or rare expressions.

[timd]

Monticello Liquors in Dallas touts themselves as having DFW's largest inventory of small batch, single barrel and hard to find bourbons so that's one place to start. They do indeed carry quite the selection!

In my experience, however, markup is a huge problem in the DFW area. If you need a spot to pick up inexpensive mass release bourbons, then Beverage Depot on NW Highway and 35 is your best bet. Cheapest prices in all of Dallas for spirits, they just don't stock many hard to find or rare expressions.

Much thanks for the tips. I'm making the rounds and finding what's what... slowly. Having to drive 20+ minutes (at best) to the nearest liquor store is, to say the least, quite odd... but I'm dealing with it.

I'll check out Majestic - sounds right up my alley.

Where do you hit, StraightNoChaser? Being in Plano, we're basically neighbors... what places do you frequent?

[bourbonNOOG]

Not trying to thread jack, but mine is along the same lines so I thought I would add to this thread instead of starting a new one.

I'll be in Dallas May 4-13 for a big show. Staying 3-4 blocks from the Dallas convention center at the Springhills Suites. Any suggestions from locals on where to go to get a good pour? Or, places I can walk to, ride the dart to, etc. to get some stuff I can't get in TN? I'll have to ship it back following the close of the show but it's easy enough to do. I'll just throw it in the cab of one of our trucks or something.

I won't have a car so... yah, I'm a bit limited on transportation.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

cheers.

[jcg9779]

Adam, I know you're looking for stores, but there are a few bars that are on McKinney (just on the other side of Woodall Rogers Fwy from where you'll be staying).

Here's a small list of places on McKinney (from South to North):

Idle Rich Pub is usually pretty fun - has a decent whisky selection (not too much bourbon though, unless there is more that is not listed).

http://www.idlerichpub.com/whiskey.html

Uptown Bar & Grill

http://www.uptownbarandgrill.com/Beverages.html

McKinney Ave. Tavern (The MAT) and Frankie's Sports Bar are fun places to watch a game or two.

My favorite bar is The Loon (in the strip shopping center on the southwest corner of Lemmon and McKinney). Strongest drinks in Dallas and very underrated bar food.

The Social House - haven't been here in a couple of years, but I remember them having a large liquor selection (I can't remember what whiskey they had)

http://www.thesocialhousedallas.com/

There are also some great restaurants - Primo's, Taco Diner, Hook Line & Sinker (my personal favorite - awesome fried catfish baskets).

I hope you have fun in Dallas...I love Atlanta, and this is home, but I do miss Dallas too!

[bourbonNOOG]

Adam, I know you're looking for stores, but there are a few bars that are on McKinney (just on the other side of Woodall Rogers Fwy from where you'll be staying).

Here's a small list of places on McKinney (from South to North):

Idle Rich Pub is usually pretty fun - has a decent whisky selection (not too much bourbon though, unless there is more that is not listed).

http://www.idlerichpub.com/whiskey.html

Uptown Bar & Grill

http://www.uptownbarandgrill.com/Beverages.html

McKinney Ave. Tavern (The MAT) and Frankie's Sports Bar are fun places to watch a game or two.

My favorite bar is The Loon (in the strip shopping center on the southwest corner of Lemmon and McKinney). Strongest drinks in Dallas and very underrated bar food.

The Social House - haven't been here in a couple of years, but I remember them having a large liquor selection (I can't remember what whiskey they had)

http://www.thesocialhousedallas.com/

There are also some great restaurants - Primo's, Taco Diner, Hook Line & Sinker (my personal favorite - awesome fried catfish baskets).

I hope you have fun in Dallas...I love Atlanta, and this is home, but I do miss Dallas too!

Thanks for all the suggestions Jack. I did a site visit about 3 months ago and actually hit Taco Diner, which was delicious and had a couple of pours at the Idle Rich Pub one night. I'll definitely have to check out The Loon.

Keep the suggestions coming. I'm compiling a list.

[timd]

By all means keep 'em coming - helps me out too!

Bars, pubs, eateries, and stores - whatever you know that is "good" and we should look into, put it down.

FYI: I called RDNC and they've got a ton of Pappy Van Winkle hitting North Texas on April 22 (to their warehouse, will hit stores a few days later). Everything from ORVW to Pappy 20 and all points in between - with dozens of bottles for each expression. They said they were getting 12 cases of 12 bottles for Lot B, so I'm on the look out for the places that get Pappy stuff!

I love my Rye, but I'm also loving the wheat, too! Bourbon/Rye/Scotch - it's all good!

[jcg9779]

By all means keep 'em coming - helps me out too!

Bars, pubs, eateries, and stores - whatever you know that is "good" and we should look into, put it down.

FYI: I called RDNC and they've got a ton of Pappy Van Winkle hitting North Texas on April 22 (to their warehouse, will hit stores a few days later). Everything from ORVW to Pappy 20 and all points in between - with dozens of bottles for each expression. They said they were getting 12 cases of 12 bottles for Lot B, so I'm on the look out for the places that get Pappy stuff!

I love my Rye, but I'm also loving the wheat, too! Bourbon/Rye/Scotch - it's all good!

I'm not talking to you, Tim...not after your Lady Aggies beat my Lady Bears the other night! :hot: haha

[jcg9779]

Thanks for all the suggestions Jack. I did a site visit about 3 months ago and actually hit Taco Diner, which was delicious and had a couple of pours at the Idle Rich Pub one night. I'll definitely have to check out The Loon.

Keep the suggestions coming. I'm compiling a list.

The Loon is just a straight forward bar, nothing special. Liquor is obviously the choice drink here (no draft beer...only cans are available). It has a pool table or two, no windows, and some flatscreen TVs to watch whatever sporting event might be on that night. There was always at least one stop in The Loon whenever my friends and I ended up in Uptown Dallas. It's a place where you can wear shorts and a tshirt or a business suit after work. This comfort level and being surrounded by friends are what makes it fun!

[timd]

I'm not talking to you, Tim...not after your Lady Aggies beat my Lady Bears the other night! :hot: haha

The Lady Aggies are lookin' good, aren't they? But hey your Bears managed to kick some longhorn butt in Football this year - that's braggin' rights for a quarter century (at least...)

Back to more Dallas booze finding...

[jcg9779]

The Lady Aggies are lookin' good, aren't they? But hey your Bears managed to kick some longhorn butt in Football this year - that's braggin' rights for a quarter century (at least...)

Back to more Dallas booze finding...

Haha...hopefully not a quarter century! We had been hanging on to that 1997 win a little too long though...

[StraightNoChaser]

Not trying to thread jack, but mine is along the same lines so I thought I would add to this thread instead of starting a new one.

I'll be in Dallas May 4-13 for a big show. Staying 3-4 blocks from the Dallas convention center at the Springhills Suites. Any suggestions from locals on where to go to get a good pour? Or, places I can walk to, ride the dart to, etc. to get some stuff I can't get in TN? I'll have to ship it back following the close of the show but it's easy enough to do. I'll just throw it in the cab of one of our trucks or something.

I won't have a car so... yah, I'm a bit limited on transportation.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

cheers.

Trinity Hall in Mockingbird Station has an excellent selection of scotch and a decent bourbon menu. It's also right on the DART rail line so you can easily hop a ride up there from downtown. Throw me a PM when you're around and we can get a pour together

p.s. here is their whiskey menu http://trinityhall.tv/PDFs/Whiskey.pdf

[StraightNoChaser]

Much thanks for the tips. I'm making the rounds and finding what's what... slowly. Having to drive 20+ minutes (at best) to the nearest liquor store is, to say the least, quite odd... but I'm dealing with it.

I'll check out Majestic - sounds right up my alley.

Where do you hit, StraightNoChaser? Being in Plano, we're basically neighbors... what places do you frequent?

True Spirits in Carrollton is one of my favorite stores. I also love Centennial and Sigel's in Addison. Goody Goody is nice as far as pricing goes.

[roostercogburn]

For anyone headed north of the city, Buckeye (part of the Goody Goody chain) has very reasonable prices, and it's the last stop before the liquor-less stretch of north Texas. Along TX-380 check out the Vineyard, which is attached to a Shell station. Small, newer store with limited selection but its limited patronage seems to leave a few choice bottles on the shelves (or under the counter).

I apologize if this is hijacking a great thread, but do any of you in the Dallas area know where to get some Forester BiB? It seems like this would be more readily available, but my usual stops have yielded nothing.

[bourbonNOOG]

The selection there looks decent. I'll be in dallas for a week and a half. I'd love to grab a drink if you're close. Like I said above, won't have a car, but I have ridden the dart and can try to navigate myself to Trinity Hall. My mouth is already watering thinking about that weller 12.

Maybe we can trade some contact info closer to my visit and meet for a pour. I'll keep you posted.

Trinity Hall in Mockingbird Station has an excellent selection of scotch and a decent bourbon menu. It's also right on the DART rail line so you can easily hop a ride up there from downtown. Throw me a PM when you're around and we can get a pour together

p.s. here is their whiskey menu http://trinityhall.tv/PDFs/Whiskey.pdf

[StraightNoChaser]

For sure, give me a shout!

-Winston