Arkansas and vicinity....

[gcsjr]

Hi all,

As you know, I'm a newbie, and I've only been to about 3 liquor stores so far, one of these being in a town about 8 hours away. I'm in a dry county, so the closest two are about 20 miles away. My problem is, I don't know where the good stores are. Does anyone here know where the good stores are in Arkansas (or even Southern Missouri or Eastern Oklahoma)? Not trying to get in your honey hole...just wanting a good store that has more variety than this Walmart equivalent.

Thanks for any help you all could give....

george

[wadewood]

I will tell you in general that Missouri has great prices on booze; in fact it is consider one of the most open state when it comes to laws about Alcohol - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alcohol_laws_of_the_United_States_by_state

There is a free app called Liquor Run mobile for Android (and I think also for Iphone). It's good for dusty hunting. Of course, it can be a simple as Google search of "City, State Liquor"

[gcsjr]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I read that before...and I was thinking about looking in Springfield, MO. One thing I noticed...the entire city has only one dealer. Multiple stores, but only one dealer. That kind of worried me, as it didn't seem like a very competitive situation. Have you ever been there?

I don't have a smart phone...so maybe I can find the equivalent for PC somewhere.

I've done a search for Arkansas on the site here...and I have a couple of store names now...but it seems like almost nobody here on SB is from here. It's not a very bourbon-friendly state, for sure.

[p_elliott]

Do you have a GPS for your car? Go to points of interest and type in liquor or Package.

[gcsjr]

No...no GPS. And even a GPS wouldn't give me the benefit of the experience of folks here. I don't know where I might find BIBs. I guess I'll have to do some phone calling. Thanks for the help.

[p_elliott]

No...no GPS. And even a GPS wouldn't give me the benefit of the experience of folks here. I don't know where I might find BIBs. I guess I'll have to do some phone calling. Thanks for the help.

You have to do leg work people on here will help with tips but no offense intended they will not spoon feed you.

[gcsjr]

Yeah...I wasn't really looking to be spoon-fed. Just hoping for the benefit of some experience. And with fuel costs being what they are, driving 1-1/2 to 3 hours just to find a dry hole isn't very cost-effective. Not like driving down the block, like most folks here can do.

[NeoTexan]

I notice he has not posted in a while, but Stu is from NE Arkansas and may have a helpful hint or two. you may be able to contact him via a PM or email.

[gcsjr]

Thanks Dale. I did send him a PM a couple of days ago.... I did find a couple of names that Stu had mentioned a few years back to someone else here on SB. So that'll be a starting point. Problem is, there's just not very many places in this parched state, or so it seems. Anyway, thanks everyone for the help.

[Young Blacksmith]

Where are you exactly? I've driven through the roads from Little Rock to Cape Girardeau. I think Springfield had a few generally OK stores, and one place was higher end wines and such with a decent higher end bourbon selection.

Around Little Rock there are a ton of stores, then you have the dry areas until right about the border with small stores and little selection.

Is there a plymouth MO? It's all fuzzy memories now.

[gcsjr]

I'm just north of Russellville, right on I-40. About 1/2 way between Little Rock and Fort Smith. I'm in the middle of the dry area....

[p_elliott]

Like I said no offense intended but this is an expensive hobby not like scotch but still expensive. Your going to do some driving and some looking around. Most of the liquor store employees couldn't tell you what they have on the shelves. They don't know a bourbon from a Canadian so calling is not going to do you much good. You're in a rural area where there are not a lot of members to help you.

[gcsjr]

Well, I'm not a collector. I really enjoyed the two BIBs I've tasted (VOB and OHH), and just hope to be able to find some more. Not rich...not trying to beat anybody out of anything. I'll never compete with anyone for anything over $50.00/750mL. You all can have it. I just hope for some more of the gold-label Old Heaven Hill BIB that I found in Waco the other day....

So, if there's anyone who can tell me where I can get some more of these two (or any other BIBs) here in Arkansas, I'd appreciate it. If you can't, well, that's okay, too. I will keep looking, and I do know how to use Google maps. Just thought someone on here might be able to help.

By the way, if there's anybody near Waco that wants to find some good, inexpensive (and maybe even dusty) Old Heaven Hill BIB (and also VOB BIB), it can be found at the north side of town at the store that starts with a D (near the Hampton Inn). At least it was there a couple of weeks ago....

[Young Blacksmith]

Oh my, you're the opposite way I thought you were from Little Rock. Looks like your local spots would be Morrilton.

You're in a spot like me, my local good selection store is a good 45min to an hour away. Luckily I work around there and can make a swing by on the way home. They don't get any real rare stuff though, and a trip to Dallas is the best way for me to grab that kind of stuff. My county just went beer/wine wet last November, so no need to drive so much to grab a 6'er or something, but selection sucks.

I do have a store closer (30 min...) that sells the standard Jim/Jack/EW, but selection is limited to say the least.

[JB64]

If you can make it to Springfield MO there are some liquor stores called Brown Derby that have some nice selections of bourbon. I think the location on Glenstone is their largest store. I will probably stop by there tommorow while visiting my daughter at college. The last time I was there I was able to pick up Weller 12 which I have never seen in my neck of the woods.

[gcsjr]

Thanks for the tip. Yes, Brown Derby seems like the only store name for alcohol in that town. There are a lot of stores, but strange that there would be no competition. Sounds like I'll have to make my way there soon....

[gcsjr]

Most of the liquor store employees couldn't tell you what they have on the shelves. They don't know a bourbon from a Canadian so calling is not going to do you much good.

Just today learned the truth of this. I walked into a store about 1-1/2 hours north, and a helpful young man came over and asked me what I was looking for. I was already in front of the bourbon offerings, and I pointed to them and said, "I'm really only interested in the bourbon." He said, "Well, that's great 'cause we have Crown Royal on sale today." I didn't laugh...really. I did tell him that Crown Royal is canadian whiskey and NOT bourbon. I am chuckling now, though. :-)