dementedavenger Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I interacted with a bunch of Seattle area folk when I posted my introduction a month or so ago. I thought it may be fun to start a thread and get a discussion going about bourbon, rye, etc. in the Seattle area and the rest of Washington. I actually think it would be cool to have geographic-focused boards because often times I'll be reading threads and shaking my head, saying to myself, "They don't sell that here," or, "Their pricing is so much different than ours that it's just not the same thing." Additionally, I think that as the years go by we'll be talking more and more about craft bourbons, ryes, etc., many of which will only be widely available on a regional level.As my fellow Washingtonians can likely attest, being a bourbon lover in this state can be very challenging at times due to the old regulatory system, the change in regulations, and the current tax system and lack of retail power with distributors. I'll get the ball rolling with a recap of some Seattle area liquor retailers. I'll preface my report, however, by saying that I do most of my buying online.Specialty The best selections I've found are Wine World (Wallingford), Emerald City Spirits (Wallingford), Esquin (SODO), Ballard Liquor Store (Ballard) and BevMo! (Tukwila, Northgate, Bellevue and Tacoma). Wine World is outrageously expensive. The guys there are really nice but they can't compete on price yet. Emerald City Spirits, which is about .5 miles west on the same street (45th), has a surprisingly strong selection and some decent prices on certain stuff. The owners took over a horrible old state store and kept all the displays. The people behind Ballard Liquor Store did the same (they also own an old state store near University Village) and their selection is fairly strong and they had some decent pricing on certain items (EC12 for $32, tax included, which was lower than BevMo!) and horrible prices on other stuff (WLW12 for ~$55, tax included). Esquin has decent pricing but their selection can be spotty. BevMo! generally has a fairly strong selection and the pricing is decent for the area. BevMo! is also your best shot at getting Van Winkle and BTAC; I bought two GTS and one ER17 from the BevMo! in Tacoma.Grocery Costco's selection is surprisingly poor and their prices are not anything special. I hate their Kirkland (Beam) bourbon, but to each their own. QFC and Fred Meyer (each owned by Kroger) sometimes have stuff on sale at decent prices and QFC sometimes has some wonky prices (Eagle Rare for $27 before tax at the store near me, which seems pretty low for this area). QFC will also do special orders if you speak to the liquor manager. The beauty of grocery stores is they don't really care - liquor is just another product and they'll happily show you the distributor price list and help you out. The Safeway stores I've been to generally have small selections and their pricing can decent. I saw 1792 Ridgemont Reserve on closeout at one near me for ~$28 before tax. It was ~$34 at BevMo! Metropolitan Market has an interesting selection and their pricing can sometimes be surprisingly good. Trader Joe's has a small selection and is typically pricing around the same mark as the regular grocery stores. OtherWalgreens carries liquor in many of their stores. At the one near me they've put the Jim Beam Black gift set (750ml plus two rocks glasses) on closeout for $17.99 before tax, and, the Maker's Mark gift set (750ml plus two waxed rocks glasses) on sale for $21.99 before tax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) Capco Beverages has a shop in Issaquah (old state store on Gilman) & West Seattle (old state store on Alaska). They have decent prices on Scotch & selection is pretty good - good selection of mini's.Clearview Spirits are my favorites & they've got a good selection as well - two locations (in Snohomish on Hwy. 9 & in Monroe as well).Total Wine in Bellevue (& Tukwila) has good selection & some of the best prices - too bad it's a big box store... They're literally 5min from my house & I shop @ Uwajimaya often so I stop in from time to time to see what's available.If anybody knows where any OGD114 is in the area, shoot me a PM! Edited January 9, 2013 by ChainWhip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wadewood Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 got to chime in; having lived in Seattle from 1999 to 2007 during state run days, I know WA liquor taxes are now very high, but I'll take that any day for real competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Capco Beverages has a shop in Issaquah (old state store on Gilman) & West Seattle (old state store on Alaska). They have decent prices on Scotch & selection is pretty good - good selection of mini's.Clearview Spirits are my favorites & they've got a good selection as well - two locations (in Snohomish on Hwy. 9 & in Monroe as well).Total Wine in Bellevue (& Tukwila) has good selection & some of the best prices - too bad it's a big box store... They're literally 5min from my house & I shop @ Uwajimaya often so I stop in from time to time to see what's available.If anybody knows where any OGD114 is in the area, shoot me a PM!I've only lived out for a little under four years but I've never seen OGD114. I actually don't see that much at online retailers. I need to checkout Clearview. I need an excuse to go out to Snohomish or Monroe that involves bringing my toddler, LOL.I was disappointed by the selection at Uwajimaya in the ID. I had hopes that they would have some good Japanese whiskey but they don't and their prices on other stuff are pretty bad. My secondary spirit of choice is actually Shochu (my brother lived in Japan for 10+ years and got me into it) and I've got about a dozen bottles of it that I purchased during the state-run days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 got to chime in; having lived in Seattle from 1999 to 2007 during state run days, I know WA liquor taxes are now very high, but I'll take that any day for real competition.I keep telling myself that but it hurts right now man... I think we traded in our old dictator for two despots instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) I need to checkout Clearview. I need an excuse to go out to Snohomish or Monroe that involves bringing my toddler, LOL.Go straight to the Monroe store then hit the other one if you can. If you're in downtown Snohomish, pay Fred's Rivertown Alehouse a visit - impressive menu of beers & whiskies there. Edited January 9, 2013 by ChainWhip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFS Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 What's the tax rate on liquor? Is it higher than the regular (combined) sales tax, which when I left 7 years ago was already 9%? Is liquor taxed twice (regular sales tax + liquor-specific sales tax)? I was there a few months ago, but didn't look at the after-tax prices - I was on vacation, and treating my hosts, so I didn't really care. (I was also giddy over the demise of the old state-control system.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) What's the tax rate on liquor? Is it higher than the regular (combined) sales tax, which when I left 7 years ago was already 9%? Is liquor taxed twice (regular sales tax + liquor-specific sales tax)? I was there a few months ago, but didn't look at the after-tax prices - I was on vacation, and treating my hosts, so I didn't really care. (I was also giddy over the demise of the old state-control system.)The current liquor tax is 20.5% + a pro-rated $3.77 per liter tax. Here are some examples. You really get killed when you buy bottom shelf.Ancient Age - 750mlBase Price: $9.99 (BevMo)20.5% Tax: $2.05Liter Tax: $2.83TOTAL: $14.87Buffalo Trace - 750mlBase Price: $26.99 (BevMo!)20.5% Tax: $5.53Liter Tax: $2.83TOTAL: $35.35George T. StaggBase Price: $79.99 (BevMo!)20.5% Tax: $16.40Liter Tax: $2.83TOTAL: $99.22 Edited January 9, 2013 by dementedavenger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFS Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Ouch. And of course, the shelf tags are all written in base prices, no doubt.Please tell me that they don't add the 9% regular sales tax on top of all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smknjoe Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) The current liquor tax is 20.5% + a pro-rated $3.77 per liter tax. Here are some examples. You really get killed when you buy bottom shelf.Ancient Age - 750mlBase Price: $9.99 (BevMo)20.5% Tax: $2.05Liter Tax: $2.83TOTAL: $14.87Buffalo Trace - 750mlBase Price: $26.99 (BevMo!)20.5% Tax: $5.53Liter Tax: $2.83TOTAL: $35.35George T. StaggBase Price: $79.99 (BevMo!)20.5% Tax: $16.40Liter Tax: $2.83TOTAL: $99.22Holy S#!T! What about Oregon? I always here the Portland people complaining about freeloaders from WA.I feel sorry for you (all). I should bring a few bottles of OGD with me on my business/pleasure trip out there in the next few weeks. Edited January 9, 2013 by smknjoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Ouch. And of course, the shelf tags are all written in base prices, no doubt.Please tell me that they don't add the 9% regular sales tax on top of all that.Most stores only display the before tax prices along with signs stating the tax scheme. A few stores make it a point to show you the "out the door" price.No, that's the total tax. The standard sales tax is rolled into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauiSon Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I see why you mostly buy online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humchan2k Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 The prices in WA were so brutal, I just went to see Andrew at Liberty on Cap Hill for the good stuff....cuz after all, what's better than dope whiskey and sushi!?!?! If you don't know Liberty and you live in Seattle, go fix that immediately! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBottle Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 (edited) Wine World is outrageously expensive.I will not shop there due to their asinine pricing and I actively encourage others to do the same. $90 for a HW 21 375ml bottle? Whistlepig 111 at $156? Masterson's 10 at $91? (Prices are before the 20.5% tax). Edited January 10, 2013 by LostBottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 (edited) Esquin's prices are not much better than Wine World. Edited January 10, 2013 by ChainWhip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBottle Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I wish nothing but financial ruin upon both of them. Hopefully, Total Wine moves to Seattle proper and makes this happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 The prices in WA were so brutal, I just went to see Andrew at Liberty on Cap Hill for the good stuff....cuz after all, what's better than dope whiskey and sushi!?!?! If you don't know Liberty and you live in Seattle, go fix that immediately!Seconded. Canon is an experience, but an expensive one. Liberty, it's been my experience, has a more generous pour and they're very much into the idea of educating you and learning from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBottle Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Thirded. The prices at Canon are stupid - at $45 a pour for Single Oak Project or $60 Pappy 20, I think he must be buying his whiskey from Wine World. Liberty gets my vote, and business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 Thirded. The prices at Canon are stupid - at $45 a pour for Single Oak Project or $60 Pappy 20, I think he must be buying his whiskey from Wine World. Liberty gets my vote, and business. Want to talk about some stupid pricing? Check out Brouwer's in Fremont. They're known for their incredible beer selection and, apparently, their odd bourbon/rye pricing. Also, they're 1.5-ounce pours seem pretty damn small. Knob Creek: $11 Baker's: $13 Blanton's: $14 Black Maple Small Batch: $15 Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year $17 George T. Stagg: $17 William Larue Weller: $18 Whistle Pig: $18 Hudson's Manhattan Rye: $23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humchan2k Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Want to talk about some stupid pricing? Check out Brouwer's in Fremont. They're known for their incredible beer selection and, apparently, their odd bourbon/rye pricing. Also, they're 1.5-ounce pours seem pretty damn small.Knob Creek: $11Baker's: $13Blanton's: $14Black Maple Small Batch: $15Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year $17George T. Stagg: $17William Larue Weller: $18Whistle Pig: $18Hudson's Manhattan Rye: $23[ATTACH=CONFIG]14657[/ATTACH]Those prices are cheap for LA, broham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 Those prices are cheap for LA, broham.The prices aren't awful, though I feel their pours are small. The issue is the wackiness of the pricing where Hudson's Manhattan Rye is ~35% more expensive that PVW15, GTS and WLW. It's to the customer's benefit, of course, but that's just weird pricing, in my opinion. The beauty of Liberty is that I have no clue what their prices are and don't really care. I always feel like I get treated fairly there and I get my money's worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Apparently the spirits manager is not a Bourbon guy, but hey, if that what customers are willing to pay . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 I stopped into Total Wine in Tukwila today and was very pleasantly surprised to find a big selection of bourbon. They had a few bottles of JPS18 Batch #17 for $93.99 before tax if you're looking (I found it interesting that it was on the shelf and not in the "High-End Spirits" cabinet directly across the aisle; in fact, there was no bourbon in that cabinet). Most interesting to me was the big selection of Sazerac brands that I'm totally unfamiliar with: Black Ridge, Buckhorn, Chestnut Farms and Two Stars, among others. Anyone ever tried any of these? They were NAS and seemed more about packaging than anything else. They also had a ton of bottom shelf stuff I've never seen: Black Eagle, Paddleford Creek, Southshot, Watkins Select and Winchester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBottle Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 The Tukwilla Total Wine also has great customer service, a remarkable change from many of the people I encountered who were on the state payroll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFS Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I stopped into Total Wine in Tukwila today and was very pleasantly surprised to find a big selection of bourbon. They had a few bottles of JPS18 Batch #17 for $93.99 before tax if you're looking (I found it interesting that it was on the shelf and not in the "High-End Spirits" cabinet directly across the aisle; in fact, there was no bourbon in that cabinet). Most interesting to me was the big selection of Sazerac brands that I'm totally unfamiliar with: Black Ridge, Buckhorn, Chestnut Farms and Two Stars, among others. Anyone ever tried any of these? They were NAS and seemed more about packaging than anything else. They also had a ton of bottom shelf stuff I've never seen: Black Eagle, Paddleford Creek, Southshot, Watkins Select and Winchester.The Watkins Select is here at Total as well, and I bought a bottle a couple of months ago. I asked the Wine Manager of the store, who seemed to know his bourbon as well, what he would buy as an every day pour, preferably under $20. He didn't have to think long and named two bourbons. The Watkins was $17 (I forgot what the other bourbon was). It was very drinkable (though I don't remember the specifics), and I finished the bottle within a month or so, having no qualms about reaching for it equally as often as other, roughly-equivalently-priced stuff in my cabinet at the time (mainly 4R YL, and Weller SR, IIRC). At that price, I wouldn't have felt bad about if someone had wanted to mix it.I will likely buy another bottle again in the future. It's a lot better than Dickel #12, and I liked it as much as the AA. (I can't get AAA here). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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