Store Recommndations Ft. Myers Florida Area

[swhitworth77]

Hi,

I'm traveling to Florida next week and will be staying in the Ft Myers area (Captiva). I have done a little research and it looks like there are easily a dozen liquor stores around there. Any recommendations for a store that has a good selection of bourbon? I'm coming from Virginia/ABC State where the selection is pitiful. I'd be thrilled to find some Four Roses store selected barrel proofs, maybe some weller 12 or antique for my brother, SAOS barrel proof, and the like. Not necessarily looking for rare bottles, just fun stuff to drink that I can't get at home. Thanks in advance.

[Creggor]

I have been to TOTAL wine in Ft Myers,, They had a decent selection.. I did not see any Store Select Four Roses Barrel Selects at total wine.. I know ABC Wine & Spirits had some Four Roses Barrel Strength Bottled for ABC.. I bought three Bottles in the Port Charlotte store.. They have no more of the Barrel Strength in that store.. You may want to call or check with the FT ABC Store.. Hope this helps and good luck to you.. Creggor

[swhitworth77]

I have been to TOTAL wine in Ft Myers,, They had a decent selection.. I did not see any Store Select Four Roses Barrel Selects at total wine.. I know ABC Wine & Spirits had some Four Roses Barrel Strength Bottled for ABC.. I bought three Bottles in the Port Charlotte store.. They have no more of the Barrel Strength in that store.. You may want to call or check with the FT ABC Store.. Hope this helps and good luck to you.. Creggor

thanks for this info, I'm leaving for Florida tomorrow hopefully I find a few goodies. I was planning to hit the ABC wine & spirits closest to where I will be maybe a couple of the smaller stores.

[fishnbowljoe]

I haven't been down in that area since 2011. Last time I was there, I stopped at a couple of ABC stores. Total Wine and More was also a nice place. There was also a couple of other smaller stores I stopped at, but I've forgotten the names. I do remember that all they had on the shelves was "the usual suspects". JB, MM, JD, etc...

[sailor22]

Expect the usual Bourbon suspects with an occasional stranger in the mix. Some ABC's might have some Weller 12, the stock comes and goes.

If your so inclined you might find some interesting Rums in virtually any store in south Fla., for sure there will be a better selection than Virginia.

ABC stores in Florida are not state owned, it is just the name of one of the largest chains in the state. Total is also a large chain. Both of them distribute to their retail outlets in seemingly random fashion, so check every one you see if you have time, as the stock will be somewhat different.

Good luck and enjoy your stay in Florida.

[BB Slim]

Go into the nearest ABC store, and if there is something specific yor are looking for like a store select FRSB and they don't have it, ask the clerk or store manager if they can check if any of the other near by stores have it. They have real time store stocks for every store in the state. If one of the near by stores has it they will even call the store and have them hold it for you. Good Luck on your search. Hope it warms up a little for you.

[bigmzungu]

Lots of Weller 12 in the FL ABCs this past week.

[fishnbowljoe]

Lots of Weller 12 in the FL ABCs this past week.

[swhitworth77]

I just got back home today and wanted to share my results (or lack of). I was on captiva island which was way more remote than I realized, about an hour from the nearest town, Ft Myers, FL. I was busier than expected and was only able to hit two stores, one next to a publix in Ft Myers and another small store on Captiva island. I didn't find anything real exciting at either store but the one in Ft Myers did have high west campfire for $35 which is a heck of a lot better than retail in VA @ $65. I ended up with some common buffalo trace and then mid week my cousin gifted me a bottle of 2014 van winkle 12yr lot b that he had shipped down from NY. All in all a great time, I probably could have done better if I had at least a 1/2 day to shop around and hit more stores.

thanks to everyone that shared their tips and advice here!!!

[johnnybogey]

I just got back home today and wanted to share my results (or lack of). I was on captiva island which was way more remote than I realized, about an hour from the nearest town, Ft Myers, FL. I was busier than expected and was only able to hit two stores, one next to a publix in Ft Myers and another small store on Captiva island. I didn't find anything real exciting at either store but the one in Ft Myers did have high west campfire for $35 which is a heck of a lot better than retail in VA @ $65. I ended up with some common buffalo trace and then mid week my cousin gifted me a bottle of 2014 van winkle 12yr lot b that he had shipped down from NY. All in all a great time, I probably could have done better if I had at least a 1/2 day to shop around and hit more stores.

thanks to everyone that shared their tips and advice here!!!

That's a nice cousin. "You might want to hold onto that one" (meaning the cousin). :grin:

Sorry, couldn't resist the "Dumb and Dumber" reference.

[damackaroni]

Weller 12 has been relatively easy to find down here in Central Florida, especially on the Space Coast. The harder find has been the Antique, which I still haven't been able to get my hands on. The store managers did tell me that they have gotten a pretty decent supply of Weller 12 and Special Reserve throughout the beginning of this year though. Who knows when they will get their next shipment though.

Honestly, my best luck on the Space Coast has been in the ABC's. In Orlando, it's been some of the smaller liquor stores on the outskirts of town. Kissimmee has offered some decent finds, but nothing super rare. The adult hipster movement in Winter Park and Downtown is not making it any easier to find the better bourbons.