Online Ordering

[rzelinka]

I'm sharing some online ordering experiences for those who have considered ordering online. I hope this is useful to others. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

 

Flaviar - My wife gifted me a bourbon of the month for Christmas. It is referred to as the Champions of Bourbons and are advertised as being bourbons, or whiskeys which aren't as common. A part of that subscription includes a Black Card membership which gets you a deeper discount and accessibility to harder to find bourbons. I've placed 2 orders with them. The first one was lost. The second was cancelled after 3 weeks as the bottle was no longer able to be shipped. Each time, my money was tied up for weeks. Of the bottles that came as part of the bourbon of the month so far, all are what I would consider fairly common in any liquor store in my area (Wilderness Trail, Barrell Bourbon Foundation, Wild Turkey, Rare Breed, Milam & Green), and available for +/-$50. One of the bottles arrived empty, and it appeared the cork seal failed. Seeking a human to help with a claim has been less than convenient. All correspondence is over email or their chat bot (which is limited). Each time there has been an issue, they reply with the same script, "shipping alcohol can be challenging". While I understand that point, others are doing it with greater precision. It also seems that they are just a broker for others who sell alcohol as there are times where they send me an email about a bottle only for me to learn they are unable to ship to my state. All this to say, I would avoid them at all costs.

 

Liquor Bros - I've found some really good deals with them, always have a coupon or discount code of some kind. Every order has been fulfilled within a week and arrived in perfect condition. Their shipping charges aren't terrible and they don't charge tax so more often than not, I pay the same or less than if I were to buy it locally. It's been great to find bottles that aren't available locally at MSRP and sometimes below. Not that I recommend it, but for those who are looking for buy now, pay later options, they offer many options for you. I really like using them. Maybe my favorite of them all.

 

Wooden Cork - In much the same way, as Liquor Bros, I've had great experiences here with them too. No tax, always a discount of some kind, shipping charges are a bit higher than others, as are their prices when compared to others. That said, they aren't terrible, especially if you have a discount code in the mix. Orders get fulfilled quickly and have consistently arrived in perfect condition. I will continue to use them when the deal is right.

 

Sip Whiskey - The experience here is good, not great. No tax, always a discount of some kind, shipping charges aren't terrible, and their prices on most aren't terrible either. In some instances, they run specials which are cheaper than what I can find locally. For instance, they had a bottle which had an MSRP of $150 and goes for that much at Total Wine, it was offered for $130, with a 10% off coupon reducing the price by another $13. Good deal. Orders get fulfilled in 10 days or so, a little longer than the others.  My first order arrived in perfect condition, and I am awaiting my second order to arrive next week which was ordered 12 days ago. I would recommend others before them, but would buy from them if the deal was right.

 

Whiskey Caviar - Some of their deals were incredible. For instance, all four Michters for $119 was hard to beat. Locally, it would run me $150 plus tax. No tax here, and always a discount code, but not as high as others. For instance, they only offered a 5% discount, when others had 10% (or higher). I did get free shipping though with a purchase of over $450. The other places offer free shipping too over a lower threshold. I placed my first order with them on June 1, and it was on the way by June 3, expected to arrive on June 11. So far so good. Hopefully it arrives in perfect condition.

 

Frootbat - They have good prices on a few things. If you're looking for allocated, chances are they have it, so long as you're willing to pay their price. On that note, their price is often the cheapest on allocated, but they do charge tax so the savings is a wash. They always offer a coupon or discount of some kind too. I find their shipping to be the cheapest of all the sites. I've ordered many things from them. They fulfill orders within a week, and they always arrive in perfect condition.  I would recommend.

 

Hi Proof - I've ordered from them twice. I ordered a Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof. It was listed at slightly below MSRP.  I also ordered an Old Forester 1924 which was slightly above MSRP as you can't find them in my part of Texas. Orders came in within a week. They also charge tax, but their shipping is reasonably low. Not as low as Frootbat, but the second lowest of any of the others. I've not had a discount code work because the bottles I purchased were at the maximum discount. I would buy from them again as even with shipping and tax, the prices are equivalent to many things I would buy locally. It's been great especially for bottles I can't find locally and I'm not paying a premium.

 

 

I hope this is useful for those who are considering whether to buy online or not.