Buying Bourbon in NYC and Brooklyn
April 22, 2015 5:35 AM Subscribe
I'm a new bourbon collector and I'm wondering what stores in Brooklyn and NYC have the widest and best selections?
Also, while I'm at it, what are some of your favorite bottles?
But more importantly, where can I buy them locally?
Astor Wines has an excellent selection (including some exclusive bottlings), great customer service, some tasting notes available on the shelves, and also occasional tastings.
This Serious Eats list is helpful as well.
Don't go to Warehouse unless you know exactly what you want (and it's a mainstream brand). And never ask anybody for help/a recommendation there.
Our everyday sippers are Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, and Jefferson's. Easily obtained at most good liquor stores.
Are you also going to specialty bourbon bars (Flatiron Room, Brandy Library, Rochelle's, Post Office, etc) and trying new ones?
posted by kathryn at 6:02 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
This Serious Eats list is helpful as well.
Don't go to Warehouse unless you know exactly what you want (and it's a mainstream brand). And never ask anybody for help/a recommendation there.
Our everyday sippers are Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, and Jefferson's. Easily obtained at most good liquor stores.
Are you also going to specialty bourbon bars (Flatiron Room, Brandy Library, Rochelle's, Post Office, etc) and trying new ones?
posted by kathryn at 6:02 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's difficult to find, which created a hype-driven frenzy, but Pappy Van Winkle really is very, very good.
posted by carmicha at 6:24 AM on April 22, 2015
posted by carmicha at 6:24 AM on April 22, 2015
not sure what their Bourbon selection looks like, but Park Ave Liquors is the go to for Whiskey generally, although you do pay up for it there.
posted by JPD at 6:28 AM on April 22, 2015
posted by JPD at 6:28 AM on April 22, 2015
I just discovered Duke's Liquor Box on Franklin Ave. in Greenpoint, a tiny place with a really fun selection of obscure spirits.
posted by neroli at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by neroli at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I asked a bourbon question awhile back for my better half. She still greatly prefers the Woodford Double Oaked as her favorite thing to drink straight. For cocktail making, I really like Old Forester which is the same mashbill as Woodford. At the time of that question, I hadn't tried it but Four Roses Small Batch is delicious and very reasonably priced. Also, unlike the answerer who said Four Roses cheaper and more expensive options are good too I found that I didn't like them at all. That's a roundabout way of saying that taste and especially bourbon taste is very subjective. Get thee to an event where you can do tastings or take a long weekend vacationing in Kentucky doing distillery tours.
posted by mmascolino at 6:35 AM on April 22, 2015
posted by mmascolino at 6:35 AM on April 22, 2015
In Manhattan I suggest Warehouse Wines and Spirits at 735 Broadway, near St. Mark's Pl. In North Brooklyn, there's a great, pretty big liquor store on the corner of Nassau and Manhattan in Greenpoint. In South Brooklyn I like On the Rocks on 4th Ave and Brooklyn Liquors, which is attached to Costco on 3rd Ave.
Also, Bottle Rocket, near Union Sq is more of a wine place than a spirits place, but they do have some good stuff, and it's a great store.
posted by Ragged Richard at 6:40 AM on April 22, 2015
Also, Bottle Rocket, near Union Sq is more of a wine place than a spirits place, but they do have some good stuff, and it's a great store.
posted by Ragged Richard at 6:40 AM on April 22, 2015
agree with neroli ^ Duke's in Greenpoint carries really interesting whiskeys/ryes/bourbon and the owner is super helpful and knowledgeable about the stuff. I rarely leave there without a few new bottles!
If you go to Duke's there's a new-ish american whiskey bar called Moonlight Mile a block away that has a huge selection so you could try stuff there and buy it at Duke's
posted by brianwhitman at 6:51 AM on April 22, 2015
If you go to Duke's there's a new-ish american whiskey bar called Moonlight Mile a block away that has a huge selection so you could try stuff there and buy it at Duke's
posted by brianwhitman at 6:51 AM on April 22, 2015
+1 for Astor, their selection is amazing.
As far as recommendations, there's a bourbon distilled in New York called Widow Jane which is fantastic. It's probably my single favorite bourbon. Kings County, mentioned upthread, is also great - try their chocolate whiskey (yes, I was also skeptical. Yes, it's delicious - not sweet at all, they age their regular bourbon on cacao husks and the result is fascinating and tasty). Their distillery tour in Brooklyn is also a lot of fun, and you'll get to both learn a lot about whiskey and taste some great stuff.
Four Roses Yellow Label is the best bourbon under $20 available, and actually beats out a lot of other, more expensive bourbons in my experience, and their Small Batch/Special Reserve are great too if you're looking to spend a bit more. Whistlepig, from Vermont, is on the pricy side and isn't actually a bourbon (it's a rye) but it's a spectacular whiskey too.
You're entering get a tasty, tasty world, budding whiskey nerd. Have fun!
posted by Itaxpica at 7:10 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
As far as recommendations, there's a bourbon distilled in New York called Widow Jane which is fantastic. It's probably my single favorite bourbon. Kings County, mentioned upthread, is also great - try their chocolate whiskey (yes, I was also skeptical. Yes, it's delicious - not sweet at all, they age their regular bourbon on cacao husks and the result is fascinating and tasty). Their distillery tour in Brooklyn is also a lot of fun, and you'll get to both learn a lot about whiskey and taste some great stuff.
Four Roses Yellow Label is the best bourbon under $20 available, and actually beats out a lot of other, more expensive bourbons in my experience, and their Small Batch/Special Reserve are great too if you're looking to spend a bit more. Whistlepig, from Vermont, is on the pricy side and isn't actually a bourbon (it's a rye) but it's a spectacular whiskey too.
You're entering get a tasty, tasty world, budding whiskey nerd. Have fun!
posted by Itaxpica at 7:10 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's distilled in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and sold in Park Slope. Not technically a bourbon, but Van Brunt Stillhouse American Whiskey is spectacular and sold in half bottles so you can try it out.
posted by wnissen at 7:55 AM on April 22, 2015
posted by wnissen at 7:55 AM on April 22, 2015
St. Marks Wine and Liquor isn't very big but they have a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits. Their staff is incredibly helpful too. If you're in the area it's definitely worth a stop. We always end up leaving with an awesome new gin!
posted by barnone at 8:55 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by barnone at 8:55 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's a liqour store on the corner of Manhattan Ave and Bedford Ave in Williamsburg/Greenpoint who had a wide collection last time I was there.
posted by shesbenevolent at 9:35 AM on April 22, 2015
posted by shesbenevolent at 9:35 AM on April 22, 2015
It's difficult to find, which created a hype-driven frenzy, but Pappy Van Winkle really is very, very good.
I got a chance to buy a bottle of the 15-year for $100 at the last release, and then turned around and sold it for $480. Just saying, if you do find a bottle at retail, you might want to consider not drinking it.
posted by Huck500 at 10:59 AM on April 22, 2015
I got a chance to buy a bottle of the 15-year for $100 at the last release, and then turned around and sold it for $480. Just saying, if you do find a bottle at retail, you might want to consider not drinking it.
posted by Huck500 at 10:59 AM on April 22, 2015
With the caveat that I'm usually buying scotch, not bourbon, I have to add another +1 to the love for Astor - helpful staff and interesting tastings
posted by naoko at 9:43 PM on April 22, 2015
posted by naoko at 9:43 PM on April 22, 2015
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