Good whiskey selection in Seattle?

June 26, 2012 6:01 PM

Are there any liquor stores in Seattle that have a decent bourbon whiskey selection (since the law changed)?

I know Wine and Spirits World does but their markup is crazy. I know Bevmo plans to open stores later this summer. Has anyone seen any of the formerly state run stores re-open with a robust product offering?

posted by uleekunkel to Grab Bag (10 answers total)

Best answer: I didn't look at anything specifically, but when I dropped by the store at 12th and Pine in Capital Hill recently it seemed to carry more than it used to.
posted by jacalata at 6:05 PM on June 26, 2012

I'm waiting for BevMo as well as my state store to re-open, which should be next week. Fortunately, I stocked up!
posted by Sunburnt at 6:10 PM on June 26, 2012

If you're near U-District/Wallingford, I'm thinking this might be the place for you:

Wine World
posted by Zoyashka at 8:25 PM on June 26, 2012

Best answer: Zoyashka, that's the "Wine and Spirits World" mentioned in the post.

uleekunkel, the bartenders I know basically say wait for BevMo. We're in a weird kind of grey area right now, where holders of brand new liquor licenses are trying to make back their outlay by stocking the stuff they know will move; that should change as the market settles in a little. Is there anything in particular you've been looking for?
posted by KathrynT at 9:06 PM on June 26, 2012

My buddy Richard managed a state liquor store in Kirkland and spent the last several years curating a selection of local and small batch bourbons, ryes, and whiskeys. I think he may be hired for a new store in Redmond, but last I heard,that was up in the air. Private message me with your email address and I'll put you in touch with him.

Also, my Mr. says check out Metropolitan Market,but he hasn't been there since the changeover so he isn't sure exactly what they have.
posted by matildaben at 9:07 PM on June 26, 2012 [1 favorite]

Has anyone had access to the Coast Guard Exchange on the waterfront? I ask because my Dad, retired Navy, says that the SUBBASE Bangor Package Store (he's from the South, and I don't think he has ever said "liquor store" in his life) has started to carry a broader selection of bourbons (notably they finally added Woodford Reserve which is a staple for me) since the law passed, on the assumption that people who can get by drinking Jim Beam will buy it at the drugstore.

I live close to the QA Metropolitan Market-- I can take a look there.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:18 AM on June 27, 2012

Response by poster: Thanks all - I'll check out the Capitol Hill store and otherwise wait for BevMo. Thanks for the offer Matildaben but the east side is too far.

I checked out the Metropolitan Market in upper Queen Anne, I was really disappointed but it is their smallest store I think so that could be an anomaly.
posted by uleekunkel at 10:25 AM on June 27, 2012

I live waaaay up north (bothell) but up here, the Fred Meyer of all places had an unusually diverse selection of spirits. I wasn't looking for bourbon specifically, but they did have much, MUCH more than Safeway/QFC/etc.
posted by KathrynT at 2:10 PM on June 27, 2012

Can I ask which Fred Meyer? Was it the one in Shoreline at Aurora & 185th, or some other one? (I'm in the market for a bottle of whiskey myself.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:33 AM on July 1, 2012

The one allllllll the way up in Canyon Park, on 527 north of 405.
posted by KathrynT at 6:34 PM on July 1, 2012