It’s like Y2K without the COBOL programmers, puberty without the pimples, landing on the moon without the actual historic importance: today marks the beginning of a new era in Washington State boozery. As of June 1, you will no longer buy your liquor from Washington State owned-stores, you will buy them from independent retailers (with enough retain space to qualify for a license).
Yes, it seems like just weeks ago that we celebrated the opening of the state liquor store in Wallingford with our ringing endorsement of the Dick’s milkshake + Cointreau combination, and here we are ringing out the liquor store and ringing in…
- Wine World: Eagle-eyed observers of the gargantuan oenophilinaseum may have noted that they updated their signage recently to include the word “spirits”. That’s because as of June 1st, Wine World is set up to be the Big Daddy of the drinking world: 250 Bourbons, 250 Scotches, 400 Vodka’s, 300 Rums, and a raft of whatever else lifts your skirt. Check the list on their site of what they plan to carry, it’s quite comprehensive. Luscious for the lushes amongst us.
- QFC: Sure, QFC will be expanding their wine section to include booze as well, and as a bonus, they’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (although they’ll only be allowed to sell liquor for 18 of those 24 hours, 6 am to 2 am). They’ll be carrying a solid selection of 100 – 200 varieties, including the Kroger’s house brand low-price / mid-range Prestige liquor.
- Trader Joe’s: Not technically in Wallingford, but a hops, scotch and a gin away. When we called them last night, they weren’t quite sure what they would be carrying, but did know it would be at least a basic collection of the basics.
- Emerald City Tobacco and Spirits: What’s to become of the old liquor store at 118 NE 45th St? As of tomorrow, it will be privatized and, after a few days of closure for inventory, re-opened under new management. The manager I spoke to wasn’t sure of much: hours, whether existing employees would be retained, etc. Good luck to them (even to the snippy cashier who threw us out for trying to snap a picture of the store’s last day).
Cheers!
Nice. You outdid yourself with the prose, Wallyhood… “a hop, scotch and a gin away!”
Costco has spoken! All hail democracy!
The new Wallgreens on 45th and Stone has apparently applied for a liquor license as well.
Walgreens just does what the state calls a 450 – grocery/retail beer & wine. The Stone Way store is currently listed on the WSLCB website under ‘New Actions’ with license # 408456.
PCC?
If PCC has applied, it wasn’t in the last 30 days.
Apparently, I didn’t have all the info on Walgreens. The 45th & Stone location is selling liquor in addition to beer & wine.
I checked Wine World this morning, great selection (though far short of what they list), but the prices are depressing, when you take the tax into account.
I was thinking, honestly, this might be the time to give up distilled spirits. It has been fun, but there are lots of other maybe more interesting avenues to explore … I know practically nothing about sake, for example. Once my modest supply dwindles – some of it bought in the last days, like a bottle of Campari from the Wallingford store … but what will I do with that, when my gin runs out?
Well, here’s the good news. Apparently, the taxes on direct retail from the distillery itself are lower. That means that you can walk down to Mischief in Fremont and buy from them at a much more reasonable price. Right now they’re selling at the liquor store price until they get that sorted out, so it’s even more reasonable. Their gin is delightful, just finished a small but very nice negroni whilst writing this, and they also make a couple of ryes and a vodka, maybe other stuff as well. I’ve had the less aged rye, it’s mild and pleasant, a little lighter than average.
I mean to head out to Woodinville one of these days to look into Softtail Spirits’ grappas, and there are several other distilleries in Seattle making gin (Sound Spirits, Sun Liquor.) And other distilleries around the state – this is just a fraction of them that I have at hand – Wishkah in Aberdeen, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere in Cashmere, Black Heron in the Tri-Cities. Maybe this will be the era of the local craft distilleries.
@Donn I like how you think – re the craft distillers that is 😉 I do hope thy come out of this OK!