Today is the day that the prohibition era laws in the state of Washington have been repealed. We can now buy hard alcohol in the grocery store.
This is so exciting, not because we can now buy orange juice and vodka in the same location, but because the access to local distilleries and hard to find product is unprecedented. No longer are we subject to purchase only what the state ordered and no longer are we asking questions of an employee who usually doesn't care.
As you might imagine, I stopped by two of my favorite places yesterday to check out what they were doing for Happy B(ooze) Day.
Wine World & Spirits has a ridiculous amount of wine (hence the name) and they have added to that a ridiculous amount of spirits and spirit accouterments. They have more than 2000 separate skus with everything from the usual (Grey Goose Vodka) to the unusual (Douglas Fir Liqueur) to the local (Oola Gin). They have treated spirits the same way they have treated wine :: an emphasis on local - and massive quantity. If you are looking for something new, different, or interesting, they are the place to go. Plus they hired experts in the field - so they have people who really know their stuff.
My home away from home,
Metropolitan Market, is also carrying spirits (what grocery store isn't?!?). They are buying liquor much like they buy everything else - mostly local, focused on specialty, and of the best quality. Which means you will be able to buy your favorites at Met Market when you buy your lettuce and salsa.
I am so excited for both of these stores for different yet similar reasons. At Met Market I know I will be able to pick up a good local gin on a regular basis because that's where I get my groceries. Wine World is going to have such a huge selection and knowledgeable people that I know I can find kooky stuff there - and learn a little about it before I spend a ton on money... which leads us to...
...pricing, we aren't California yet. The price is increasing by leaps and bounds. The shelf price will look the same and feel regular. It's at the register that the shock will come in. There is a new 20.5% tax on liquor. Add that to the $40 bottle of gin you were holding and you may just pass out from shock alone.
It makes
Happy Hour just a little more special...
and if you're paying out the nose for your booze, why not support the locals?
