WARNING: I'm sorry, but you must be at least 21 years of age to read this review. It's about beverage alcohol. If you're 21, read on. If not, go here, and stop being a pain in the ass to your parents:
www.bud.tv
Now that that's out of the way...
Three words: I {HEART} BevMo!
I have always thought of BevMo as a Toys 'R' Us for adults. Like a kid in a candy store when I go there. I am not an alcoholic but enjoy a wide range of adult beverages and spirits, including red wine, beer, Vodka (martinis), Bourbon/Whiskey (straight up), Rum (cuba libras), and Tequila (100% Agave only, please, no sugar-watered-down sh*t)--preferably with Sangrita chaser. The wine selection is huge, and I love that you can order online and schedule pickup at the nearest store. So I can take my time browsing at home in my PJs, fill a shopping cart with booze, and it's ready for pickup the next morning. God Bless America!
For wines, I typically search for only 90-point wines (not counting Wilfred Wong's ratings) and keep my per-bottle budget under $20-$25 (the cheaper, the better). I end up getting a mixed case of 12 about every 2-3 months. I personally am not into buying whole cases of the same wine, and I rarely buy the same bottle twice (unless it's extra cheap and good for entertainment stash or taking to a friend's house). I look at wine drinking as an ongoing tasting adventure. BevMo also has a ton of snacks, a huge cheese selection and cigars. Again, like a kid in a candy store.
Following are some of my favorite recommended spirits (outside of the more well-known standards); most (but not all) are well-priced (i.e. under $30-$40):
- Vodka (I tend to stay away from flavored or infused for versatility): Pearl, 42 Below. Hangar One is awesome and from my town, Alameda, but pricier.
- Tequila: this list could get long, but I'll go with Don Julio and El Tesoro Reposados. El Jimador is good, too.
- Rum: Oronoco is sooo good--like liquid candy. It's the only rum I will drink neat. Addictive and worth the cost.
- Bourbon: Eagle Rare. Yummy.
- Everyday scotch: Famous Grouse.
This is just an aside: I heard a rumor that Costco's "Kirkland" house brand of Vodka is actually GREY GOOSE in the bottle. Don't know if it's true, but probably worth buying a jug for a blind taste test!!
I repeat: I am not an alcoholic. I take all of the above in moderation; it's good for the heart. Drink responsibly, kids, and never drink and drive! Always have an MVP drive for you: "Most Valuable Person." (OK, I'll stop as I have run out of public service announcements.)
Cheers. read more