If I could give a zero I would. I ordered a case of something sold specifically on the west coast (I live in NY), after 2 weeks I had not received an update which I emailed the company for to gain assistance. They informed me that all of a sudden the item went on back order and that there was nothing they could do and were not willing to refund me. It has now been a month and a half, I have continued to email the company to get some sort of refund as I spent over $60 for the item. Please do not waste your time ordering from this company, not only will you not get your item, but they will also refuse a refund. Such a scam! read more

The guys behind Bourbon and Branch have gone retail with this high end liquor store! Nicole and I headed over during their Grand Opening event, but just missed the bagpipes and ribbon cutting by Willie Brown. However, we were able to peruse the lovely shop while sipping on some yummy hot buttered rum. The floor to ceiling selection is vast, but their focus is on offering rare spirits, including Scotches and Whiskeys that you can't find anywhere else, small production wines only from California vintners and boutique craft bottled beers from around the world. All which make great gifts for the fine spirit drinker in your life. Be prepared to drop some $$$! You can also find high end barware and a large collection of books, including vintage cocktail books. Make sure you look up at the cool glass chandeliers, custom made by a local SF glassblower. A very classy shop! read more

All I wanted was a bottle of 18yr old Jameson.. Or so I thought. April 1st was the BF and my anniversary (too bad we broke up the 15th). So a few days before I started looking for a perfect low cost present. We had decided to keep our "gifts" under a $100 this year because we are saving to get married next year. So a nice bottle of scotch seemed like a perfect gift. And he loves Jameson. And Blue label Johnny Walker.. but I figured the Blue Label was a bit too much $$$$ Anyways, walking into Cask is like walking into a candy store when you're 5yrs old. Beautiful bottles of Whiskey, Scotch, Burbon, and Rye all the way to the ceiling.. Ahh lovely.. And so many types of Gin and Vodka.. And barware, cocktail glasses, and bartending books too. What a fantastic place. Def worth a few extra bucks.. read more

Earthy woodsy look and smell to store. It smells like what I think casks would smell like. And thanks for carrying Suntory Yamazaki 18 year single malt whiskey even if its not classified as "scotch." ~For a good time, make it a Suntory time. Right? read more

Much is made about the well-edited selection of base spirits: rare Bourbons, artisanal Whiskeys, and myriad Gins and Rums....but along with John Walker & co. this is the only other place to get: A Serious Selection of Bitters - Lots of Fee Bros, Regans Orange Bitters and so on in addition to the more easily found Peychauds and Angostura (both the standard and orange) Hand Crafted Syrups by Small Hand Foods - Grenadine, Gum Syrup, Orgeat Luxardo Marasca Cherries - If what you're used to is the bright red stuff that's only good for proving that you can tie knots with your tongue...this is a whole different world of flavor. The Marasca cherry is a unique food...do yourself a favor and try one. (Maybe they'll start selling Toschi as well one day?) Granted, most of us will only experience such things as patrons at some of the more uppity bars in the city...but unless you're making your own tinctures and pour endlessly over pre-prohibition cocktail books (of which, Cask carries a few), this place will have most anything you need to build a fantastic cocktail. read more

Cask and you shall receive. Cask has finally opened its doors, and even better, it's a block from where I work! The store's selection is not enormous, but it is precise and very select. Each bottle on the shelves -- be it whiskey, gin, rum or even wine -- has a certain place there. You won't find Jagermeister here, but you will find Chartreuse, if that means anything to you. Most of what they carry falls into that "artisanal" category of small batch distillers, so you're probably going to have difficulty finding some of what they carry in any other store, or bar for that matter. For the elitist in me, I like that. Turns out they also offer a laser inscription service, so if you're getting a limited edition bourbon for Dad, you can tell him how much you love him right on the bottle. Looks like they have a small tasting area set up, but one of the salesfolks told me that it wouldn't be in operation for awhile. Life isn't perfect after all. read more

Cask is a very nicely appointed addition to the near-SOMA liquor store pantheon. A nice open layout and cleanly stocked and organized shelves lend themselves to easy browsing of their limited, choice selection. As a scotch drinker I was impressed to find some bottles whose quality I know well, and also some I've been interested in trying. They also carry a nice selection of bourbons - including some artisanal batches that looked interesting - as well as tequilas, rums, gins, and some more obscure fare. And now that I think of it, the other *half* of the store is stocked with wines. In addition to liquor and wine, Cask stocks a small library of related reading material; hopefully they'll keep improving on it, as I noticed they were carrying the 2006 edition of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible. They're also building a collection of cocktail accoutrements, like glasses for particular spirits, juicers, etc. The staff member who helped me - his name escapes me - was super knowledgeable and could talk at length about almost every bottle I asked after. That's always encouraging. I'd say their prices are standard for the retail space. If you're looking for a bottle of scotch, they carry a few of my favorites. The Glenfarclas 17 is one my dad and I have both been enjoying a lot. The Glenrothes '91 is actually one of my all-time favorites. And as my colleague Rhett G. pointed out, the Laphroaig Quarter-Cask is a damned palatable whisky. read more

There are no ugly step-daughters here. It's not just about Scotch as it is with some shops. I found ample choices of Rye, Bourbon, and Irish whiskies. There's a broad range of prices from low up to the stratosphere. There's the common, the unexpected, and the 'what the hell is that?" kind of rare bottles. Their markup is not too bad considering it's The City. I checked a bottle of Rowan's Creek bourbon and to my surprise, it was only a few dollars more than at Costco. I've been 3x and talked to different workers. Some have a specific area of expertise, but none of them have ever been cash register drones. I tried some test questions which were answered well. I also corrected one fellow on a little misinformation and he took it well. Another perk for me is being able to pop out of BART, round the corner into Cask, get my whiskey, and pop back down underground again. A 'whisky-weasel' if you will. read more

I come from a control state... meaning I can only buy spirits from state sanctioned liquor stores. As such, many stores carry strikingly similar selections, with a few stand-outs that have a large selection of hard to find alcohol. But everything is so regulated that most all stores have at least the basic selection. Kinda boring. But California treats its grown-ups like grown-ups and allows them to purchase spirits at about damn near anywhere. So you can get a pint o' 'yak at your local Sevvies at just about any hour of the day. But not all corner stores are built the same, and Cask caters to a niche market that seeks out high-end imbibables. While its proximity to my place of employment (or at least the mother-ship - I telecommute) is the reason for my knowledge of its existence, it took only one visit for me to understand how awesome this shop is. These folks know their spirits and endeavor to stock hard-to-find, high-end, and rare spirits across the spectrum. Whether you need a 18+ year scotch or a niche tequila, they'll probably have it at Cask. You will probably pay a few bucks more than your average BevMo, but you're paying for quality products and an impeccable selection. I've shopped here numerous times but my most recent visit was for a bottle of nice, small-batch Oregon whiskey as a gift for a compatriot of mine. Silly that I travel to CA to buy booze from my home state but the offset in cost to check a bag to port it to CA and the hassle of checking a bag on top makes it much easier to just score here. And even though I walked in knowing exactly what I wanted, I spent way too much time perusing the shelves in awe of how many of my favorite brands and bottles were present in one place. Lots of stuff you don't see at even the most well-stocked of liquor stores. I had to defy temptation to avoid picking up a bottle of Chamucos for the road. For a budding (or veteran) spirits enthusiast, Cask is a great place to spend some time gawking at expensive yet delicious booze. read more

The people who run Bourbon and Branch also run Cask, a retail compliment with all the charm of B&B without the silliness. No one expects you to pretend it's 1928 here. You can browse and purchase many of the same spirits you might have tried there and elsewhere. All the standards are there too, but chances are if you can find it at Trader Joes you'll pay less for it there. Good luck finding Yamazaki 18 Year or Michael Collins Single Malt or Eagle Rare 17 at Trader Joes, or a Canadian whiskey made in Oregon, for that matter. You also won't find a staff as friendly and helpful, as willing to take time out from running back and forth helping customers to discuss the state of Irish Whiskey in the US anywhere else that I know of either. It makes it worth the extra buck or two. read more

Very lovely selection of beverages. Have I been there? No. So how are you reviewing a place that you've never been to, Loli? Because they have a shop online! They deliver? Oh, yes. Some dude on a bicycle delivered our carefully selected bottles from their shop on the cyberweb. Carefully selected bottles? Yup. Sounded better than saying fancy liquor. Couldn't you just go to BevMo? No. For multiple reasons but the short answer is no. Delivery, Loli. Really? Yes. Because sometimes in life, it's more convenient when stuff just shows up at your door instead of hauling it all the way home. You know? read more

I generally only come here because it's around the corner from where I live and I'm usually in need of something quick to bring to a party. The selection looks pretty good from what I can tell. I've discovered good whiskeys and wines at what strike me as reasonable retail prices. Generally speaking the service ranges from unhelpful to plain rude. You never feel welcomed there, and a "thanks!" after getting rung up will be met with complete silence. read more

During my unavoidable future bankruptcy case, I'm going to submit the following as evidence in my argument that Cask is at least partially responsible for my financial demise: 1. Cask is located on the same block as my office. It is almost the most convenient place to get liquor (ignoring our awesome in-office kegmates). Every single day I have to walk past their well-designed shop and tempting window displays. Thankfully they close at 7, so most days they are already closed by the time I leave work. 2. They stock one of the best selections of whiskey in the city. Lots of great variety in both style and price, with several special Cask-only batches of my favorites. They've also got more rye than I've ever seen in a single liquor store, so that's worth like eight stars right there. 3. I have yet to be in here when they weren't playing music I didn't have on my iPod at that moment. Considering I do most of my whiskey drinking alone at home listening to depressing alt-country music (yes, I am a huge loner cliche), this seems intentionally designed to make me feel more comfortable making big purchases. 4. The girls that work there seem perfectly chosen to get as much money from me as possible. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable about their spirits (I've enjoyed every recommendation they've made so far), but they are also super cute and I find myself subconsciously trying to impress them by throwing caution to the wind with my purchases. Obviously my plan has not been thought through very well, but it's probably going to continue until I come up with something better. So with those four pieces of evidence, I don't think any court would hold me responsible for the debts I rang up in my quest to enjoy fantastic, expensive drinks from Cask. read more

This is an excellent, high-quality liquor store. The selection is impressive, both in scope and quality - if they sell it in the grocery store, you won't find it here. Most bottles are from smaller distillers and wineries; as their logo states, they are "artisanal beverage purveyors". Be prepared for prices that start at $50/bottle and climb steadily. The atmosphere is rich and dark and slightly reminiscent of being inside a fine wooden cask. I definitely felt like I should only be drinking top quality spirits. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, able to direct you to economical gems, even if you know very little about options at this level. Never once did I feel foolish for not being familiar with hors d'age Armagnac. Subsequently, though, I want to become VERY familiar with it! read more

Great selection of spirits. Small but well chosen selection of wines. Like shopping there except for the customer service. Was there yesterday and the lady behind the counter made it seem like a huge imposition to have serve me. Didn't say hello, couldn't work up a smile. Retail is probably not a good choice of career for her. Like the store but won't be going back. read more

They have a decent selection of whisky and one store pick that I saw, a full proof 1792. I guess I just expected more rare bottles. I went in looking for any of the single cask nations or maybe a WT101Rye and they didn't have either. I also looked for Russell's store picks but again only saw the 1792 full proof. read more

Wow, Cask you're a rip off. Love the aesthetics and service, but is that really worth charging almost twice as much as what you can find elsewhere? Just purchased a bottle of scotch for $75 today for a birthday present and simultaneously my husband also purchased the same bottle at a liquor store in the East Bay for $49. We compared labels, vintage and it all matched up. Same bottle, just a lot more expensive to purchase at a cute store in SF. Sorry, Cask I'm going to be a lot more wary from now on. Very disappointing. read more

Cask is like walking into an old general store or saloon. It is the coolest... lots of dark wood and old world decor to get you in the mood for browsing their vast liquor selection. Aside from their amazing craft liquors, they have hard to find liqueurs, bitters and even simple syrups that you have never seen before. Prices aren't bad. Just a bit more than K&L on some items and on everything else... surprisingly ok. I could spend hours at Cask! Seems like friendly staff, too. I wish we had this in LA!!!!! read more

I had walked by this place numerous times during its construction..I was intrigued by the place..okay..and the cute boys loitering around. I found out later that my friend Doug is one of the proprietors of this awesome store...peddaling my two favorites--wine and whiskey. I finally had a chance to stop in last week looking for a gift..Although their wine selection is not huge, I was able to get a good recommendation from Susan for a excellent bottle of Chard for $50. I will definitely be back to pick up a gift for myself..soon! read more

Cask is the retail arm of Future Bars' small empire of fine spirits (Bourbon & Branch, Tradition, Swig, Local Edition, Rickhouse), and is unquestionably THE spot to go to when you need some good booze. Want that bottle you tasted a glass from at B&B or Rickhouse? It'll probably be here. Whiskey, gin, rum, tequila: all have their space on the floor-to-ceiling shelves that dominate the walls of the shop. All are excellent, and you'll find many a bottle here that you'd be hard-pressed to come across anywhere else. Absolutely the hard-alcohol yin to K&L's wine yang. Not to say that Cask doesn't do wine or beer. They have a nice, if small, collection of that. Mixers and other cocktail ingredients? Only the finest. All of those artisanal bitters, flavored liqueurs, and garnishes you read about in 7x7 are here. Staff are unfailingly polite, friendly, and willing to offer up all sorts of advice when you're here for the 30th week in a row buying the weekly whiskey for the office happy hour. In the mood for something new and exciting? Just ask. So what are you waiting for? Go stock your bar! read more

Cask is a class act from the neatly arranged spirits to the staff to their business card (it's made of wood!). The spirits are carefully curated. You might not recognize all the labels--which is one of the reasons I go there--but you can't deny the quality. This is the place to go for the unusual and the hard to find offerings(like prickly pear brandy and you name it they have it bitters ). My very first visit was to buy some orgeat syrup by Small Hand Foods. I am a big Tiki bar aficionado and was excited to finally be able to craft some of my favorite Tiki cocktails myself. On my most recent visit I was waiting for a friend. While I perused their wares, I was greeted by each staff member. And not in a creepy way either. Sometimes as a brown person they are afraid to leave you alone in stores. This wasn't that. When my friend got there a few minutes later, we did have questions. The staff member who helped us was really friendly and gave us a good tutorial on Mezcal. I really learned something. I also ended up making a purchase I wasn't planning on. Something that happens when sales people treat you with respect and know their stuff. I kept thinking about that Prickly pear brandy, which would make an excellent gift for the person in my life who love Mezcal. So I was delighted to know they deliver. Definitely recommended for the cocktail aficionado and those who love them. read more

Quite amazing that I haven't reviewed Cask yet, it's literally half a block from the office and it holds one of the best whiskey selections in San Francisco. If anything the biggest problem with Cask is that the selection is so vast I sometimes find myself being overwhelmed (I'm not complaining). Cask is well decorated and you almost feel like you're actually entering a barrel of whiskey as you walk through the doors. This is definitely the place to come if you're looking for some good Manhattan ingredients, or if you're looking for some 18 year old Jameson (my personal favorite) read more

Five huge stars from the biggest booze nerd EVER. Seriously. Beautiful store, helpful staff. It's booze nerd heaven to the max. What else would you expect? It's Rickhouse's sister store. read more

How did I walk by here so many times over the years and never venture in??? I really have to question that one. Maybe I WAS actually on the wagon and I just don't remember. Anyway, I finally made my way inside, and was very pleased to find an enormous selection of specialty liquors that would normally be reserved for a much larger location. I purchased a bottle of sipping tequila for a friend of mine, who was very pleased with the selection. I also noticed that they had Redemption rye, which I really like. The prices were fair. By example, the same tequila I bought for $75 was seen later that week at Dean and Deluca in St. Helena for $90. Cheers to Cask. I will be back soon. read more

What's even better than a liquor store? A liquor store with employees that really know their spirits. Luckily, Cask is exactly such a place. We came for a bottle of hard-to-find brandy, but the lady behind the counter was quickly able to inform us that we probably wouldn't be able to find it in the area (though we could order). However, she had tons of recommendations and helped us find a good alternative. Their selection of hard liquor is unique, but unfortunately their beer selection is not too extensive. On the plus side, they're in a fridge, so you can just grab one and enjoy it right after buying. Concluding: Cask is a decent liquor store with a knowledgeable and friendly staff. If you need a nice gift for somebody who knows their whiskey, cognac, etc., pay Cask a visit. read more

It's perfect for the alcohol aficionado or the casual taster. They have ALL KINDS of spirits and rare mixers to enhance your cocktails. They also have wines, sake, and bar tending tools and books. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and well priced, especially for the quality and location. Could you get some stuff cheaper at BevMo? Of course; but that's like comparing WalMart to Nordstrom. read more

I love Cask. Amazing collection of excellent whiskeys, scotches, gins, and especially of the harder to find liquors and bitters, which you are hard pressed to find anywhere. The store is wonderfully laid out with so many delicious looking bottles -- only go in with a set amount to spend or you will likely walk out with a empty wallet. The prices are great on some items and a bit too high on others, especially the more big name ones -- I'm looking at you WhistlePig. Of course, if you just want the basics then BevMo is likely more competitively priced, but you won't find the selection. Not really sure why some complain about the service. I've always found the people that work here helpful and knowledgable. read more

As a visitor to San Francisco and someone who is staying at a nearby hotel, I was eager to find a upper- bracket spirits shop where I could find some unique and hard-to-find goodies. To my delight, I found Cask! I was delighted by this place in a number of ways. First, they have a beautifully arranged and faced storefront, furnished with nice wood accents throughout. Personally, I appreciate the aesthetic. There a few other stores in the area that have a small selection of fine spirits, but there are few with class like you find at Cask. Second, the employees are very relaxed with their customers. I found this to be nice, mainly because other fine spirit shops I've been in had overbearing enployees breathing down your neck about helping you. The employees were also very helpful and polite. Most importantly, their selection was incredible!!! I haven't seen such a rare gathering of Single Salt Scotch in years. Especially the bottle I bought: Bruichladdich Octomore. Where I'm from, I simply cannot find this anymore. I was soooo happy to find it! I felt that the prices at Cask were also fair as well. I personally don't mind paying the extra buck to local and small businesses. However, it wasn't much different here price-wise than big stores. Thanks guys! read more

Great selection of whiskeys and other spirits. Knowledgeable staff. This place is a treat to shop.

Came here to pick up an online order and man was I impressed. Their selection is ridiculous and the shop itself looks very classy. Pricing is a hair above what you can get if you really search online but the fact that you can drive to Cask and see these rare bottles pretty much makes up for it. In a place like this I'd expect the salespeople to be snooty and uptight but I found that the two saleswomen I encountered to be very friendly and helpful. If you like whiskey and scotch and are looking for a rare treat, look no further than Cask. I really can't wait to find another excuse to stop by! read more

This is my favorite place to buy whiskey. Their selection of whiskey is very large, well-organized, and varies slightly over time as they get new items in stock and sell out of old ones. I hear their selection of mezcal is also quite extraordinary, but that's not my thing. The folks that work there really know their whiskey, and I believe they taste almost every whiskey they buy (unless they get a small shipment). If you have any questions about a particular bottle, they should be able to answer it. Prices on low- to mid-shelf stuff aren't as good as places like Bevmo, but you don't come here for cheap booze. read more

Over the past week, Yelp has flagged and removed one review and one photo. This can drive a man to drink. Come here and consult the experts who will navigate you to that perfect bottle of brown liquor for that special friend. A few of the staff even work at nearby "secret" bars the require passwords and are more than willing to share their favorite cocktail recipes. read more

I want to go to there. I walked in and felt like a kid in a candy store or an adult in a porn store. I was shaking in my boots because I wanted to buy everything. Luckily, I had gone there for particular ingredients for a cocktail recipe and found some self control. No better place for all your high-end cocktail needs. I had recently gone to a big box "discount" liquor store and the prices at Cask were comparable, if not only a dollar or two different. Everything is exquisitely displayed and artfully labeled. My liquor of choice these days is Scotch, but I'm still a connoisseur. The sales person (possible one of the owners) was knowledgeable about the different types of Scotch from the different regions. She was also able to offer different bottles based on varying price points. Now I know where to get my friends their birthday presents. Who needs candy or porn anyway. read more

It's a small space but judiciously stocked. I go here for newer-release gins and hard-to-find whiskeys. The co-managers (the Two Amandas) know what they are talking about, and will set you up with an elite spirit. If you know, for example, that your friend like "Scotch" (a meaningless term, in the abstract), they'll ask specific questions to find you the right stuff. This is harder than you think. Imagine you say, "I like gin." Well, what do you like about gin? Do you like gin with a floral hint? If so, they have a blend that tastes like rose peddles. Just toss it in a martini shaker and *maybe* add some lime zest. If you like dryer gin for tonics or martinis, they'll steer you to another blend. That sort of knowledge is what makes going to a brick-and-mortar store worth it. Sure, you may pay a few more bucks than ordering line - but you'll almost certainly leave with a new favorite brand that you'd never have discovered. Cask is highly recommended for those who drink alcohol because it's awesome and tastes great - rather than those who take "shots, shots, shots" to get drunk. read more

As I've noted before, I've got a thing for good scotch. Today on my way to the muni (bleargh) I decided to give this place a try. Of course, I am utterly spoiled by the Whisky Shop (up Sutter, folks) both in selection and service. This place just didn't send me. The selection was good, but nowhere near as breathtaking. The service? No one said hi to me, and when I asked someone to get a bottle down they didn't even speak to me, just grabbed it and brought it to the counter. So if, like me, imbibing large quantities of the water of life is your thing, skip this place and walk a few more blocks up to Sutter. read more

I'm usually too lazy to leave reviews unless the experience was horrible or fantastic. I am leaving one for Cask because they are AWESOME! Everyone lists the great selections you can find here. And if you can't find it, they'll still try to help you out. I generally stop in now and then to see what they have in stock. But I went in yesterday to pick up a(nother) Nikki Yoichi 15 yr. Had some small talk about my first bottle of Yoichi w/the wonderful young woman at the register, and she totally went above and beyond for me when she rung me up (I know, I'm being vague, but for a reason)! I was so shocked! They will definitely continue to have my business! In fact, I may stop by again today to see what else they got! read more

I really love this store- from the interior design to the hand-stamped tags. The staff is very knowledgeable and they have something for everyone, within all price ranges. I recently purchased a bottle of Orangerie, an orange infused whiskey, and a tray to make round ice cubes. A gift certificate at CASK is my standby for those hard to please, highly discerning friends. read more

Went hunting for a bottle of scotch for National Scotch Day, and this place fit the bill. They have a great selection of not only scotches by different regions, but other libations as well. Ended up with a bottle of Mortlach 15 year old, as recommended by the sales associate there. It was his favorite, with notes of savory beef broth, something that grabbed our attention. Odd as it sounds, this bottle did not disappoint! (although I did not taste any beef broth, more on the caramel and spice notes) They also have a collection of some awesome, well-made bar tools and glassware which I will have to make another trip! read more

Some places really deserve their five star averages. It's not for the selection -- the selection is huge, but that's what you expect from a place like this. It's for the selection PLUS the prices PLUS the customer service. Prices are often competitive with big box chains on items both carry, and the staff is very very knowledgeable and willing to talk about any of the sections in the store. They sell large-market bottles, but their specialty is in things that are more esoteric and harder to come by. Besides spirits, they have premium mixers, many different types of bitters, and a very limited wine and craft beer section. read more

Wow! What a selection! I am so glad this place opened, finally. I've been walking past it, watching it get built for months, and tonight I got a chance to check it out. The staff seems very knowledgeable, as expected. I mentioned to the guy working there that I love Jameson's, Bushmills and Powers, and he directed me to Redbreast. I'm right now enjoying my first glass and it is AMAZING! Prices seem average for what they've got. The low-end you could find cheaper at Bev-Mo and Trader Joe's, but that's not what they're about. The high-end, well you can't find this stuff anywhere that I've seen. Very highly recommended, but for the whiskey drinker, it's mandatory to check this place out. **Edit 11/21 I bumped up to five stars. I've been here now twice buying and both suggestions were new to me. Both have been amazing selections, and not that expensive. Hell the last bottle was under $30. Kevin was extremely helpful. read more