I believe that Benicia's newly opened Liquor/Wine/Lots of Other Stuff shop, "SIPS - The Bottle Emporium" sets a new standard for stores of its kind. I'd even call it the best in the Bay Area. I make that claim while fully acknowledging that I'm not a liquor/wine store expert. But I'll still go out on a limb and say that, in my humble, uninformed opinion, SIPS is unique.
(It previously was known as Sendsips when located at a much smaller, nearby location.)
SIPS has assembled a very extensive, outstanding collection of top-shelf liquors, along with some less expensive brands - and I'm sure could order you almost any bottle that it doesn't have in stock. It also has a very nice collection of wines and beers, including in refrigerated, walk-in rooms (the wine one even has a small waterfall) - and even including a small selection of "Benicia" wines it's had bottled especially for its home town.
But there's much more to this spacious store. There's a tasting corner, where my visiting nephew and I tried a few types of tasty El Tequileno Tequila the other day. A fellow sipper told me that it's well known in Mexico, but has only been marketed in the United States for a couple of years. It will have similar tasting sessions of other products on a pretty regular basis.
There are plenty of mixers and other alcohol-related products available, such as an Old Fashioned-oriented concoction and many more exotic options, for those who like to make their cocktails quickly and easily. I was tempted by the varieties of flavored, vodka-infused whipped cream, for instance, but held off (at least for now).
There are some non-alcoholic spirits on offer, for those of us who like the experience of a cocktail or other drink, but must abstain from booze or simply choose to do so.
There is a wide variety of soft drinks, ranging from the very healthy to the standard sugary.
There is candy - lots of candy, especially of the chocolate kind. For those who prefer their snacks on the salty side, SIPS also has plenty of those available.
There is a good variety of gifts and other non-liquid products, ranging from glasses to cocktail recipe books (e.g., Tequila Mockingbird). It even has pet-oriented items, such as a "Woof Clicquot" ("Pawduct of France") squeeze toy.
Last but for some not least, there's an indoor golf simulator at the back of the store. I guess golfers could practice their game there, then purchase a bottle of their favorite kind of alcohol (or again, non-alcoholic alternative) and repair to their own private 19th hole.
Again, I'm not doing justice to this great new addition to not just Benicia but the Bay Area. In addition to being open every day, I believe that SIPS offers delivery options. The store is well worth a visit, regardless of whether you're in the market for liquor, wine or beer. At least in my admittedly limited experience, there's nothing quite like it. read more