I've been wanting to check this place out for sometime, so I read through the 50+ reviews and I'll summarize what some yelpers have already said. This place is owned by a husband and wife team, they do some demos on Thursdays, offer a rewards program and they have a great selection. They also have three locations, the largest being on N. Pleasant Valley Rd. I thought I would add some additional specifics and photos that add to the insight of this place. This place is in an old cinderblock building that is accessible from just one side of Airport Boulevard. From the outside, it looks like an old decaying convenience store complete with burglar bars and an ice machine outside. There's less than 10 spots to park at in their potholed small lot. Once inside, it's a whole new world. There are things here that you don't normally find anywhere else and they're not shy about spending big money on their inventory in the way of upscale wines and liquors. They make great use of the 1200 ft.² interior through great merchandising and selection. It's small, but it's packed to the ceiling with a very diverse offering. The wine selection is smaller than the liquor selection, but you will find wines from Serbia, Austria and Europe. They have Japanese whiskeys, soju, Dom Perignon, single malts, mixers and a handful of sherrys and ports. There's also a display case filled with bar instruments and accessories. Behind the checkout, you'll see one of the best selection of bitters that you'll ever see and they do offer single shot bottles. They have a good selection of cold wine, some seltzers, and even a decent yet small selection of local craft beer. Prices here are just slightly above the big box retailers, but they are not overpriced and everything is priced on top of the bottle. I did purchase two bottles of European wine and a bottle of Aperol. Unfortunately, when I opened one of the wines it was undergoing a secondary fermentation and some of the vintages weren't exactly current, so in future I'll stick with their liquor offerings. The photos and videos should be enough to get you through the door. read more

See all

If you know a lot about liquor, or nothing about liquor, this is your place. A distinctly different experience than both the big, shiny chain stores and grungy bodegas, the full wooden shelves give it a sort of homey feeling. This is where you go to find more unique bottles, get gift ideas, get recommendations from the helpful staff when you're uncertain, and stock up on some of the usual staples. They were literally the ONLY store in the city carry a specific martini kit I was looking for, and were able to point me directly to it right away. They know their stuff, and their stock. read more

This location has such incredibly knowledgeable employees. I'm always on the haunt for that something special and unique when going to a dinner party or having a special dinner at home. The selection of wines and other beverages is extensive and it's wildly fun learning about new wines and spirits. read more

Gotta love the Austin Shaker! Such a great local spot to grab wine, liquor, beer, and assorted bar items. There are a bunch of free parking spots out front, but if you live locally, you can just walk right over! My boyfriend has been several times over the last year or so and raved about it to me, so I finally went this week and realized what the hype was all about. Don't be fooled by the small, unassuming exterior. The Austin Shaker is stocked with high quality, artfully selected liquors and wines. The owners clearly have an eye for quality products and take great care in selecting what to bring to the store. We walked in and there was one other customer checking out. A friendly employee immediately came over to us and asked how he could help. He provided incredible recommendations, and we learned some new things about the wine we ultimately selected. Also, randomly, this place is dog friendly. They keep dog treats on the counter, which is a nice touch! We brought our sweet bernedoodle, and there was no issue! read more

See all

I always find exactly what I'm looking for and more here. The staff is always willing and able to help whether it's knowing exactly where to look for the one thing I need or helping me craft new cocktail recipes on the spot. They are always knowledgeable and able to answer any questions I have. read more

I heard about this place from my whiskey club and decided to stop by and see if I could get a few special bottles for my friends birthday. I was able to find everything I needed and more! They have a great selection of almost anything you can think of to drink! From bottles to cans and even gift bags to fit the bottles in, Austin shaker did not disappoint. The staff was helpful in finding the specific bottles I was looking for, and even helped me pack the bottles into the gift bag and remove the tags. I love the sign on the payment platform that says "don't hit on the staff", it's giving pro women and I love that for us. As the floor mat says, this is definitely one of the best little hooch houses in Texas. read more

See all

The staff is awesome here at this location! They do tastings or samples of other products every Thursday. I love the plethora of alternative spirits and enjoy the fact that they have SoCo ginger beer. Also I love the vibe of the place -- everyone is just there to help and is super professional. Sign up for the rewards as you get $5 credit every $100 spent! read more

Amazing store, only Austin can have such gems . They have a mix of everything, some amazing things I love to shop here is for bitters and the dried fruits for cocktails. Also their salt selection for margaritas is amazing as well. Stores like these are essence of what made Austin, Austin! read more

Who doesn't love the Austin Shaker? Great staple in the community and happy to have them in east Austin. The staff is very helpful and want to get you the perfect order each time. I'm impressed by this local store and happy to support them. read more

When I travel I tend to try and stop in a local liquor store and find a bottle of something local to take home with me. I saw that The Austin Shaker had great reviews so I stopped in one morning to see about getting a bottle. Fro the outside The Austin Shaker doesn't look like much more than your typical liquor store, however inside, they had EVERYTHING you could ever need. Great selection of liquor, great selection of mixers, and even hardware such as glasses and barware tools. You could pick up everything you need for just about any bar there! Great one stop shop. I asked the gentleman behind the counter if he could help me pick out something local, and he was happy to pull a few bottles and let me know where they were from and even give his thoughts on the ones he liked best! He was super helpful! If I lived in town this would certainly be my liquor store of choice based on my quick visit there! You will not be disappointed in the selection or service at The Austin Shaker! read more

Look, I'm not really much of an alcohol person - being diabetic type 1 makes it hard for me to enjoy anything that makes me lose my bearings - but anytime I meet anyone who is TRULY passionate about something, I love it. I LOVE IT. The people who work here knew what we needed as soon as we kind of, sort of described what we were looking for. They have an insane amount of products for such a small shop, and if you have questions - I mean, REAL questions - about the kind of drink you're looking for - this is THE place to go! You're definitely not going to get that at any of the bigger chain stores. Whatever you do, do it well. And if you buy with your heart, buy from this Austin original. 10/5 stars, no question. read more

This store has the most complete, and best, selection of high-end and specialty spirits of any store I've ever visited. I've been to many. I used to run a mobile speakeasy-style bar service that specialized in classic cocktails, and had to visit more than a half a dozen wholesalers and liquor stores to piece together everything I needed. Had this store been nearby, it would have been a one-stop shopping experience. They have literally every ingredient one needs to stock a complete, world-class bar. It's not hyperbole when I say this is the best liquor store I've ever visited. read more

Y'all I just went to Austin Shaker and had the best experience in a liquor store I've ever had. Adam led me through a small tasting (Mezcal) fitting my price range, flavor preferences, and more. He asked the right questions, gave personal insight, and presented me with multiple options. He even helped me pair it with bitters. I won't be shopping anywhere else in the area, such a rad experience! If you're in the area and are looking to expand your bar, this is the place without a doubt. read more

The Austin shaker is a tight little niche that serves our community on a regular have awesome shirts check them out ! great prices, friendly faces such as Adam who is always really helpful and he knew exactly what we needed read more

I have always been very happy with the service I have received at Shaker Airport, but the other day there was a cashier I had not met before who treated me terribly. When I asked to speak with the manager, he looked at me, smirked and said,"No." Luckily, I am familiar with the manager and she was within earshot, so I was able to call her over and ask her to explain to this person my point, since he kept cutting me off whe I tried to explain something to him. After the manager helped me, she went back to the office. The cashier stood there staring at me, my purchase was still unbagged, I asked him to please give me a paper bag, then he proceeded to throw my purchase into the bag so hard that it actually bounced back out again! Then he accused me of having a "bad attitude ". I have worked in customer service for almost 40 years now. If there's one thing I know, you NEVER argue, fight, accuse or threaten your customers. I love the Shaker store, but if I see that guy (tall, gap-tooth, nerd glasses, horrible attitude) I will take my business elsewhere. read more

What really does set this store apart are the owners David and Kiki. He knows all things about beer, locally and nationally, and she is a whiskey expert (and I assume other liquor expert). The inside is small, but there is 0 wasted space. Makes for efficient shopping when you can trust whatever you pick off the shelf will be a good buy. I've followed Kiki's recommendations on grabbing some of the locally based Kooper Family Rye Whiskey, and the Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey, both of which are excellent! They also have a cool supply of bar tools here, many of which are old school. You should probably get on their mailing list, especially if you are interested in special beer releases. A couple of months ago when The Bruery started distributing to Austin, David recommended trying their sour stout Tart of Darkness, and that too was amazing. Walking in here makes me feel like I'm hanging out at the barber shop of beer gossip. I found out last night that Oskar Blues bought Cigar City..meaning this renowned beer will finally be available in Austin! So basically if you want quality products or to get some knowledge dropped on you, swing by The Austin Shaker! read more

See all

Is it terrible this is on my way home? Nope! So happy to see a liquor store on the East side that doesn't just carry awesome products you actually want to buy but, you also don't feel like you will die walking in. Seriously though who knew this place was an operating liquor store prior to the new ownership and sexy outside face lift? I didn't and I wouldn't have ventured in. Luckily there are cool owners, Dave & Kiki! We stopped in to grab some necessary party drinks and ended up staying and chatting with the owners who are definitely some cool cats! They have an amazing selection for the small store front, have cold beer and they even deliver. I love that they don't sell anything that they haven't tried before. This really gives a boost to their product knowledge level. The pricing was really reasonable, plenty of parking and what's better than supporting local businesses over the big chain liquor stores? Nothing, so stop in to get your adult beverages and support local. read more

The Austin Shaker - Mixing cocktails for a fundraiser - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Austin, Texas

They have everything you could want, if not on Airport, at the other location. Airport staff very friendly and helpful; at the other place a little more blasé. read more

Amazing experience! We were visiting for a bachelorette party and they were super helpful. Adam was so welcoming and gave us great recommendations to get us set up for a fun weekend :) Highly recommend! read more

What a cool little spot! The guy that helped us couldn't have been nicer and had amazing suggestions! They have tons of specialty liquor and great craft beer options. Highly recommend! read more

The best liquor store, heck one of the best stores period, I've had the pleasure of shopping in. David, Kiki, Eric and the rest of the gang make everyone feel welcome and provide personalized service as if they're just your cool friends sharing the things they like and firing off suggestions for anything you could want. Go in with one thing in mind and you'll come out with a full bag of goodies, from liquors, to beers, to wines, to cocktail supplies and reference material. The prices are always on point and the sales staff will never upsell you, instead pointing to items at every price point. Just go. Even if it's out of your way it's worth it. Don't settle for a chain. Do it local. And hell, hit 12th and Chicon on your way home. The Shaker supplies a bunch of them too. read more

Great local liquor store. Great selection of liquor with all the basics and lots of liquors your won't find elsewhere. Not to mention the helpful and knowledgeable staff. Worth driving a little further for a visit for sure! read more

Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff with a great neighborhood feel. My only complaint is they ran out of strawberry Pop Rocks, and watermelon doesn't stand up as well to a bold red. read more

Excellent selection and customer service. I actually had a great time looking at the selection of rums and had a wonderful conversation with each of the employees there. Everyone was knowledgeable and passionate about liquor and which type to use based on type of drink that would be made and price point. Quarantine has really made us all spend more time at home and I'm sure we're all looking to make it out as experienced at-home bartenders so I came here wanting to look at their selection of rums and bitters and was blown away at all of the bar accessories they also had in store. I had been following several youtube bartenders and each time they made a drink you could tell they weren't using random kitchen supplies from college/hand me downs and I could tell that there is pride in their creation when you use the right tools. Fast forward to my trip here and I made out with a really nice Japanese made jigger, shaker, and cone shaped strainer. They had so much more and I'll be back next time. It's nice to be able to see supplies in person rather than ordering online. Sometimes you want to 'kick the tires' so to speak before purchasing. Highly recommend this place. You can tell they are passionate about what they sell, products are curated at differing price points and being able to see the actual supplies you can use to make drinks, in person was a huge plus. read more

Best beer selection in east Austin! Bonus: the owners are extremely inviting / friendly locals who give great recommendations. Looking forward to spending future paychecks here. read more

Awesome, curated selection. The staff clearly knows their stuff.

I typically shop at Total Wine and More in south Austin but they didn't have the Tempit Fungus mixers I needed. I went to the 2nd location Austin Shaker location on Pleasant Valley and I wasn't disappointed in the least. The staff was helpful and courteous. The available selection was excellent, as expected (This place was recommended to me by friends and family). I called in to make sure they had what I was looking for (Tempit Fungus creme de banane, cacao and menthe). They answered the phone quickly and sure enough they had all three. They also had all the rum's and other lovely aperitifs I wanted. Prices were reasonable. I could've paid about $3-5 less per bottle at total wine and more for most of the bottles I purchased but their price for the Tempit Fungus Creme de banane made up for it as it was literally $20 - $25 cheaper than the competition and far more convenient (Total Wine only had it in Leander and they didn't have the other flavors). Even without the savings, for a small premium it's worth it to keep places like this open. I'll be back. read more

Local. Liquor. Love. With a curated selection that seems to grow every few months as Austin Shaker is discovered by the locals -- I've never left empty-handed, always had an excellent recommendation from wine to whiskey, and continually explore the beer for the latest and rarest of selections. David and Kiki simply know their stuff, and the bar tools are just icing on the cake. read more

Austin shaker is an awesome, small, local liquor shop. They make the most of their small shelf space and carry only the best stuff. It's my go to spot for interesting bourbon read more

The best liquor store I've ever been to. Great depth of selection, knowledgeable+friendly staff, and it's immaculately kept.

So happy to have a liquor store that kicks ass in my neighborhood. This place is amazing! read more

The Austin Shaker - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Austin, Texas

One of my favorite spots in Austin to not only purchase booze, but they have the cutest/ best selection of glassware and bar ware. That's just the start... Kiki and David are the sweetest and most knowledgable people in the business. They are super accommodating and take recriminations for what you like, and if you have a question about ANYthing they will guide you in the right direction. I can't think of going to another family owned place other than this. They are the jam. read more

I'm so glad I stopped by on my way home about six months ago. It's charming and filled with affordable spirits of all kinds. The owners are smart and welcoming. The wine buyer is open to suggestions. Try it. It's fun with bargains. read more

Awesome beer selection AND harder to find liquors. Super friendly helpful staff and they usually do whiskey and beer tastings once a week which is always helpful to get my night started. A+ read more

Kiki and David are great! They have some very unique Mezcal that is unavailable elsewhere in Austin and they seem to have a finger on the Tex-Mez (Texas Mezcal) pulse. They were the only liquor store to carry any of the delicious Tosba Pechuga that passed through TX, and they are the only store in Austin that carried the Wahaka VdM special edition bottles. They carry Mezcalero brand Mezcal and they almost always have something we've never seen before. They're both super friendly, and they make sure that the Mezcal they carry is produced ethically and with the highest quality in mind. read more

This place is the best! We are brand-new to the area and just popped in one night after passing it at least two dozen times and the owners are extremely nice. They are former bartenders and definitely know their stuff. They have an amazing selection with unique and local options at prices comparable to specs or twin liquors. I love supporting local business and these guys will have mine from here on out. read more

If you like good beer, wine, or cocktails, go here. They stock really high-quality stuff and have been incredibly helpful every time I go in. You can tell -- these folks are really passionate about what they do, and they're genuinely excited to talk to you about the latest beers they've got. If you're looking for something specific, you may not find it here as they've got a smaller selection, but their selection is smaller because each beverage is hand-picked by the owners. Definitely would recommend! David and Kiki are awesome. read more

After driving past The Austin Shaker for nearly a year, my wife and I finally stopped in. Holy crap, we have been missing out. This is a beer and spirit connoisseur's paradise. The space is small but the selection is of the highest quality. I've actually never seen a store with this density of world-class beer and spirits. An added bonus is that they also have the largest selection of high quality bitters around. We stopped in on our way home from date-night about 10 minutes before they closed (thank goodness). We found out that they were doing a 12-day celebration of whiskey (my wife and I love whiskeys of all sorts), including tastings of select brands each day. Even though they were closing up, the owners David and Kiki, were extremely helpful. They pointed us towards an extremely unique gin for a good friend and were even able to scrounge up a bottle of my favorite sipping bourbon for a gift to my boss. We were able to complete our purchase before they closed. David and Kiki were kind enough to stay a few minutes late and geek out about beer and spirits. I will be back today for the next whiskey day (George Dickle), and to take some time to peruse their extensive selection of bar gear. They have everything you need to craft high-quality cocktails at home. I also noticed a few vintage bar tools that really need to find their way into my kitchen. I now know where my wife and I will be buying all of our liquor from now on. If you are a lover of beer and spirits, this is the place for you. The owners are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the products they carry. Go, say hey, learn something, and come home with a fantastic bottle of something tasty. Cheers! read more

David and Kiki are friendly, knowledgeable, and stock some of the best craft beer and specialty liquors in town. You can also get your typical Coors and whatnot, but it's probably better to come here with more adventurous tastes, just because you're bound to find something delicious. They also have some assorted glassware and bartending tools - it is a one stop shop if you are planning on doing a cocktail night. Let the proprietors be your guide and you can't go wrong. read more

I was looking for a liquor store to get a bottle of wine and I arbitrarily picked this store. Don't let the outside fool you with its iron grates. Dave and Kiki welcomed me in a very well crafted retail store. They are bartenders and their diverse clientele are all across the board. What I was impressed with is their dedication to the craft of their brands at all price points. An arbitrary decision turned into a memorable experience. read more