Friendly service. I thought this place was closed. Nice to have a clean, organized & well stocked liquor store in the neighborhood

I am wondering if they are still in business. The parking lot is always empty. Does anyone actually shop there? I remember years ago when they were across the street and you could hardly get in with all the people buying cheese, etc. What happened? there was the great restaurant the dish shouldn't they be upgrading and going back to what they were at one time years ago? Too bad I would purchase things there. Although one time I went in and asked for elderberry Liquor or orient and I think they didn't know what I was talking about. read more

The cheese selection is excellent. The staff was really helpful and efficient. They also have a wide variety of wines and spirits read more

The RumRunner - Cheese counter - Cheese Shops Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We really only came here for the cheese. We were trying to put together a nice fancy board but it seriously lacked depth. Alcohol was over priced and probably won't be back. read more

OK, full disclosure: I DO NOT LIVE IN TUCSON. We were visiting this fair city for a few days when my son in Texas (home state) asked me to check around for some rare bourbons he has been trying to find. After calling 3-4 liquor stores and striking out, I called the Rum Runner. They had two of the bourbons he was seeking, but I couldn't get there until after six pm. I asked if they would hold the two bottles for me and they said, "Yes" then asked for my name to put them on hold. I got there late, just before closing, but they had them. My son was ecstatic! Great people here, great selection, and superior customer service. I won't be back until my next trip to Tucson, but the Rum Runner has a fan!!! read more

They are really great people here. I prefer their selection of spirits at RumRummer vs total wine or BevMo (and I go to total wine over BevMo!). I've been making drinks out of the aviary cocktail book and rum runner has better options for making drinks than total wine or BevMo. The prices at rumrummer can be better as well. For example, BevMo had the 375mL of yellow chartreuse for ~47.99 whereas rumrummer had it for ~32.99 (estimates based on my memory). The workers know their spirits really well here and they are very nice and helpful. I'd check here if you can before going to total wine or BevMo. read more

Great selection. Great prices! The people here are always friendly and ask if they can help us with anything.

I wanted small bottles of liqueurs to try them. Suppose others would go to a bar and order special drinks, but I wanted ingredients. Finally found them here! Broad selection. Very helpful staff. If I hadn't been so full from a previous meal, I may have spent more time looking at the food items such as cheese and candies. read more

This is the place to go if you want to find unusual spirits you might not find at other liquor stores. I'm not into wine, so I can't comment on their selection there. They also have some interesting food/candy items. read more

I called ahead of time to ask if something I was looking for was in stock the guy who answered (I think his name was Chris) maybe not was super patient and nice! I went in later and picked up some goodies, Great Kermit Lynch champagne and a great red for spicy pizza! Will be back for Mezcal! read more

The RumRunner - a bottle of champagne in a car - Cheese Shops Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Rum Runner is my other go-to local fine wine and liquor store in Tucson. It's conveniently located near my house. The prices and selections are better than at Whole Foods (which is basically next door). They have a broad array of wines and liquors, and have some cheered beer as well. It's always quieter here and much more open and airy than Plaza. Often it can be a few minutes before you run into a staff member. But I've always had good responses when I've needed to as a question or get a recommendation. Unlike Plaza though, I don't think you can buy beers individually to mix/match a six pack. They also just have less selection when it comes to beer. So if you're looking for a beer sampling, try Plaza instead. If you just need a six pack of something standard to add on to whatever else you're getting, Rum Runner can definitely do that. Rum Runner also has a cheese shop within it. And there is just something so delicious about wine and cheese dinner. We can go, get fresh cheese, new wine, crackers, spacy jam, and chocolate to finish it off and we're set to go! Rum Runner feels higher end than Plaza on first impression, but as far as what they stock, I think they are comparable. I feel like Rum Runner carries a broader selection, but Plaza carries more diversity and more unique things you won't find anywhere else. read more

What an amazing selection. The staff is knowledgeable, and always willing to assist. Great prices on hard to find wines. read more

Rum runner is the greatest little wine and spirits shop I've come across in Tucson. I would normally dock a star for their pricing but honestly I don't think I can hold it against them. It's a small privately owned establishment so how could They compete against those giant box office stores buying thousands of bottles to their 20? The guy who works there (sorry I forgot your name) is great. The couple who owns it is amazing. They have a great cheese section and their wine knowledge is that of a sommelier. Anytime I need something I will definitely try to go here! And recommend it to any of my friends. Don't go there if you want a 6 dollar bottle of vodka for jungle juice. Go there when you want quality products for an audience that will appreciate them. read more

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This is my favorite wine shop in the city. The wine and liqueur options are vast and you are guaranteed the best bang for your buck no matter your price range. The owners are fantastic & knowledgeable, and they offer stellar monthly tastings. I would highly recommend the aperitif section, cheese counter, and red wine selections. read more

I stopped here on a whim, decided to grab a beer to take back to my hotel. Glad I did. This place is cool. Liquor store that serves food and is staffed by some hip, knowledgeable cats. Too cool for a "How are you" when I walked in, just a shoulder-high flip of the wrist wave as if to say, "I'm here if you need anything. Chill." Lots of microbrews available by the bottle, great to sample if you don't want to spring for a sixpack of an unsure bet like "milk stout" or something. I'll have to hit them up another time for dinner. read more

Great store. Excellent selection of Mezcal and wine. Fun place to shop. Good customer service. Nice complimentary items such as chocolates, cheeses, nuts and assorted deli items. read more

I love this place. Good people, good wines, cheeses... it's a great place to get whatever you need for entertaining.

Whatever odd concoctions you want to make, the RumRunner is your go-to liquor store!!!

I really want to give this place more stars because it's local (support local!) but this place never jibe well with me. Every time I go in, which 99% of the time is because I'm crunched for time and that's the closest option, I don't feel very welcomed or invited. It has a lackluster atmosphere that inspires me to shop faster, not stay longer. When I'm browsing for liquor, wine or beer I want to feel like my business matters and that if I have questions, there is somebody knowledgeable to talk to. When I go here, I always know exactly what I need because there is so seldom a good sales clerk to talk to. The empty parking lot, and almost always empty store also doesn't help the vibe. read more

Great service, great selection of beer, wine and liquor. Staff very knowledgeable. Reasonable prices!

All I can say about this store and it's employees is WOW. What a great group they are for helping my son with his bourbon search and purchase. If you want an "outside of the norm" liquor, this is your store. read more

I love Rum so when I found out there's a place called the Rum Runner I had to check it out. I didn't know if it was a bar, liquor store or restaurant. (This was preYELP days). When I walked in & saw all the wine I was a little intimidated. Back then I hadn't been to a wine tasting & picked my wine by price divided by how pretty was the label. If the resulting number was less than1, I'd buy as long as the price wasn't above how much I had in my pocket. The intimidation began melting away when I was greeted with a smile and an offer of help. Then I saw the cheese/pate case. I had never had pate and was keen to try but was concerned about the price. While I was trying to decide if I could afford some pate and rum, I was offered a taste of pate. Too bad no rum tasting that day. Yum, Yum, the Salmon pate was HEAVEN as well as the others I tried. So, I took the advice of the counter employee and bought all of the ones I liked plus some crackers & matching wine. It was less than $50 and I had dinner for two plus leftovers. Date night was very successful! read more

Honestly, the staff was very snooty and pretentious. They redefine the term wine snob. Total Wines has the same wines without the snootiness. read more

Went here for the Saturday Sippers event posted here on yelp, there were 10 wines to sample a plethora of cheese, nuts, meat, chocolates, and people were around. I walked in and was in shock at the crowd it seemed to be real wine drinkers who knew much more about the beverage then a hobbyist like myself. The people were very friendly and the staff was very helpful. The first thing I did when I came in was take a slice of a italian peppered salame...it was heavenly. A spicy piece of perfectly cured meaty goodness perfect to wash down with a heavy zinfandel or shiraz. So I headed to the bar and grabbed a glass and began my tour of the days selections. There were 10 wines and I tasted every one they had, they give you perfect size pours so I wasn't drunk when I left but got a ample pour to experience each wine. The 4 whites consisted of a Pinot, a sauvignon blanc, and 2 chardonnay's; I liked the Pinot and the Sauvignon Blanc enough that I bought a bottle of the Sauvignon. The reds consisted of 2 Pinot Noirs a few other wines whose varietal were not listed a Zinfandel and a Shiraz. The reds were all good and the place was humming the whole time. It was a true tasting experience and for it to be free they really outdid themselves. Tip - They have this the first saturday of every month so put a calendar reminder in and check this thing out. I agree with other reviewers that total wine does have slightly better prices but they are also a warehouse, not a local business, and their wine tastings are nowhere near as well thought or put together. This place is nice albeit about 10% more expensive on avg for most wines then total wine. read more

This place is the wine cellar of the gods! Cool expensive liquors that make great gifts for dads, fancy candy from around the world, great staff that can recommend neat wine/cheese/food pairings, the whole nine yards. I would love any gift from this place (hint-hint). read more

Dismal service! The gentleman manager has a unique ability to make patrons feel uncomfortable and unwanted. Although I like the product selection, I don't plan on returning because of the rude, unhelpful, rushed manager. There are plenty of better independently-owned Tucson establishments that ACTUALLY appreciate their customers. If I find out that this gentleman is dismissed, I will gladly return along with my co-wokers that share the same sentiment. I welcome feedback from ownership: you can do A LOT better than this guy! read more

Began going to Rumrunner in Tucson at the recommendation of a friend and am so glad I checked out this local independent wine, liquor & specialty shop! I walked in & asked management to recommend a good wine $20 or under for a dinner with friends. Jen recommended 3 right off from $11 up to my max price point. I browsed the nicely laid out store, which has great specialty snacks, chocolate bars, condiments, spreads & a well-stocked cheese, smoked meat & pate counter. Ended up with a rich firm goat cheese and a slice of chicken liver truffle pate to add to the host gift. Has become my go-to for host/hostess gifts, & a few client gifts, as well! BTW - - their price point isn't that different from Total Wines, plus, the wine selection from off-the-beaten track areas is a differentiator, & Rumrunner's case prices are a good deal. It's easier to get in and out of than a mall parking lot & I can feel good about supporting a local independent business. Also recommend: their in-house bistro The DIsh. read more

Good selection and knowledgeable staff. It's a gourmet food store and can't compete with Total wines anymore than any small business can compete with Walmart. But you get cheeses and luxury food items from high end suppliers. If you enjoy unusual and not so unusual foods give them a look. read more

I rarely write reviews except when I receive exceptional service. I went into the store with a $250 gift certificate to buy wine for our July 4th party. I don't know much about wine which I explained to the owner. It was amazing the time he spent with me explaining what would be good. Not only did we chat about the wine but also the history behind the restaurant. Great owner, amazing selection (bought some great beer and vodka as well), and just a great experience. This will forever be my go to store! read more

My fantastic teammates and I attended RumRunner's Saturday Sippers event this past weekend! I was a little hesitant to go after reading some of the other reviews on here, but I am so glad that we went--we had such a fun time!! There was a decent-sized crowd there when we arrived, but we were able to get to the bar and begin the tasting. By the time we were on our 4th wine, the place was packed with a unique, fun-loving crowd! We were able to mingle amongst ourselves and then ventured out and spoke with more people. The shop staff were helpful, talkative, and just plain delightful--we enjoyed learning from and interacting with them! The wines were quite enjoyable and the provided snacks were a nice treat! I fell in love with the Double Cream "Gooda" that they were sampling and ended up taking some home with me. So tasty! This was such a fun event--we will be back next month! read more

I have to admit, this is not your typical liquor store. The selection is eclectic but unique, in a good way. You will find items here, from hard liquor to wine, that you simply cannot find elsewhere. It's also a much more inviting atmosphere than big box stores. Get to know the staff and become a regular. They know their stuff. Also, do yourself a favor and try some of their gourmet cheeses. read more

I've never been in the restaurant, but for years I've lived by this place and know it as a go to for specialty wine and spirits... staff is very friendly and approachable and seems extremely knowledgeable!! read more

Curbside service works great. If you call in the order ahead, it is truly contactless. Plus, this shop is really well stocked. They have things that are hard to find in other parts of the country, and I don't just mean good Mexican spirits... but I don't want to give away my best finds either :) I also found the staff really helpful when I was trying to make decisions over the phone. read more

I've purely come here just to purchase alcohol so I can't review the rest of the place- the cheeses, the foods. But I can say the RumRunner is a one-stop destination for finding so many kinds of fine spirits and beer, mixers and mixing utensils. You will find alcohol brands you never knew existed, shelves packed with whiskey, rum, Absinthe, wine. martini fixings, you name it. Cold beers await. A friendly helpful staff will find you what you seek. RumRunner is a classy place to get classy drinks of all shapes and sizes. There is no generic here- if there is, I don't see it! read more

I have been here a bit lately, and I must say I am a fan. They have a nice selection of beer and liquor, and Madre de Dios, the cheese and espresso. I like the prices, and everything that they have there. I have had encounters with two employees thus far. One, a gentleman, is awesome! They were out of something I was grabbing for my dad, but he was super helpful in trying to explain to me other options that were similar. He has also helpful in telling about other drinks I could make with whatever I am buying. He remembers who I am, is very friendly, and asks about whatever I bought the last time I was in to see if I liked it. I thoroughly enjoy going in to RumRunner when he is working, because I know that I will receive top notch service and help. But, the reason for the 4 and not five stars, there is one woman there who sort of defines snob. Every time I have gone in, I look incredibly grubby, because I have usually finished washing the dogs, cleaning the house, doing yard work, etc. Today I went in in shorts, a grubby tank top and a bandana. I was hoping the fellow was there. She has always cut off my sentences, tried to get me out as fast as possible, never asks if I need help, and whenever I go up to the counter to pay, busies herself with something else so I know where I stand in my lack of chic-ousity. Literally, this afternoon, I went in to grab some beer, and she didn't acknowledge my presence. Then, a woman walked in, looking fabulous, and she was all smiles and "Oh hello! Will you be dining with us, or are you just browsing?" I thought to myself, "really? Does grub make it necessary to give me second class service?" read more

After today I will NEVER shop at Rum Runner again, and I encourage others not to as well. Let me tell you a little story about a man (a relative of mine) who happens to be a wine collector. This man regularly shops for wine at Rum Runner to add to his collection because they tend to carry some of the wines that aren't carried at the big box stores like BevMo and Total Wine, and aren't from the vineyards he regularly visits & has relationships with. Today he decided to pay a visit and see what is new at Rum Runner. He was perusing the store for a little while, and indeed found about $300+ worth of wine that he intended to purchase but before he could, the owner, that's right I said OWNER, approached him and accused him of making her feel uncomfortable and asked him to LEAVE THE STORE!!! Keep in mind this is a well dressed adult man, not some teenager, or homeless person who wandered in off the street. He is also a regular, who has been purchasing wine, tequila and scotch from Rum Runner for several years. He never even spoke a word to her, or anyone else. He was merely shopping! Just because he was there for a while looking around DOES NOT mean he is a bad person!!! I refuse to give my business to a place that is so grossly judgmental to their own customers. It is really just Rum Runners loss. If you continue to treat your customers this way, you will continue to lose them! Have fun with that! read more

Super helpful and was able to help me put together a beautiful Christmas package in minutes. Created a loyal customer.

Don't know why this place is rated so good. While the wine selection is good the wait staff is rude and the food is way over priced. Don't feel bad if you leave hungry and like your wallet has been drained. I had the scallops and by scallops I mean two scallops for 16 bucks ! What an insult to a foodie. The wine was good but that's about it. My suggestion is to avoid this one. read more

This writer can't believe this store is still open. When located across the road the staff were lazy, rude, and sneering. Apparently this attitude followed to the new location. A place for people who know nothing about wine, run by people who care nothing about wine. Hint, Total Wines has the exact same wines at far better prices. read more

Rum Runner Wine and Cheese has an awesome selection of everything needed for a special party, gift, or anything else. I needed an expensive bottle of scotch for my husband at Christmastime and the people there were super-helpful and hooked me up with the bottle I wanted. YEAH! The staff was knowledeable and friendly, and I scored some awesome dark chocolates there as well. Wish I remembered the name. read more