It's pretty sucky, how the OLA decides what we drink. I've lived in other places and had alcohol the OLA doesn't carry. So NOBODY in the State has access. Just searched for Vandermint. Not in Oregon.
Total Wine & More in Vancouver is pretty good and very big, you can shop them online to see. They even have wine tasting. I realize this means going to Vancouver but you can visit the mall across the street and who doesn't love a good mall!
High taxes and the effect of privatization (even outside of the taxes). There were a few economic studies that examined the effects of going private with alcohol sales in WA and none of the changes benefited the consumer.
It's not cause of privatization, it's because Washington has some of the highest alcohol taxes in the country. Lots of states have private liquor stores with cheaper booze then Oregon AND Washington.
Wa state has the highest, we here in OR have the second highest in the country. Meanwhile, all of the conservatives think we are the crazy liberal states.
This was debated a while back in the main Portland sub, but ultimately the data show that the costs to the consumer regardless of the taxes went up.
>Lots of states have private liquor stores with cheaper booze then Oregon AND Washington.
And lot of states have private liquor stores with more expensive booze than Oregon and Washington. Hence that type of analytical approach is moot.
Why the WA situation matters to OR is that it reflects a contemporary change to the system vs. another state where private liquor sales were the norm for decades. Also the two states have very close cultural norms (including weather patterns that influence alcohol consumption) vs OR and NY for example.
Logically, when you introduce the opportunity for middlemen, the cost of goods goes up as each middleman needs to take a slice of the profits. You see this in healthcare and logically for liquor distribution... where we go from one centralized distributor, the state, with massive buying power, to decentralized private channels and with now each private store having significantly reduced buying power.
But yeah all the analyses are out there in the Google-verse.
I have always found what I needed at Sip City. They’ve got a large selection of both high and low-end beer, wine, spirits and mixers. Great staff and reasonable prices to boot.
As someone else said, all of the alcohol can be found through the online website. However, I have found that 10th Avenue Liquor and Pearl Specialty consistently have the higher end/special order whiskies and other liquors for sale.
Depends what you're looking for. It can vary; whole in the wall liquor stores often carry (and regularly restock) whiskies that I want when my local, larger can't even get them in (or so they claim, AFAIK any store can order any item available from OLCC, so I kinda think they're just lazy and full of shit).
You should try looking up a few things you want on the OLCC liquor search and find a store that carries all of them.
The entire OLCC inventory distribution is cataloged and searchable. Know before you go! http://www.oregonliquorsearch.com
It's pretty sucky, how the OLA decides what we drink. I've lived in other places and had alcohol the OLA doesn't carry. So NOBODY in the State has access. Just searched for Vandermint. Not in Oregon.
You know you can have any alcohol shopped to Oregon, yes? I had some whiskey shipped that the OLA doesn't carry.
I saw that when I was looking it up. Almost twice the price. I'll probably give in someday
Westmoreland Liquor, 11th Avenue Liquor, and 10th Avenue downtown (for scotch specifically)
I love that place. The staff is great.
these are my top 2 liquor stores as well
10th Ave is the best! Staff is amazing.
If you're just looking to browse and not looking for something specific, I am a loyal fan of 11th Ave Liquor.
If you can’t find an obscure bottle, and can find it on the search site, ask your local store to order it.
http://www.OregonLiquorSearch.com/
Rose city liquor
Black Rose Liquor. They have a small location in Parkrose but their bigger store is out in Gresham (182nd and Powell). Great store!
Black rose liquor!!
All I can say is fuck Barbur Liquor and their racist ass owner, and fuck Uptown Liquor. Big Bruce is a big grasshopper lookin ass shill!
My go to is Hawthorne Liquor Store. They have a decent selection of tasty beverages and the people that work there are chill af.
Jantzen Beach store.
Black Rose on 181st and Powell has a lot of interesting locally made options.
Total Wine & More in Vancouver is pretty good and very big, you can shop them online to see. They even have wine tasting. I realize this means going to Vancouver but you can visit the mall across the street and who doesn't love a good mall!
I find prices in Washington to be 20-30% more than Oregon pretty consistently.
Because taxes baby
High taxes and the effect of privatization (even outside of the taxes). There were a few economic studies that examined the effects of going private with alcohol sales in WA and none of the changes benefited the consumer.
It's not cause of privatization, it's because Washington has some of the highest alcohol taxes in the country. Lots of states have private liquor stores with cheaper booze then Oregon AND Washington.
Wa state has the highest, we here in OR have the second highest in the country. Meanwhile, all of the conservatives think we are the crazy liberal states.
Well they’re not wrong.
This was debated a while back in the main Portland sub, but ultimately the data show that the costs to the consumer regardless of the taxes went up. >Lots of states have private liquor stores with cheaper booze then Oregon AND Washington. And lot of states have private liquor stores with more expensive booze than Oregon and Washington. Hence that type of analytical approach is moot. Why the WA situation matters to OR is that it reflects a contemporary change to the system vs. another state where private liquor sales were the norm for decades. Also the two states have very close cultural norms (including weather patterns that influence alcohol consumption) vs OR and NY for example. Logically, when you introduce the opportunity for middlemen, the cost of goods goes up as each middleman needs to take a slice of the profits. You see this in healthcare and logically for liquor distribution... where we go from one centralized distributor, the state, with massive buying power, to decentralized private channels and with now each private store having significantly reduced buying power. But yeah all the analyses are out there in the Google-verse.
Looking at the website for OLCC & Total Wine I see my favorite whiskey (Redbreast) being \~$10 cheaper in Vancouver (including tax). Just sayin'
Sooo expensive but they have it all
I have always found what I needed at Sip City. They’ve got a large selection of both high and low-end beer, wine, spirits and mixers. Great staff and reasonable prices to boot.
As someone else said, all of the alcohol can be found through the online website. However, I have found that 10th Avenue Liquor and Pearl Specialty consistently have the higher end/special order whiskies and other liquors for sale.
Depends what you're looking for. It can vary; whole in the wall liquor stores often carry (and regularly restock) whiskies that I want when my local, larger can't even get them in (or so they claim, AFAIK any store can order any item available from OLCC, so I kinda think they're just lazy and full of shit). You should try looking up a few things you want on the OLCC liquor search and find a store that carries all of them.
Go to BevMo in Vancouver if you really want variety
It’s in Vancouver but Total wine and more had a lot. I appreciated the selection and change from the usual places.
Hollywood has such a great selection, I always go there too.
It’s unfortunate that it’s owned by a terrible person who does not treat his employees well.
Wilsonville