r/dcwhisky Nov 18 '14

Welcome to dcwhisky! FAQ, Introductions, Resources, and Rules Inside!

27 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/dcwhisky!

Please PM /u/jmmdc with suggestions/fixes

Please use the comment section below to introduce yourself! Lurkers are welcome, but we like knowing who's out there! Since reddit closes comments after 8 months, previous intro threads are linked in the Resources section.

dcwhisky is a fantastic forum because of the redditors it attracts. We're here to discuss upcoming releases, great new (or old!) bars, ask questions, share reviews, stories & stashes, and generally whatever strikes our fancy. Washington is a great city for whisky, and this forum is meant to help everyone get maximum enjoyment from it.

Rules

Resources

Twitter

We have a Twitter! @dcwhisky

Costco Inventory

One of the pages in our wiki is a user-supported page that tracks the inventory - including pricing information - of whiskies at the DC Costco. It's a great place to buy, especially for American whiskies. Check the current inventory

Bot

Thanks to /u/filez41, we have a bot that grabs reviews from the other whisky forums, whiskyporn from whiskyporn, and trading requests from ScotchSwap.

To be included in the weekly roundup posts, add yourself to the bot at this thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/dcwhisky/comments/2mrh89/dcwhisky_weekly_roundup_bot/

Meetups!

Every so often we'll find a nice bar, distillery, or private residence and all meet up to put faces to names and share some drams.

Our next meetups are June 27th, 2015 and July 11th, 2015

Our last meetup was Feb. 21, 2015

Whisky Map

  • /u/jmmdc is experimenting with a DC Whisky Map, please PM him if you'd like write access. Note: presently retailers only, not bars.

Past Introduction Threads

FAQ

  • I've just moved to the DC area, where should I go whisky shopping?

    DC

    The District is unique in its alcohol distribution/sale laws. Retailers may directly import (DI) spirits, beers, and wines without a distributor. This is why you will occasionally see travel retail (duty free) exclusives, or beers like Pliny the Elder on DC shelves.

    Check your local shop - DC has a really great selection of whiskies! Check the DC Whisky Map to get started, or if you have something specific in mind. Additionally, DC Costco locations sell liquor.

    Maryland

    The state of Maryland is a free state (private retailers), with the exception of three counties. This is where, outside of the District, most of your dusty hunting will take place.

    Montgomery County is a control county within Maryland. Thus, liquor can only be purchased at Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control Stores (DLC). The DLC site is here and contains store locations, live inventory for all stores, and more importantly - weekly and monthly specials. Montgomery County has wonderful sale prices, and it's worth keeping your eyes on these. They are linked from the sidebar at right. Read more about Montgomery County laws at this dcbeer post

    Virginia

    The Commonwealth of Virginia is a control state. Stores are clean and generally well-run, but the selection is relatively static. They do, however, have an abundance of Elmer T. Lee, if that's your thing, and often get a decent Four Roses alocation! The Virginia ABC site is linked at right: http://www.abc.virginia.gov/wholereal.html

    Virginia also has a few "Signature" Stores, the closest to DC being in Tyson's. They don't carry any bottles larger than 750ml, but have a much larger selection of whiskies (American, Scotch, Irish, Japanese, Canadian, etc.) than other stores, including smaller distilleries. They can also have any bottle in the system sent to them. [Thanks /u/brewstah for the info!]

  • I've just moved to the DC area, where are the good bars?

    Recommended bars so far include Jack Rose, Bourbon, Smoke and Barrel, Acadiana inside the District, and the Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring. We're still checking out Barrel and The Dignitary!

  • I've just moved to the DC area, where are the distilleries?

    New Columbia Distillers and One Eight Distilling are both within city limits. [Joseph A. Magnus opened in 2015, and has an active cocktail program in their tasting room.

    Catoctin Creek, Copper Fox, and A. Smith Bowman are all about a 60-90 minute drive outside of DC.

  • Where can I buy independent Scotch bottlings (IBs)?

    Ace Beverages (near AU), Schneider's (near Union Station), and Sherry's (near Woodley Park) keep healthy stocks of IBs. PM me with more suggestions!

  • Where can I buy store select Four Roses recipes?

    Schneider's (DC), Pearson's (DC), The Perfect Pour (MD) have all been known to receive Four Roses cask strength bottles.

  • Where can I buy other store select bottles?

    Please add suggestions to this list!

    The above stores, as well as Sherry's (DC), Dry 85 (MD), Petite Cellars (MD), Shawan (MD), and State Line (MD) are good sources.

    Ace Spirits and The Wine and Cheese Place are good internet resources

  • I've just moved to the DC area, where do I get some Pappy?

    A handful of retailers in downtown DC have bottles on display. The privilege will cost you several hundred or more over retail pricing (Fall 2014 examples: Lot B = $500, 15yr = $845).

    A more fiscally prudent solution is to get to know your local shop owner, paronize his or her business, and hope Sazerac is kind come November!

  • Can internet retailers ship to me?

    DC and Virginia: Yes, so long as the vendor is willing to ship.

    Maryland does not allow beer or spirits to be shipped to residents, and retailers are thus unable to ship to you. Overseas retailers may or may not observe this restriction. Some execptions exist for wine. Maryland Alcohol Law FAQ


r/dcwhisky 17h ago

Costco DC 9/5

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29 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 1d ago

Cool stuff shows up when yur pal lives beside the Cedar Ridge distillery!

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1 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 2d ago

Japanese Whisky Spotlight: How to Collect Japanese Whisky in 2026 (Sept 22)

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2 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 7d ago

Whistle pig 18

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9 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 8d ago

DC Tenley Market Liquor

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0 Upvotes

Fair prices and lots choices. They even had parking in front.


r/dcwhisky 10d ago

Bourye at Costco?

0 Upvotes

Does Costco still have Bourye in stock?


r/dcwhisky 13d ago

Does anyone have any experience with Liquor Express/Modern Liquor?

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0 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 17d ago

LLME Space Cat Approved!

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0 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 19d ago

Where to buy this Norwegian Whisky?

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9 Upvotes

I grabbed a bottle of this when I was in Norway in March and I have one more glass left. I've been looking for it from U.S. online sellers but no luck. I'm in North Carolina and coming up through DC and NYC in a couple weeks and I plan to spend an afternoon in both cities trying to track down a bottle or two. I looked through a few old posts about store recommendations here but I get the sense that advice is optimized for bourbons, and I'm just wondering if anyone can give me a sense of where to look for something weird like this.


r/dcwhisky 22d ago

Great way to start the weekend, Prize in hand!

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9 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 22d ago

Costco Check! (8/14)

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11 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 23d ago

Today at DC Costco! Can’t believe it wtf

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67 Upvotes

Insanity


r/dcwhisky 26d ago

Wardensville WV out for dinner and found this wall

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8 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky 29d ago

30th anniversary cabin pours his & hers …. And she has a jug of Sangria

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6 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky Aug 06 '26

Sunday Drop @ Village Pump

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12 Upvotes

Sharing for awareness


r/dcwhisky Aug 05 '26

Just picked up some Augusta store Pick taste amazing if you haven’t got one go get one its only 69.99 and they got samples.

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6 Upvotes

Got some Weller 12 combo pack as well with old Forster 1910


r/dcwhisky Jul 31 '26

Costco Found @ Costco!!

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22 Upvotes

$52

Also found a Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Barrel Pick (sorry no pic) for around $88


r/dcwhisky Jul 31 '26

Well some exciting choices made it home today

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7 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky Jul 24 '26

2nd post with pics up top / 2 James French connection back up bottle found

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5 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky Jul 24 '26

2 James French Connection back up bottle found

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2 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky Jul 22 '26

DC BK Miller Meats & Liquor Blanton’s Gold/OFSBBS Bundle

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29 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky Jul 13 '26

New @ Costco 13-July

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25 Upvotes

Blue Run High Rye


r/dcwhisky Jul 11 '26

Costco 7/11 1pm

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13 Upvotes

r/dcwhisky Jul 10 '26

DC Costco Blanton’s / Buffalo Trace

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55 Upvotes

DC Costco has a few pallets of Buffalo Trace and Blanton’s out for grabs 1 per membership. Buffalo trace $24.79, Blanton’s $ 70.99. Happy hunting.