tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post6009575838303595841..comments2024-01-28T22:16:50.852-06:00Comments on Mr. Dilettante’s Neighborhood: Volstead is vanquishedMr. Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-3464865707916541832017-02-28T13:05:19.455-06:002017-02-28T13:05:19.455-06:00I'm not one to typically by booze by the case ...I'm not one to typically by booze by the case (even a case of beer) but I have been trying to learn more about wines and what I like. Turns out that while I have never been impressed by white wine, I like the robust reds like Cabernets, Merlots and Shiraz. (Not surprising since I also like strong, black coffee, dark chocolate and single malt scotch). I have the Vivino app on my phone that lets me photo a label in a store and within seconds it gives me a brief description of the wine, a rating of it by others who have bought it, and the average price per bottle. It beats buying wine because the label is pretty or the name is amusing. <br /><br />Through Vivino I have received email offerings on various wine deals; if the price is good I'll get a bottle or two. One of the vendors is an outfit called Dellar Thief and they had a year-end close-out on red wines left over from other promotions. If you were willing to buy a case of random reds that they would put together, they would sell it at about $8/bottle. They guaranteed these would be premium wines, mostly French and Italian. I uncorked an Itlaian red last night, described as a "Super-Tuscan" by the guide, and it was one of the richest and smoothest I've ever tasted. It normally retails for $25 - which is a price that doesn't encourage experimentation. <br /><br />I don't think I'd likely by beer by mail, though. I am much more specific in my tastes and like to buy beer (when I buy it) by season or mood. That said, if Prime Now really takes hold and starts offering beer deliveries in 2 hours I might just take them up on it. 3john2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05359114327414576258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-87104239285757344732017-02-28T12:06:11.304-06:002017-02-28T12:06:11.304-06:00volstead still lives in many parts of the country....volstead still lives in many parts of the country.<br /><br />in CA, you can buy anything just about anywhere, but nothing tween 2-6am. its quite the struggle.Ginohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09606046924332159076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-51500750944460919542017-02-28T12:05:52.152-06:002017-02-28T12:05:52.152-06:00Home delivery of wine or spirits is interesting--i...Home delivery of wine or spirits is interesting--if you're willing to spring for a couple square feet to store it, it can theoretically put your cost basis on a par with that of a liquor store. If it really takes off--if--we might see a fair amount of difficulty for the premium wine & spirits sections of liquor stores. Harder to do with beer, as it's got a shorter shelf life than wine or spirits and is heavier, but I could foresee a lot more "Dissolute Uncle Lou" shops out there simply because that's where they could compete.<br /><br />I've only been in a Wal-Mart liquor store a time or two, and suffice it to say that it gave about the same impression as the rest of Wal-Mart--lots of cheap wares. Better than "Dissolute Uncle Lou", but no great shakes.Bike Bubbahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08193546045614393425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-63824850941208250162017-02-28T10:11:43.738-06:002017-02-28T10:11:43.738-06:00My nearest Cub added a liquor store a year or so a...My nearest Cub added a liquor store a year or so ago. It has lower prices than the muni just down the street, or the Mom & Pop (actually, the folks behind the register look more like "Dissolute Uncle Lou") in the vicinity. <br /><br />On a related note, I took delivery of a case of wine at my front door yesterday. 3john2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05359114327414576258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-19669012887154061482017-02-28T07:54:16.368-06:002017-02-28T07:54:16.368-06:00A case in point. About a mile from my home we have...<i>A case in point. About a mile from my home we have a SAM'S Club with a separate liquor store next to a Walmart. They recently closed part of the parking lot between the two stores to build a Walmart liquor store. So now within the same corporate structure we have two competing liquor stores within 500 feet of each other. <br /><br />I've not been in either, but I'm guessing they both have the same products for sale. Maybe Sam's is selling in bulk while Walmart caters to the more discreet sizes?</i><br /><br />Huh. That's interesting. Walmart usually doesn't cannibalize its own sales. When they opened their new store in Roseville three years ago, they shut down a store in St. Anthony (about two miles north and west) that had only been open for about 7-8 years.Mr. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-42312449222275134952017-02-28T07:08:31.560-06:002017-02-28T07:08:31.560-06:00Just a small point on the grocery store and Target...Just a small point on the grocery store and Target comment. Here in sunny FL we are seeing exactly that as the pursuit of profit continues. <br /><br />A case in point. About a mile from my home we have a SAM'S Club with a separate liquor store next to a Walmart. They recently closed part of the parking lot between the two stores to build a Walmart liquor store. So now within the same corporate structure we have two competing liquor stores within 500 feet of each other. <br /><br />I've not been in either, but I'm guessing they both have the same products for sale. Maybe Sam's is selling in bulk while Walmart caters to the more discreet sizes? Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10361837738099549106noreply@blogger.com