Single-malt scotch whiskey source in DC

[scratchline]

I'm shopping for a special bottle as a Christmas present and wondered if there was a liquor store with an especially extensive selection of single malt scotches in Washington DC? Thanks up front for any tips.

[Mark Sommelier]

Are you looking for a particular whisky? The Wine Specialist at 21st and M St. has a good selection. If there is a special whisky you are looking for, it could take a week to get it.

[FunJohnny]

Schneiders on Mass Ave NE, near Union Station, although better known for its wine, has a decent selection of whiskey

[MMerrill]

I've sometimes found better prices on single malts in the Montgomery County liquor stores than in DC, when they're having sales. You can check on their web site for what's currently on sale. Selection is probably moderate.

[bmiller]

I'll second Mark's Wine Specialist suggestion and add Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits - although they're better known for the beer selection, they've got a fair number of infrequently seen single malts.

[Fred]

McAurthurs Beverage had a decent selection last time I was in. They had some Springbank and Glenrothes which are two of my favorites.

[mnebergall]

I agree with Slater, the Wine Specialist has the best selection in town. Can't vouch for their prices. However, they have a nice array of unusual and hard to find single malt, single cask, cask strength whiskeys.

[EllenH]

Just picked up a bottle of Bowmore 12yr. and Balvenie 12yr. Double Wood at Potomac Wine & Spirits on M St & ...30th? I think?

Anyway, small selection but decent -- yesterday they had a bunch of Glens, Lagavullin, Talisker, Laphroig, Tobermory, Tomintoul, Craganmore, Highland Park and probably a couple others I'm forgetting, plus the ones I got.

Edited December 16, 2004 by EllenH (log)

[jparrott]

  EllenH said:

Just picked up a bottle of Bowmore 12yr. and Balvenie 12yr. Double Wood at Potomac Wine & Spirits on M St & ...30th? I think?

Anyway, small selection but decent -- yesterday they had a bunch of Glens, Lagavullin, Talisker, Laphroig, Tobermory, Tomintoul, Craganmore, Highland Park and probably a couple others I'm forgetting, plus the ones I got.

←

Potomac is a real gem for lovers of the obscure--arak (for those of us who have gotten hooked at Zaytniya), Van Winkle Reserve Rye, Herbsaint (for Sazeracs), and much more. And Steve is a real mensch.

[Mark Sommelier]

The Wine Specialist has always been a good source for independant bottlings of Malt Whisky. These are much harder to find than the distillery bottlings like Glenlivet, Macallan, etc. Look for the single cask bottlings from William Cadenhead, Murray McDavid, Signatory, Adelphi. They are much more interesting and bottled in tiny numbers. The Cadenhead whiskys are bottled cask strength ( 112°-130°), so be careful!

[Sthitch]

The three best places I have found for Single Malts are (in no order):

Schneiders

Calvert Woodley

Central

[Gary Tanigawa]

Calvert Woodley and the Montgomery County stores have some good prices.

Central Liquor, Schneider's, and Wine Specialist have lists of their scotches and prices online.

[scratchline]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've already checked out Schneiders and tomorrow I'll hit Wine Specialist and Potomac. I'm leaning toward the Macallan Fine Oak 15 yr or the Aberlour abunadh but I'm curious to see what else is out there, particularly the cask strength. Thanks again everyone.

[Fred]

Scratchline-

The Abelour Abunadh is cask strength, however you may have known that.

Edited December 17, 2004 by Fred (log)