Friendliness of liquor stores to rum noobs? - Tiki Drinks and Food

M mikehooker Grand Member (3 years) Austin Joined: Jul 17, 2014 Posts: 1211	M mikehooker Posted posted on Wed, Jul 13, 2016 1:14 PM In Austin we have two local chains, Specs and Twin, that have many locations, plus a couple Total Wines that recently opened. TW definitely has the best pricing but good luck even finding someone to assist you, no less have any knowledge of rum. I always stop in small mom and pop shops to see if there are any ancient forgotten bottles still laying around or maybe something I've never seen before that I'll take a chance on. Typically these type of shops value their customers more than the super high volume stores with disposable employees. On 2016-07-12 13:55, JenTiki wrote: So when you do find an employee (or better yet, a buyer) who really does want to help, make them your best friend, which might even mean having them over for drinks when they get you that special bottle you can't find anywhere else. Sound advice. I own a vintage/mid century modern furniture store and while out on a delivery a few months back I passed a cool looking liquor store in a part of town I don't typically frequent called the Austin Shaker. I doubled back to check it out. The woman working was super friendly, though the rum section was quite dismal. She admitted that rum was their weak point and showed me a suggestion sheet where they could try and order things people are specifically looking for. I jotted down a handful of things and went on my merry way, not thinking anything would come of it. A few weeks later I had another delivery in the same area so figured I'd pop back in. Not only did she remember our short encounter, she pointed out all the things they had just got in that I had suggested (Clements, BG syrups, etc)! Her husband was there too so we got to talking and I ended up spending an hour there. They invited me and my wife over for Easter. I brought over a bottle of Stiggins (something I had requested they carry that he was trying to get to no avail) so I could make them some daiquiris. We formed a friendship and they ended up sponsoring an after hours cocktail party at my shop in May. I've had them over for drinks. I get text messages from the owner when things like Stiggins finally arrived (and he just let me know Pussers Gunpowder is on the way). That level of customer service is rare these days. Sure, their prices aren't as low as the chains and box stores but I'll gladly go out of my way and pay a few extra bucks to keep an independent store that cares afloat.

In Austin we have two local chains, Specs and Twin, that have many locations, plus a couple Total Wines that recently opened. TW definitely has the best pricing but good luck even finding someone to assist you, no less have any knowledge of rum. I always stop in small mom and pop shops to see if there are any ancient forgotten bottles still laying around or maybe something I've never seen before that I'll take a chance on. Typically these type of shops value their customers more than the super high volume stores with disposable employees.

On 2016-07-12 13:55, JenTiki wrote:

So when you do find an employee (or better yet, a buyer) who really does want to help, make them your best friend, which might even mean having them over for drinks when they get you that special bottle you can't find anywhere else.

Sound advice. I own a vintage/mid century modern furniture store and while out on a delivery a few months back I passed a cool looking liquor store in a part of town I don't typically frequent called the Austin Shaker. I doubled back to check it out. The woman working was super friendly, though the rum section was quite dismal. She admitted that rum was their weak point and showed me a suggestion sheet where they could try and order things people are specifically looking for. I jotted down a handful of things and went on my merry way, not thinking anything would come of it. A few weeks later I had another delivery in the same area so figured I'd pop back in. Not only did she remember our short encounter, she pointed out all the things they had just got in that I had suggested (Clements, BG syrups, etc)! Her husband was there too so we got to talking and I ended up spending an hour there. They invited me and my wife over for Easter. I brought over a bottle of Stiggins (something I had requested they carry that he was trying to get to no avail) so I could make them some daiquiris. We formed a friendship and they ended up sponsoring an after hours cocktail party at my shop in May. I've had them over for drinks. I get text messages from the owner when things like Stiggins finally arrived (and he just let me know Pussers Gunpowder is on the way). That level of customer service is rare these days. Sure, their prices aren't as low as the chains and box stores but I'll gladly go out of my way and pay a few extra bucks to keep an independent store that cares afloat.

Post #766183 by mikehooker on Wed, Jul 13, 2016 1:14 PM