The moments to set aside the mixers and celebrate with a neat pour of something special are often harder to come by, and thus more meaningful these days. Ace has a wealth of high end bourbons and scotches for just such occasions, including rare releases from Kentucky’s most storied distilleries. Even better, Ace’s top shelves are graced by some of the scarcest bottles of cognac and armagnac available in the metro.  Shipping is available on orders of $60.00 or more (one could get there with alarming ease).

A boutique wine shop in the Near North neighborhood, Henry and Son also offers a small liquor selection curated for quality.  Focusing primarily on natural wine, the shop also features unique imported options for ciders, vermouth and sherry — often one of the first categories bartenders look to when building a drink. The staff is highly knowledgeable and passionate about environmentally conscious wines and spirits made by small producers, not corporations. Everything in this store is selected to the tone of a sommelier’s discriminating taste. Curbside pickup and delivery are available by phone. 

This shop might be called the palace of liquor stores in Minneapolis.  It features a wide variety of high-quality products across the entire range of spirits, even into the more esoteric corners of calvados, mezcal, and rum for which smaller stores often can’t make space. Navigating the multitude of options can be challenging, but the staff are more than capable as co-pilots on any liquid journey. Order online or by phone for curbside pickup, or for home delivery. 

Many of the most common spirits one would reach for to build a classic drink involve an expensive bottle to be poured from in small quantities. This post-prohibition grandfathered-in liquor and grocery store in northeast Minneapolis offers many of those same products at an often lower cost than can be found anywhere else.

Beside the many options for stores that feature specialty selections and curated inventories, Surdyk’s is a standby that will always have a reliable supply of every primary home bar necessity.  What it might lack in esoteric choices, it makes up for in sheer volume of selection and competitive pricing. Home delivery is available within fifteen miles of the Northeast store - a broader range than most. 

Boasting a massive bourbon and single-malt scotch selection, Zipps is a go-to for finding the right bottle to pour for a great Old Fashioned or Rob Roy.  It also features a strong selection of bitter amaros, one of the cornerstone foundations of the modern cocktail movement, and these are on special through the month of February.  Both curbside pickup and delivery are available.

A classic Mac-Groveland wine shop, Thomas offers a high-end spirits selection focused on quality across the spectrum. The small staff are armed with deep knowledge.  Offering an inviting, tight-knit atmosphere, Thomas has been a staple of its neighborhood for three generations.  Delivery is available through the Drizly app.  

Originally a dual-concept shop with highly curated wine and beer selections in separate enclaves, the Wine Thief and Ale Jail has grown over the years to incorporate a range of spirits that fits the same quality-driven approach.  Products are organized with helpful sensory descriptions that can lead curious customers to the right destinations based on their tastes.  Curbside pickup is available with online ordering coming soon.