While I continue to procrastinate on the post I want to write about the home nosing quick-class I did last weekend, here’s a series of pictures I took at the North Berkeley Andronico’s.  I had wanted to spend an hour or two at Philz Coffee, but didn’t want to pay the meter or look for parking, so I figured I’d park in the Andronico’s parking lot (naughty).  

So as to make my infraction less obvious to undercover Andronico’s security detail, I figured I’d saunter into the store quickly and make it look like I was actually shopping there.  My eyes immediately locked in on the wine & spirits section.  ”Hey daddy, what are you looking for?” they sung out to me.  So I sauntered over innocently and was immediately taken aback by the shelf set.  The spirits/liqueur/champagne section was a good 20-30 feet, and it wasn’t just filled with the regular supermarket fare — i.e. sour mixes, Absolut, Smirnoff, Bailey’s, Jack Daniel’s, Beafeater’s, etc.

I was actually very, very impressed with some of their selections.  The complete Hangar One range was there, in both 750-mL and 375-mL bottles, which I had never seen before.  Next to it were 2 Charbay vodkas.  They had Tito’s Handmade Vodka as well.

They had some great picks for bourbon as well, ones that I absolutely didn’t expect to see at a supermarket.  St. George Single Malt, Booker’s, Woodford Reserve, Basil Hayden’s, Maker’s 46, Old Potrero Straight Rye (Old Potrero!!! You can’t get that at a lot of specialty stores!), Four Roses, Bulleit Rye (new, and on sale for $19.99).

They also had Del Maguey mezcal, No. 209 Gin, Old Potrero Junipero Gin, Tres Agaves tequila and tons of liqueurs that was wasn’t expecting to see, like Lillet Blanc, Fernet, Aperol, etc.

What gives?  When did Andronico’s become a specialty spirits retailer?  Is it just this particular Gourmet Ghetto store, or is it all stores?  If I ever open my spirits store, remind me not to lease a place that’s close to an Andronico’s!

  1. bayareaspirits posted this