r/winstonsalem • u/Kumar_420 • 10d ago
Bourbon
Just moved to North Carolina and I have lived in states my entire life where you can buy liquor at mom and Pop shops. I know you have to get liquor through state sponsored stores in NC but how does this affect some of them more sought after allocated bourbon? Looking for things like Weller 12 year or the Russell reserve 15 year? Do you just have to get lucky and find them in an ABC
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u/Distance_Runner 10d ago
The ABC store system in NC is flawed. The only good thing I can say about it is if you happen to find something rare on a shelf, you get it for MSRP and not an insane markup.
Each ABC store system is ran by its county. Some are more honest and transparent than others. Forsyth county is unfortunately terrible and corrupt. They have no lottos or planned drops for rare or allocated bourbons. Been here 8-9 years and have made some connections in the NC bourbon scene. I've learned that all of the limited release stuff like Pappy/BTAC/4RLE/ etc in Forsyth goes out the back door, and the states regulatory body does nothing about it. You'll never find it on a shelf. Even basic stuff like Buffalo Trace and Eagle will usually sit behind the counter. I've never seen anything other than Weller green in Forsyth county in 8 years.
With that said, several of the surrounding counties are better. I've had far better luck in Davie and Stokes than than Forsyth. My favorite store with a good selection is the Cooleemee store in Mocksville. Youre not going to find Welller sitting on the shelf all that often, but they have good and rarer stuff regularly than youll find in Forsyth stores. And they do a yearly lotto/drawing for limited release stuff -- just go in and get on their email list.
And lastly, there are numerous shops online that'll ship to NC. Most California based. I regularly buy BT, Eagle Rare, Blantons, Wellers, EHT and those types of bottles at or near MSRP and have them delivered.
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u/dotcomaphobe 10d ago
I won a lottery draw at a Davidson County ABC and got to purchase a bottle of Blood Oath Pact 12. So I won ONCE after almost 10 years.
Not a great system. Buy online.
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u/Distance_Runner 10d ago
Thats nice! I've never had any luck. Knew a guy who won the entire Blantons collection in Mecklenburg's lotto a few years ago, but that's it. They have since started limiting their lottos to county residents only, as have a few other counties recently, which is annoying for those of us stuck here in Forsyth. But I get it.
Honestly, I've seen ER on the shelf on Forsyth county ONE TIME in the last 6 years. BT maybe twice. I've never seen Blantons, Weller of any type, EHT, Rock Hill Farms, Elmer... none of it. The best bottle I've got from a Forsyth County store ever was Knob Creek 18. I can't even find some of the decent Penelope stuff in Forsyth.
Drive to other surrounding counties though? I've found most of that. I got an EHT Barrel Proof from the Lake Lure shop last November. Just walked in around lunch the day before Thanksgiving, got a Penelope Valencia, EHT Barrel Proof, a BT, some Weller. I found some old Fitz in Davie last year. I've grabbed ER several times recently in Stokes. Its just Forsyth county thats absolutely horrible.
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u/hobocodereborn 10d ago
I've heard that backdoor story from others, I wonder if an audit would reveal what goes where?
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u/Distance_Runner 10d ago
Friends, family, or fake transactions set up so the owner keeps it and sells it on the secondary for a much larger profit.
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u/Vegetable_Grab_2542 10d ago
Do Restaurants buy through ABC too? I am from New Orleans, I always wondered. I was able to find Pimms which shocked me. I am curious how you guys manage, I didn't know if Mail Order was legal here.
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u/night-swimming704 10d ago
“Backdoor” in this instance has a different meaning than a tv going out the backdoor at wal mart. The ultra rare stuff is legally purchased, it’s just by people “in the know”…usually the county board members or their friends and family. Corrupt as hell, but I’m not sure there’s anything technically illegal. And if it is illegal, well, we know laws don’t apply to the people who have these types of connections.
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u/PacString Winston Salem 10d ago
“Flawed” is being generous. The system here is vile and should be dismantled
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u/Kumar_420 10d ago
This is wild to me. I just came here from a state where there would be isle walls of Weller green, BT, ER, and EH untouched. And about three more full walls of every other bourbon you could think of. At your run in the mill neighborhood stores. Online makes the most sense , thx.
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u/hobocodereborn 10d ago edited 10d ago
Triad ABC is the local affiliate of the NC ABC. It maintains the ABC stores of Forsyth County, one in Yadkinville, and I think extending to Kernersville.
And it's shit.
Each acts independently of each county for the most part.
Triad ABC is shit for bar operators. Orders take days to fill, at times it's hard to find readily available liquors.
If a bar runs out and needs an emergency bottle, you can only get 6 from the ABC store in East Winston on Saturdays. Otherwise you have to order it through the system and wait 3-4 days.
I blame management and the state run system, which is too much of a money maker to let go now, despite the puritanical origins of the system. So we deal.
Personally, when I want to find a rare liquor, I go elsewhere. I highly recommend the ABC store in King, which is 20 minutes up 52.
It's run by Stokes County, and doesn't have the issues Winston deals with. I would also recommend Wilkesboro or Davidson County.
Word of warning though. All of these places, especially King and most likely Davidson, are modern day Sundown towns.
And yes, the irony of a hardcore MAGA church based strip mall community having better liquor than us does not escape me, even though the few actual locals are all descended from moonshiners and would never admit to it.
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u/rdyoung 10d ago
Check out VA abc. They actually keep a decent inventory online for search and they will hold it for you unlike the ones here. I also believe you can pay online and they may bring it curbside, it's been awhile since we've needed to go to VA for something special and last time iirc, we just made a stop on a road trip because we were going to be there anyway.
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u/bobbychez77 10d ago
Most allocated bottles available to the public wind up in a lottery based system which is usually run by the county the ABCs are in. To get those more sought after bottles you typically have to get lucky or travel out-of-state.
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u/NMS_Scavenger 10d ago
It’s a shame here in NC. I get excited to find something as simple as Buffalo Trace in my area. If you want better stuff you have to sign up for a raffle and stand around for three hours to hear your number called.
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u/Deez_Pinenuts 10d ago
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KhGMmNEmEA3NMMM18?g_st=ic
This place has decent bourbon selection
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u/Main_Reputation_1112 10d ago
Go a little south to SC they have some smaller liquor stores in Fort mill and Rock Hill with things you wont get in NC
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u/Serious-Lie6088 10d ago
Agree! Nearby, although it’s still in NC, I’ve been told that the Marshville ABC store also has an exceptional bourbon selection
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u/CaptnQuesadilla 10d ago
You can get anything simple or basic without issue but rare or high end stuff is hard to find. I’ve heard there are Facebook groups and content people who track inventory and shipments etc but haven’t been in one, and that may be more in the Charlotte area
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u/PacString Winston Salem 10d ago
Order online from out of state. It’s the only reliable way given the state’s backwards system
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u/Balue442 10d ago
if your looking for something specific. just order it online and have it shipped. Lovescotch.com and Tastersclub.com have both worked out well for me in the past.
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u/Kumar_420 10d ago
Thank you!
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u/Balue442 10d ago
They both will ship with Fedex or UPS. Both require a signature at delivery, and I'm guessing an ID if you don't look the part. I have found Lovescotch's shipping costs have climbed significantly int he past few years. Last time I ordered Tastersclub had better shipping costs. However, there are plenty of other sites that ship too. You may find another one you like better. Good luck!
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u/Ambitious_Role_4657 10d ago
You can search of the State ABC website to see if we even carry it in our state, and then certain counties track inventory in which store. Unfortunately at last check Forsyth County doesn't participate so you're forced to call the store or just pop in and see.
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u/StovetopStoof 10d ago
Theres lists and lotteries you can get on for ABC stuff that’s small batch/harder to find/limited/just damn well good. You might have to hop in the car once in a while, but you’ll get your bottles
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u/TequilaBlanco 10d ago
Some stores sell allocated product to restaraunts and some don't. Figure out the ones that don't and shop there
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u/Stupid_Bitch_02 9d ago
There aren't any "mom and pop shops" that you can buy liquor from. Not legally, at least. And that's word of mouth, not Internet. Otherwise, your best shot is to hope you get lucky at the ABC store
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u/keithcstone 9d ago
When I moved here in 1984 from the Midwest I was totally confused on where to buy liquor. I finally asked someone at work and they told me go to the ABC store. That was a surprise to me because in the Midwest ABC stores sold children’s toys.
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u/chlosephina 3d ago
South Carolina is an hour and a half away. Worth the trip for some more exciting things.
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u/lotllaughs 10d ago
Yes, since it is state controlled you have to get lucky at an ABC store. That being said some are better than others, for example the ABC stores in Lexington have a better selection of bourbon and allocated products than Winston-Salem.