Amazon is the go-to store for many items, but did you know the retailer currently sells alcohol in some cities/areas through its Amazon Prime Now service.
According to our research, there are (currently) 33 cities where you can buy alcohol from Amazon, although in some cases that might be just beer and/wine. It depends on state and local laws. Since the pandemic, delivery and shipping restrictions have been loosened in some states, counties, and municipalities.
(Picture: Maker's Mark is a staple pour we found available on Amazon where we were. See below where we ordered the 46.)
The 30+ locations are listed at the end of this article. Keep in mind though it can, and may have already, changed.
The other common denominator is that they are cities with Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh locations.
What bourbon do they carry
We spent some time shopping around on the site. We searched for bourbon and then specific brands. The bottom line is that (at least where we are) they have the bourbons that are readily available throughout much of the United States. You're (probably) not going to be very successful bourbon hunting unicorns on Amazon. The pours we found include:
If you click on those links and they do not come up, that's an indication it is not sold where you live.
When we searched, the results did not seem to be sorted like other products. Mixed into the results are assorted accessories and related items. We found these really cool items that we've already marked for gifts:
Whiskey Stones in Half Barrel Gift Set
Whiskey Stones Ice Cube Bullets
How are the prices?
Overall, the pricing seems comparable to your local grocery store. But some bottle have a delivery charge and some do not.
While it's Amazon Prime, the whiskey is delivered (like a pizza) not shipped, apparently from your local Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh.
The sweet spot for free delivery appears to be in the $30+ retail price range. If you are buying Evan Williams for $11.99, the delivery fee is $9.95. You're better off buying a couple more bottles. When we added three to the cart, it updated to "eligible" for free delivery but we did not finish the order. BTW, the larger 1.75 liter bottles did not seem to be available.
How it's delivered
As we said, it's not shipped, it's delivered. At the end of the order processing, it offers you two-hour windows, and you select one. You have to be home to receive it, and you have to show your ID.
We bought a bottle to test
We ordered a Maker's Mark 46.
The description: "It starts with fully matured Maker’s Mark straight out of the barrel. But then it takes a bold twist. We add seared French Oak staves to the barrel, and then finish it a bit longer in our cool aging cellar. The result is a 'whisky' with bolder, more complex flavors, but one whose every sip delivers the smooth, approachable 'whisky' that Maker’s Mark is famous for."
We ordered one to be delivered within a two-hour window. Here is the screenshot at checkout:
As you can see, the service (delivery) fee is free for the delivery window we chose (other options charged $4.99), tax has been added, and they are recommending a $5.00 tip for the delivery person/driver.
The bottom-line
If it's available where you are, and if you can get that "eligible for free delivery," it's a good way to buy a daily pour. In fact even with a delivery charge and the tip, it can be a good choice during these times. Frankly, we don't understand why the laws do not encourage home delivery. While the scourge of being home, drinking too much, can be a concern, you sure as hell don't want to be driving!
List of U.S. cities that Amazon delivers alcohol
Again, the list may change, and may already has. Another way to find out is simply to search for your favorite bourbon whiskey on the site, and see if it's available to you. Cheers.
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Columbus
- Dallas-Forth Worth
- Denver
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles / Orange County
- New York (Manhattan / Brooklyn)
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Nashville
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Portland, Oregon
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Sacramento
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Seattle / Eastside
- Tampa
- Virginia Beach
- Washington, DC
One wag at Colonel Bourbon remarked this was the "33 Club," a reference to the exclusive club of that name at Disneyland, the only place inside the park that serves alcohol. :)
BTW, speaking of Amazon, our exclusive t-shirts are not available (as of this writing) on that site. Shop our product pages for the coolest bourbon whiskey/whisky tees on the planet!
Cocktail recipe
Side note: In the Amazon's product description, they added a few cocktail recipe for the 46, including:
Maker's Mark 46 recipe
Ingredients
- 2 parts Maker’s Mark 46
- 1/2 part Coffee Liqueur
- 2 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
We found a video that initially reported the one-day delivery of alcohol, in San Francisco a few years ago:
(Published by ColonelBourbontshirts.com.)