Classes are tough, the economy is bad, life is hard. But drinking is always good. Unfortunately in recent times, we’ve have seen our drinking habits suffer due to Columbia’s war on fun and the economy’s war on our wallets.   When a bar tab on any given night out easily runs upwards of $25, the simple solution is to buy in bulk.  That’s right, skip the bar and go straight to the liquor store for a handle.  Think how many drinks you can make and how much money you can save by purchasing a huge fifth of Jack Daniels instead of seven watered-down cocktails.  

Like bars, however, all liquor stores are not created equal.  Today Bwog on a Budget brings you a rundown of the most affordable and most expensive liquor stores in the area.  To determine the valor of each liquor store, Bwog compared the prices charged for a fifth of Jack Daniels, 750 ML size of Smirnoff vodka, a bottle of Yellow Tail chardonnay and a magnum of Robert Mondavi merlot.  Admittedly Bwog is no enologist; the wines were selected because they are prevalent and relatively potable.

 

International Wines and Liquor

Broadway between 113th and 114th Sts

Sure, International is convenient and user-friendly but the prices are high. To make matters worse, their ID policy is unpredictable.

Smirnoff: $19

Jack Daniels: $25

Yellow Tail: $9

Robert Mondavi: $16

Uptown

Ramon A. Jimenez


3139 Broadway at 123rd St

Ramon’s got a pretty decent selection of cheap wine, but no Mondavi and no magnums.  His pre-chilled wine selection is not terribly extensive. Also it’s a bit of a walk.

Smirnoff: $15.99

Jack Daniels: $24.99

Yellow Tail: $7.99

Wine and Liquor Authority

574 W. 125th St between Broadway and Amsterdam

The store was just renovated and staff is eager to help.  But their cheap wine section is small.  Most bottles cost between $14 and $20.  Liquor, on the other hand, abounds in all sizes and varieties. That said, the prices here are not worth the walk.

Smirnoff: $15.99

Jack Daniels: $24.99

Yellow Tail: $10.99



Amsterdam Liquor Mart


1356 Amsterdam Avenue at 126th St

The wine selection here is very small and the overall atmosphere is less than classy.  Think lotto machines and plexiglass barriers between the customer and the cashier and liquor.

Smirnoff: $15.00

Jack Daniels: $23.99

Yellow Tail: $8.50

Downtown

Polanco Liquor Store

948 Amsterdam at 107th St

The shoddy appearance of Polanco would lead one to assume it offers cheap prices.  Don’t be misled.  Despite of the plexi-glass and the proprietor’s leering eye, the wine prices are high.

Smirnoff: $16

Jack Daniels: $26

Yellow Tail: $11

Robert Mondavi: $16

Riverside Liquor Store

2746 Broadway between 106 and 105th Sts

Riverside has tons of liquor and a large selection of cheap wine and pre-chilled white wine.  The walk is not terribly far.  And there’s no plexiglass here so the sketchy factor is relatively low.

Smirnoff: $15

Jack Daniels: $24

Yellow Tail: $7

Robert Mondavi: $13

H&H Wines and Liquors

Broadway at 102nd St

Although this place has an extensive collection of cheap wines, the liquor stocks are paltry.  The staff is slightly peculiar and the merchandise is a little dusty…

Smirnoff: $15

No Jack Daniels fifths

Yellow Tail: $7

Robert Mondavi: $12



Roma Discount Wine and Liquor


737 Amsterdam Avenue at 96th St

It’s definitely a walk, but the prices and selection are worth it.  It’s not sketchy, but the interior is chaotic and it can be difficult to find what you are looking for.  Nonetheless it’s open on Sundays – a major plus!

Smirnoff: $12

Jack Daniels: $22

Yellow Tail: $7

Robert Mondavi: $12

Overall

Best Bet: Roma Discount Wine and Liquor

Best Alternative to International: Riverside Liquor Store.