Yahoo Finance 7 alcohol delivery services to keep your wine, beer and spirits fully stocked
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
With restaurants and bars still closed or at reduced capacity all around the country as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, virtual happy hours have all but taken over as a regular part of our daily lives. In some cases, it may be the only socialization we’ll see all week outside of work! Needless to say, alcohol delivery has never been more in demand.
Get expert shopping advice delivered to your phone. Sign up for text message alerts from the deal-hunting nerds at Reviewed.
To help help you adhere to social distancing guidelines and curb any unnecessary runs to the liquor store, I've tracked down a list of places that will bring the booze to you. With these services, you can have everything, from your spirits and mixers to your wine and glassware, dropped off or shipped right your front door.
MORE:
Many of these companies are providing no-contact delivery to reduce any would-be risks associated with drop-offs. As for the delivery materials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that the virus is "unlikely to be spread from ... products or packaging" you'll likely encounter with these services and "is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads."
Here are eight popular alcohol delivery services, plus all the details on how they work and whether they're available for local delivery (note that many states have restrictions about shipping alcohol across state lines), so you can find the best service to stock your mini fridge for your next virtual "date" night with friends, your partner or even solo!
1. Drizly
Serving more than 180 markets, including most major cities, Drizly is an alcohol delivery service that partners with local liquor retailers in order to get your beer or cocktail in hand—and quickly. In fact, in some locations, it will arrive in 60 minutes or less! In addition to stocking your standard tequilas, gins, and the like, the company also allows you to browse ready-to-drink selections. That means you'll have a pre-mixed drink ready to go once your courier arrives. If you prefer to be your own amateur mixologist, Drizly will also deliver your mixers, ice and garnishes, so you can take care of everything in one shebang.
While you can typically count on the website to deliver your booze in an hour or less, the site is currently experiencing a surge of orders that’s causing delays, so note that your estimated time of arrival may currently be inaccurate.
2. Winc
Winc is a wine membership club that wants to help you to become a vino connoisseur. After taking a six-question quiz to learn about your palate profile, the company will be able to tailor a four-bottle wine box for you comprised of reds, whites, two reds and two whites, three reds and one white, or three whites and one red (vegan options are also available).
Prices begin around $13 per bottle, though new members will get $20 off their first order. You can also edit your box if there’s an included selection you don’t care for. Each month thereafter, you’ll be charged $60 for alcohol credits, though you can choose to skip the monthly membership charge or cancel at any time. These credits never expire, and you can use them to stock up with cases of premium wine or to pick up a single bottle of a new varietal you want to try. Note that shipping adds a flat rate $9 fee.
3. Postmates
If there’s one alcohol delivery service you’re likely already familiar with, it’s Postmates. Here, customers in select cites across the U.S. can peruse a selection of wine, spirits and beer from local liquor retailers in their area. Heck, for the $5 delivery fee, they’ll even bring you the lime for your tequila! While prices will vary by state, they start around $10 for a six-pack, which you can order through the company’s app or desktop.
Couriers are engaging in no-contact delivery in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the company has even set up a relief fund to help cover checkups and other medical expenses for any workers who might test positive. Workers suffering from illness will also receive two weeks of paid sick leave.
4. Saucey
While Saucey works much like Postmates, fulfilling orders that have been ordered online or through its app via local liquor stores, it has a slight edge in the variety department. Rather than ordered a standard case of Bud Light, for instance, you can choose anything from a single 25-ounce can to a 30-pack, with every size in between. You can also compare prices at different retailers, so you’ll be sure you’re getting the best deal on your order. There’s also no delivery fee or order minimum to speak of. The one drawback? The delivery availability. Currently, Saucey is only available in 23 major cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, and Washington D.C.
5. Flaviar
When the soft stuff just won’t cut it, Flaviar has got you covered. Billing itself as a “golden ticket to the world of spirits,” the company is a members-only club that costs $95 for a quarter or $300 per year, depending on your billing preferences. It offers “rare and mysterious spirits” for you to try at your leisure with one-off purchases of whiskey, bourbon, rum, gin and the like. You can also give these liquors a go with its quarterly tasting box. Inside each one, you’ll get three 1.5-ounce vials of booze, a concrete coaster and tasting instructions. As if that wasn't exciting enough, you'll get one full-size bottle of the liquor of your choice each quarter. The one dealbreaker? Shipment is only available in select states (see a list of exclusions here).
6. Wired for Wine
Have a taste for something… specific? If your run-of-the-mill wine selection simply won’t do, check out Wired for Wine, where you’ll find hard-to-locate and top-rated wine in just about every varietal you can think of. There's also a nice sake and spirits selection—you can even order bubbly for a Sunday morning mimosa! While you can buy items à la carte at reasonable prices, shipping is steep for single-item purchases (from $21.61), so you’ll be better off buying in bulk orders of six or more to nab free shipping.
A membership to the service is also available, with 12 bottles of red, white or mixed wines making their way to you in one-time shipments or every three months. You’ll want to note that shipment will not be available in certain states, however, as mandated by state regulations for out-of-state retailers.
Shop for alcohol at Wired for Wine
7. Cocktail Courier
Missing the way your favorite bartender mixes up your margarita? Check out Cocktail Courier—the next best thing to having a master drink maker come to your home to whip you up one. Simply order one of the site’s 30 available cocktail kits, which come packed with all the ingredients you’ll need to make servings of your beverage of choice for two, six or 12 people (though the latter probably won’t be of much use while you’re social distancing!). You’ll also get a recipe card with plus step-by-step instructions on how to perfect your drink from some of the country’s best bartenders.
While bar tools and glassware are not included, you can buy them separately on Cocktail Courier’s website to arrive with your order. You can even sign up to get kits on a regular basis: Weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscription options are available with a focus on your spirit of choice. While delivery is available to the 48 contiguous states, kit ingredients are fulfilled by local retailers, so it may show as unavailable if your preferred item is out of stock in your area.
Shop for alcohol at Cocktail Courier
Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Alcohol delivery: Find out how to get booze safely delivered at home
