1 West Dupont Circle Wine And Liquor

There’s no way this place should have 4 stars. I live around the corner and not only is the price gouging here terrible, the employees are gougers as well. I have more than once seen the employees try to stiff people with incorrect change on big bills. Enough times, and followed by enough awkwardness and debate when someone actually counts it out before leaving, that it doesn’t seem like accident any more. There are better store options staffed by less terrible people within walking distance.

How does this place have a 4 star rating? Come on guys/​gals! They are one of the worst price gougers in the entire city. Sure the selection is good if you just won the lotto and don’t care about price, but seriously go to any other liquor store within a 3 block radius and save AT LEAST 20 dollars per bottle on liquor.

Used them during our stay at the Palomar (up the street). Went in looking for some New Zealand whites, the folks were friendly, helpful, not pushy, and offered to get chilled bottles out of the back, which was appreciated.
The prices were a few dollars above average wine stores in Texas but it was expected considering the location. Overall very positive experience!

This place was great! Really good selection. I was looking for some small batch whiskeys and they have a lot of good brands. I was even able to find a great bourbon by high West whiskey, I have not been able to find that anywhere else in the city. Beyond just small batch whiskeys they had a wide range of beers to choose from. Though I am not a wine drinker, the downstairs area seem to have a very good wine selection. I would highly recommend this place the best liquor store I have been to in the DuPont area so far

I don’t know where the $$ designation comes from. When a store is charging $ 1600 for a whiskey that retailed at $ 80 a year ago, $$$$ is the right category.
I’m impressed by the selection. I understand a lot of whiskeys move very quickly because they’re a bit underpriced (and demand has gone up recently). So a little markup is expected. But when prices range from 2x up to 20x retail prices, for very recent whiskey, I can’t help but roll my eyes.
The store has managed to obtain a number of beers that are not distributed to the area, presumably by ordering them online or trading for them. The prices are sky-​high as you would expect: $ 100 for Dark Lord, $ 80+ for Hill Farmstead, $ 20 for Russian River Salvation.
Free market and all, man, but a fool and his money are also parted here.

They truly have EVERYTHING! Stop in and say hi to Prav. Great selection and prices and super helpful and friendly!

Four star selection, two star prices. I usually love giving props to any liquor store with a great liquor and beer selection (sup, Willetts and RR), but holy price-​gouging, Batman. If you’re made of money and can’t be bothered to shop around at other stores, by all means please pay more here than what a bar would charge you. They run out of inventory the slowest for this very reason, I’m sure. Compound that with the staff’s apparent lack of knowledge about their inventory and products? We asked for a particular beer and rye, both of which they cheerfully assured us they had, and then upon arrival they realized they weren’t reading the whole labels and had neither.

The selection at West Dupont Wine and Liquor is very solid and the staff is knowledgable and friendly. To be honest, I’d love to give this place a stellar review, but my God, the prices.
The prices are, in a word, ludicrous.
I’ve found that nearly all bottles range anywhere from 50% to a full 100% more expensive here than at other locations around the district, let alone the greater DMV. I suspect part of the reason their selection is so good is that the stuff simply doesn’t move off the shelves.
Not recommended unless you have serious money to burn.

What I think makes 1 West Dupont Circle a destination? Answer: the availability of some extremely rare and hard to find liquors. This place has the highest of the high end when it comes to selection. While walking by, I saw Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon just sitting in the window along with other rare brands of bourbon as well. I have never seen Pappy in the wild, so it drew me immediately into its clutches of walking inside. Inside, the selection is amazing. Its like being a kid in candy store… until you realize you need to be a trust fund kid to have this candy. Pricing is a bit high for the normal routine middle shelf (10−30%), but the rare stuff is off the charts (150%-infinity%). Its a great destination if you are looking to find something otherwise unobtainable and are willing to pay whatever the cost to get it.

My absolute favorite liquor store in DC. Their wine and beer selection can’t be beaten and they have everything else one could want. All their employees are absolutely amazing and so helpful. They also will deliver which puts them above 5 stars. Thanks guys! You’re the best!
PS check in on Unilocal and get 10% off ;)

Well Stocked … Absurdly overpriced!!!

You don’t go to 1 West for the price, you go for the incredible selection! So 1 West is a bit pricey, and I’m taking one star off for that reason only. If your trying to buy cases of beer or are outfitting a large party, your better off driving out to Total Wine anyway.
In most cases, however, your not buying 500 bottles of beer, your picking up a new brew your read a review of. that no other store carries. Or, a limited release rye whisky that 1 west somehow has procured a few bottles of… And they will have a few bottles, whatever your looking for. I’ve found special editions like, «Sazarac Rye,» «Midwinter night’s dram,» «Willet,» «Yamazaki,» and «FEW» when they were difficult to find elsewhere.
If you want a critically acclaimed liquor, this place has it The location can’t be beat and they have everything you could ever want. Furthermore, the owners really know their stuff and frequently bring in small batch distilleries to test incredible product. 1 West is very special… it’s rare to find a store so nice and committed to stocking the very best. They have a passion for what they do and I enjoy supporting that… even if it does cost a little more.

I go to 1 West because their selection of whiskey is incredible and they know what they’re talking about. However, their prices are insane. For certain bottles of rare whiskey they’re charging DOUBLE what other places across the US are. Kills me — but I still buy from them.

This place was a block from our hotel and had an amazing selection. Tons of craft and Belgian beers a full downstiars of wines and a chiller with champagnes. Prices were a tad steep for some of the champagne but I was on vacatopn.

I really wish I had read all of these reviews before I made my purchase from this store today. I was looking all over town for a limited release beer. When I found out this store had it in stock, I rushed over to secure myself a four pack. I shared my success with my brother, who told me a four pack normally runs $ 20-​$ 30. I paid almost $ 90! I was shocked.
Aside from the price, this store offers a wide variety of beers and alcohol. The staff is also very helpful!

Holy cow, this place must have known I was coming. Happened to be in the neighborhood and popped in to see what they had, now I’d say this might be my new go-​to bottle shop. The selection of rare and excellent American microbrews, especially in 22oz. and 750ml bottles, is outstanding, with a few good foreign varieties as well. Of course they placed them right by the front door so I’d notice them immediately. Walked out $ 80 poorer but with a sack full of beauties. They also do growler fills, a growing trend but still rare enough that it makes a place stand out, which means I’ll be back for more.

Should I start with selection is fantastic pricing is not or pricing is terrible selection is great?
I picked up a few beers that aren’t the easiest to find and asked about a certain bottle of whiskey. Unaware of the avg price for the bottle I was shocked when I learned I paid more than twice as much. MORE THAN DOUBLE.
Within an hour I had returned it and the employees looked sheepish, and I was polite as could be, but to charge me twice as much for a not stocked everywhere whiskey noooooo.
If you’re desperate go in, if you have the time to get to another store do so.

I had been searching for a local alcohol delivery place to send a bottle of something special to my BF to cheer him up after a death in his family. I ended up going here because: a. They offered a wide selection and had what I wanted in stock (and no one else did), b. Was set up to deliver (and also) as a gift (with accompanying gift bag, card, etc), c. Was extremely helpful in helping me accomplish this… as I am 2 hours north of DC, and d. Covered a larger span of delivery/​geography than their competitors, which was attractive.
The delivery situation was difficult due to the constraints of the bldg. my BF lives in (secured). I worked with Prav who walked me through step by step from day one… and when the delivery person was unsuccessful due to the security thing, Prav was *very* communicative and on top of things… which is appreciated so much.
Needless to say, MAJOR KUDOS to the delivery person and the teamwork. Just minutes after ending communication with Prav for the evening, I received a phone call from my ecstatic BF thanking me for the lovely surprise…
My BF’s bldg and his schedule made it difficult to pull this stunt off, but Prav was so patient and professional, not to mention the persistent delivery person (who really made it happen!) Deep appreciation for a job well done to the staff!!! Kudos!!! Cant find customer service like that anymore.
My *only* complaint is that they were on the pricey side, but after they turned my complicated situation into gold and considering how well they handled it, I would gladly pay a few extra bucks any day!
–Janae in DE

This place has a killer selection! I walked by on my way to grab a pizza to bring back to my hotel for my exhausted hubby, and decided to stop in for some beer.
They had a TON of cool options in local, domestic and foreign brews. I almost didn’t know where to start, but one of the employees helped me pick something nice and sweet for my fella.
I personally don’t like or drink beer, but they had quite a few apple ciders, including multiple organic options. I got a giant bottle of organic local cider for around $ 10– not as cheap as it would be outside of DC, but a decent price considering the crazy rent they probably pay for their storefront location right outside DuPont Circle.

They are GROSSLY OVERPRICED. Even the most glowing Unilocal reviews attest to this. Last time I sent someone there they charged $ 60 for a 750ml bottle of Plantation Rum (normally $ 20-​$ 35) and $ 16.95 for a bottle of Matua Sauvignon Blanc (commonly found in any supermarket for $ 7.99-$ 12). So we immediately went back with these outrageously marked-​up items and the receipt, only to discover their questionable store policy of charging a…
15% RESTOCKING FEE for all returns!
There is simply no reason to impose such a fee, since it costs them nothing to restock. It’s just bad business and quite possibly illegal. That is all.