Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquors

BEER
This is a great place for unique beers. Al, the store associate, is probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever spoken to in DC; oh, yeah, and he knows *everything* there is to know about different beers and will help you find things you didn’t even know you liked. I’m partial to Flanders brown and red ales and American wild ales, and I’ve consistently found them here when in season (e.g. Duchesse De Bourgogne, Cuvée Des Jacobins, Liefmans Goudenband, Weyerbacher Riserva, Rodenbach Caractère Rouge, Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red, Monk’s Café, etc.). They pretty much always have ¾ of those I listed. You can also find pumpkin ales in early Autumn (Schlafly, Shipyard, Pumpking, AleWerks, etc.), and lovely styles like Avery Brewing Company’s Liliko’i Kepolo and Professor Fritz Briem’s 1809 Berliner Weisse, the latter of which I’ve been buying every week for half a year. Of course, in the winter — or what amounts to a DC winter — they’re stocked with HefeWeizens and Stouts.
Keep in mind, they also have lots of spirits and wines, but I’ve found Scotch here to fall between $ 2-​$ 5 more than, say, Calvert Woodley’s prices (sometimes more, sometimes even). HowEVER, the much better customer service is something for which I don’t mind paying. This is also DuPont– you’re going to pay out the butt-​hole, but it’s absolutely worth it to find a gem like this in *weh weh weh* DC. I waited 3 years to post this review and they’re still deserving of 5 stars.

I used to walk in here once a week. This is an extremely small store, about the size of a dorm room that is packed to the gills with wine, liquor, and beer. Beer selection at first looks very poor, but this place has some sort of crazy distributor relationship so that they receive orders of special release bottles. However, you will not find the special release bottles on the shelves. You need to get on their mailing list and it is first come, first serve basis to arrive and snag bottles from behind the counter. The prices can be a little steep, but this is definitely worth stopping by to pick up a special large format bottle or refrigerated six-​pack. The couple who runs the store is wildly nice– super awesome people. If you want something special ordered or want to be on the mailing list, you will probably have to find the beer buyer for the store, who may be in the back.
Once upon a time they actually used to have a kick ass sandwich store inside (yes, it was the size of a dorm room closet), but they got rid of it years ago. Sad face.

Couldn’t speak highly enough of this place. Their beer is always fresh and they always have things that are hard to get. Plus if you ever are looking for something they don’t carry, feel free to ask them. They go out of their way to help out.

I only got to Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquors on my way home from Dupont Metro. It doesn’t have the beer selection of many liquor stores and it is a bit on the pricey side.
However, it does get the job done and it is right on my walk home, so I do end up frequenting it more than I should.

This rather small shop gets one point for friendliness, five points for excellent selection, but loses a point for presentation (very messy, many bottles exposed to direct sunlight), and loses two for very very prices. Maybe obscenely high.
As an example, I found Talisker Storm elsewhere in the city for $ 35. On average it’s $ 65. Here, it’s $ 100.
Even worse, the Fee Brothers Orange Bitters I bought in the grocery for $ 8 was on sale here for $ 50 (!!!).
Clearly they cater to the trust fund set, who like their booze obscure and expensive. But the selection is, indeed, very good. It’s too bad the pricing is out of control. Back to my regular haunts…

I came in here on Saturday of my trip to DC for some beer to take back to my room. I still cannot get used to buying beer from a liquor store. But then there are certain states you can buy liquor in a supermarket (not in New York) I picked up a 6 pack of 12 oz Coors light which was $ 6.99 plus tax (no coin deposit). I was asked if I wanted a bag. I declined since I learned my lesson from earlier in they day. I had a shoulder bag and put the beer in there.

They have a great selection of good beer and, especially for being in DuPont, great prices. The staff is always really eager to help out and give recommendations. While I don’t always agree with them I do appreciate how thoughtful they are.

For the immediate liquor stores around Dupont Circle, this one is the best if you are looking for wine and don’t want to over pay. They have a fairly decent selection with fair prices.
The only downfall is they seem to close earlier than the others.

Nestled in Dupont is a very small shop, which seems rather ordinary from outside until you step in.
Connecticut Ave hosts a real impressive selction of beer and spirits. Prices here though are a little expensive, but on the beer and spirit side there are items here that I don’t find anywhere else in DC.
On the spirit side, there are obscure spritis, like Swedish Punsch, the odd obscure Italian Bitter. There’s a good variety of whiskey here as well, particularly the bourbon selection. Anitca Vermouth, a variety of Cognac’s and Armagnac not just the run of the mill Remy and Hennesey stuff. Even some various Sakes.
Then the small beer selection is what sets the store apart. Because of DCs beer rules you can self import. Here on occasion you will find a variety of craft beers from all over the US that are not normally sold in the DC region. They will be slightly pricey, but some of them are real gems when they show up.
It’s a place worth checking out and Al is a great guy who can hook you up with anything you need. A great go to stop, or easily a nice place to go pick up something special.

I don’t buy alcohol. I don’t drink. Why am I reviewing this place?
Because it is the only place I can find that carries Uncle Jerry’s pretzels!!! The best pretzels ever!!!
Thank you, Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquors, for carrying these! Please don’t ever discontinue them!
P. S. Your alcohol & wine selection looks nice & of course your location is perfect. Highly recommended!

This is one of the smallest wine shops I’ve been in but they really do have EVERYTHING! Location is convenient, service is great and the prices can’t be beat! Best of all, we haven’t had a corked bottle yet!

Carol W and I were in the neighborhood and had some time to kill before our dinner reservations, so we checked out Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquors. CAW&L is a small shop, but it packs in a lot of quality within a confined space. The wine selection is excellent with representatives from each country, region, and varietal. I came away especially impressed when I saw a bottle of one of my favorite wines, Radio Coteau La Neblina Pinot Noir, which up to this point I had only seen in very good restaurants. Their selection of spirits was also excellent with an extensive selection of small-​batch bourbons and single malt scotches. Most important to me on this visit, I discovered that they carry Legendre Herbsaint, a key ingredient for a truly authentic Sazerac. I had not found this anywhere else in the DMV. CAW&L’s prices are a little bit higher than many of their competitors, but they’re not out of line. It may not be the place to go for commonly found spirits, but I have found few area liquor stores that carry as many obscure or hard to find items as Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquors. It’s at the top of my list for my spirit shopping needs!

On a recent four-​day «weekend» getaway to D.C., my hotel was nearby, so I stopped in here a couple different times in order to purchase a total of eight bottles of wine (split between me and a friend, of course).
I’m typically not a hotel sort of person, it’s too anonymous for me. I’d rather sleep on a friend’s couch, then show my gratitude with a plethora of wine or gin or scotch. But, since I don’t know anybody in D.C., I had to get a hotel room. And since this was all very last minute, I spent a little more than I originally anticipated, so what better way to save money than drinking indoors rather than at expensive lounges or bars.
The selection here is pretty decent. The markups do seem to be rather steep, but thankfully, they also have a large variety of low-​cost options.
The people who work here are all rather friendly, and very welcoming.

Don’t let the size fool you. This place is a pretty good example that big things come in small packages. BIG variety & yes BIG price tag.
It seems as though this tiny little neighborhood liquor store has gotten a bit big for its britches… but you are definitely paying for the convenience and selection.
For me it all boils down to the fact that I can run in grab top shelf libations and White Chocolate Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream and leave WELL equipped for a fun filled night in under 5 minutes. Thats enough for a solid 3.5 stars in my book.

Cheaper than 1 West Dupont Circle Wine And Liquor which is 2 blocks away, but doesn’t have as wide of a selection. Aisles are kind of narrow, good place to come in for a quick bottle of something and then run out. I’d come here first for something basic and run across the street for something special.

You have Zaya rum, which is heavenly. But your markup is ridiculous.

My local liquor store. This place is great! The staff is very knowledgeable about beer and wine, and will special order hard-​to-​find items for you. They have occasional wine tastings, which are fun to stumble on while beverage shopping for a Saturday night party.
The place is pretty tightly packed, so you often have to squeeze past other customers to shop here, but given the great location and huge selection, it’s no surprise. (Also — I haven’t tried the sandwiches, but I’ve heard they’re pretty good.)

I eat here almost every for lunch, its across the street from my work. Its one of the few things I look forward to on a regular basis. The sandwiches are delicious, and the smiling faces of the people who work in the deli always cheer me up. Oh, and as far as price, most of the sandwiches are $ 6 – 7.
I can’t comment on the wine and liquor, as I’ve never bought either here. Just the sandwiches.

If you’re looking for a good bottle of wine that is still affordable, then Connecticut Ave Liquors is the place. I stopped in this place one day after work looking to get some beer and I ended up discovering a liquor store with a great wine selection.
The obvious main drawback is the severe lack of space in Connecticut Ave Liquors. It becomes very annoying when you are trying to pick out a bottle of wine and still keep out of everyone’s way. There was this European guy that worked there, I think he had a German accent who was very helpful and recommended me some great, affordable Austrian and Itailian wines. They have a nice mix of domestic and imported beer too for such a small place.

3.5 stars
There used to be a long hair guy here — he was awesome — totally knew his wine — and was very nice as well. 1 part deadhead and 1 part vinophile make an interesting combo.
I think the 2001 Shirvington Shiraz was 99 points — you couldn’t get it anywhere except for brookers that charged 3x retail (at a minimum) — well he got 3 bottles and sold one to me at retail.
The place is the size of a closet — and his selection per square inch was probably the best in DC. Since he left the place’s selection has suffered a little, but it is still one of the best places in the neighborhood to pick up a bottle of wine.