It’s the strawberries. They make anything look good. ;)

I know you said it tastes so-so, but the the purty pictures sure make it look delish.

There are actually a pretty large number of places to shop, depending on what you’re looking for. The BevMo in Pasadena is the best, hands down, if you’re going to shop at a BevMo. They tend to be a great place to pick up liqueur and you occasionally get a great price on liquor (I’ve picked up a 750ml of Plymouth for $12 and a 750ml of Corner Creek bourbon for $13). They also generally have a great beer selection.

If price isn’t your major consideration, both Vendome Liquor in the Valley and Mission Liquors in Pasadena have some great stuff (Lemon Hart rum, orgeat and passion fruit syrups, Marie Brizard liqueurs), though they are pretty pricey.

Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa is mecca. If you can make a trip down there the selection and prices are generally great. Beverage Warehouse in Culver City has been recommended to me highly, though I haven’t been there yet. Topline in Glendale is also a great resource—they don’t have a regular inventory, just whatever they can get at a bargain, but they generally have a good selection of liquor and wine at very reasonable prices.

Otherwise, I check the liquor selection of pretty much every random shop or grocery I pass. You’d be surprised what weird things you find in hole-in-the-wall liquor stores.

Blair,

Thanks for the offer, but the Gun Club book is far down my list of books to purchase. I’ll give you a shout when I check the rest of them off!

Blair Frodelius
http://goodspiritsnews.spaces.live.com