I've seen reviews saying that this store doesn't have the best prices on affordable whiskey, and that well might be true. I didn't even check - there's a Total Wine near me, Total Wine has the best prices on basically everything they stock, and they stock almost everything. But only *almost* everything. When I saw this shop on Google Maps, I decided to pop in to see if they had a couple specific bottles I'd been trying to get my hands on for literally the past year, that none of the Total Wines near me did stock - specifically, a bottle of any of the Octomore bottlings (hard to find because scotch that expensive and that overly-peated is a pretty niche market), and a bottle of the liqueur called Chareau (hard to find because it's still a fairly new product, and most of their bottles have been going to craft cocktail bars rather than to consumers). Octomore 9.1 was displayed prominently right in the front of the store, for $170 (well within expected price at the moment) - in fact, they also had 2 (more expensive) variants, out of the 3 currently being bottled (I went with the cheaper one, because $170 is still like 2-3 times more than I normally pay for scotch, this one specific bottle notwithstanding). I asked if they had Chareau, and 30 seconds later had a bottle in my hand (also a completely reasonable $25). Walked out of the store 3 minutes after I walked in, 200 bucks poorer but way happier. So yeah - Total Wine is probably a better bet for the common stuff, but this place is heaven if you're looking for more niche products. (I had to get out of there that quickly, or I would've bought more things I didn't know I needed... and not only did I not really have any more room in my luggage, I don't really have much more room in my home bar, either.) read more

Every time we show up here, people effectively ignore me. When we ask questions we met with massive attitude. I guess we don't fit the bill of people that belong in this place It's too bad because of their old spot. I bought bottles as gifts before a few times-but I guess now I don't look like someone there want to help making a good choice Really seems to be going downhill read more

Cask-master! These guys know their booze. They are some of the most knowledgeable liquor salesmen whom I've met in the Golden State. They run a tight ship around here. They have quite the deep selection of the weirder, harder to find, rarer stuff. They didn't have the complete collection of all the mainstream brands, but seemed instead to focus on more local liquors, of which they had a whole, whole lot. I was unimpressed with their beer selection. They had a small cooler of cold ones and some single roadies, but not too many to pick from, and the prices were pretty high. Where this store excels is the whiskeys and bourbons, of which they had a deep selection, and many hard to find ones. It's cool how the clerks all wear these leather smocks for their safety. read more

Great selection of unique spirits. The sales team really knows their liquors and are always willing to answer one's questions. David, in particular, was very helpful when there was a price discrepancy between their web site and the store shelf. He made it right when he did not need to do so, and I very much appreciated it. read more

With great food one needs great drinks. To make great drinks, one must have the ability to find great spirits. For a tiny shop, Cask has an impressive variety of great spirits, with a clear focus more on quality than popularity. One downside to a small shop might be finding what you want out of stock, but with knowledgeable staff who can make meaningful suggestions, you occasionally find something better than what you came in for. A great spot with very reasonable prices for exceptional spirits. All the friends I make drinks for give resounding thumbs up! read more

Cask - Fuyu Japanese whisky - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

A friend and I were going to a dinner party and needed to bring drinks. I grabbed two bottles of wine from another spot, but he wanted to get some liquor. I met him up at Cask on Friday, July 14th around 6pm. I wasn't really going to buy anything so I just browsed. They have a great selection of whiskey and scotch in the back in a display case. Make sure to check that out if you are a lover of the single and legal variety. (I like to say single as in single malt and legal as in 18+.) I love Japanese whisky and they have a The Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask for $3200. Too pricey for my blood, but if I was a baller, maybe I would get that. They also have more "affordable" bottles such as Yamazaki 18 ($500), Talisker 25 ($600), etc. I do think their prices are a little high though as the roommate bought me a bottle of Yamazaki 18 for $300 something. Maybe he got a deal on it though? My friend ended up buying a bottle of Monkey Shoulder ($33) and Bunnahabhain Ceobanach ($93). The monkey shoulder was for the dinner party and the bunnahabhain was for a birthday present. The person helping us was super nice and knowledgeable. My friend didn't know exactly what he wanted to get for the birthday present, so our salesperson was super helpful. He also told us they were currently doing a free whiskey tasting. After paying, we decided to check out the tasting. It was being provided by Seven Stills and included three tastes. I believe they were: Sea Farmer, Czar, and one other one I can't recall. I think I liked the czar the best as it was the smoothest. All the bottles had great artwork (I guess it's all local artists?) and the guy running the tasting was very informative. Made me want to go to Lawton Taproom where I guess they have all or some of their products. Great store if you are a lover of spirits. Though pricey, they have a good selection. read more

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This alcohol shop is so interesting. I mean, alcohol is a very bad habit and it's dangerous because of alcoholism. But this store is so different. I asked the counter person how they pick all this alcohol. He said the buyer is in charge and I'd say the buyer is really key here. They had a very selective alcohol inventory and it's like this museum or a collection that is so rare and fine. It's pretty hipster and pricey. It's located by Market near the museums. If you need a gift, it's a good place to get a drink gift. read more

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You know the saying, "She's been through the entire football team"? Well, I've been through the entire distillery plant, barrel-house, and then some. My final straw was when Mr. Hendrick's, Mr. Goose, and Mr. Patron decided to tag team on me at The Grand. I ended up doing some IwouldhavetokillyouifItoldyou unmentionables and woke up to to a very, very upset Mr. NSS. Needless to say, I severed all ties with the misters except for the bf of course. And then Mr. Fernet unexpectedly came into my life. I was in the midst of the Hershey squirts (stomach bug) and my friend suggested I try Mr. Fernet. At first, the taste was undoubtedly horrendously vile (like black licorice flavored Listerine) BUT it cured my bubble guts and I've never left Mr. Fernet's side since. Apparently I'm not the only one who loves Mr. Fernet as San Francisco makes up for more than 1/4ths of US fernet consumption. It's believed to cure anxiety, stomachaches, headaches and prevent aging (see article: http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-12-07/news/the-myth-of-fernet/full/). Seriously, I'm hooked. I'm a true believer of this mysterious herbal concoction and it's the ONLY thing liquor I will drink now (it doesn't give you a hangover but do NOT mix). Chase it with some ginger ale and you'll be all good. Wanting to spruce up variations of Mr. Fernet, Cask came to the rescue with not one, not two but 9 kinds of fernet! 9 KINDS: http://bit.ly/Wt8npu!!!! Most liquor stores don't even carry fernet. Even BevMo only carries one kind: Fernet Branca and charges $5 more than Cask for it. *one finger salute to BevMo* I walked away with two bottles: Mr. Fernet Branca and Mr. Jelinek Fernet (cinnamon flavored). I guess I'll be having a little fun with BOTH of the misters this weekend if you know what I mean *ahem ahem*. I know, I know....poor Mr. NSS. Good thing he has HANDgela and PALMela to keep him occupied! OTHER NOTES: *Friendly and very knowledgeable staff. *Part of the Bourbon & Branch, Swig, Rickhouse, Tradition and Local Edition team. *THE place to go to find rare liquors, wines, and beers. *Reasonable prices and cheaper than BevMo. *On-site engraving service which will make that bottle extra special for gift giving. *Delivery available but pricey at $20+ for ground delivery in SF. *Take public transportation. Most surrounding parking meters are for commercial vehicle loading only. read more

Cask - BevMo carries 1 kind of Fernet. Cask carries 9!!!! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

After waiting a damn long time, they're finally open. I had just gone to Bourbon and Branch and they hinted subtly that Cask was opening its doors. Lots of fine spirits and literature behind them. I peered endlessly at the racks and was visualizing how the money was bleeding out of my wallet. I was however strong since I just had tried 6 different libations at B&B. This is not going to last long however holding strong (ie I didn't drop coin for about 20 different bottles) but my 2nd round into the place is not going to be so pretty. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The folks from Bourbon and Branch will be bringing their own wine/spirits store. Open Soon in early 2008 read more

My roommate took me here today and I wasn't exactly sure what I was walking into at first. I thought she was taking me to a bar. Nope! She told me I would like this place, and she was correct. I was actually in the market for a new whiskey, single malt scotch. Walking in, I really enjoyed the decor of the place. All wooden and walls lined with alcohol. It gives you the vibe as if you were walking into an old 1930's saloon. They also offer wines, bitters, other flavourings, beers, and specialty hard liquors (rums, tequilas, vodkas). They have a lot of Whiskey's though, and most I've never seen before. I asked for some recommendations. I forgot the name of the guy who helped me, but he was extremely knowledgeable on the different Whiskeys. Well, I'm not very knowledgeable about the history and geographical brew sites, nor am I extremely familiar with the whole distilling process. He went on to describe the general character differences of whiskeys from different regions and also talked a bit about how the flavours differ slightly with the different casks and added flavourings. He helped me pick out a few whiskey's and I ended up going with the Glendronach 21 year. (He did ask me for a price range, and gave me quite a few options in that price range, but decided to go with one outside of my range). Overall, service was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Great selection of specialty alcohols. Highly recommended, and I will return. read more

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Cask is the store for the proprietor of the craft cocktail lounge. Any obscure liqueur or liquor or bitters is probably at this store. They have hundreds of different brands to choose from at decent prices. In addition, there are many professional supplies such as shakers, corkscrews, channel knives, and jiggers. I spent an hour in this small store just examining all the offerings. If you're looking for something obscure or stocking your bar to the max, you should stop here. read more

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A great place to buy a gift for a cocktail connoisseur. The selection is varied with many unusual choices. Their bourbon selection is interesting with many options. The bitters area is a place where you're almost certain to find something to buy. The barware selection is also engaging. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. read more

Cask - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was visiting a friend in San Francisco and Cask is one of her favorite bottle shops. After only one visit, I understand why. I took my time scanning the shelves, but my eyes were mostly surprised by the variety of mezcals. I appreciate the smokiness of mezcal but I had never seen so many kinds and brands. Our salesperson (a lovely young man who answered all my questions patiently and gave his opinion on a variety of items) explained the differences between the mezcals and why some were so expensive (usually based on how difficult it was to cultivate and/or age the agave.) My eyes also found a new variety of vodka - my favorite liquor. Barr Hill's vodka is distilled from raw honey and our salesperson (dang, I wish I could remember his name!) said that it's his favorite vodka. Cask had a 375 ml bottle available (for a mere $32 - ouch!), and I couldn't wait to wrap it in a t-shirt and get it home. The Barr Hill vodka lived up to the salesperson's hype - in scent and taste. It's delicious. Indisputably one of the best vodkas I've had. The initial taste of honey plus the burn of vodka was perfect. No wonder the 750 ml cost $58 (dayum!) (We bid adieu to Cask and based on the recommendation of the salesperson my friend and I went a couple of blocks up and had mezcal margaritas at Uno Dos Tacos, and they were delicious.) If I lived in San Francisco, I'd likely stop by Cask regularly to see what new yummy items they had in stock. read more

Impressive selection. A little over priced, but it's SFO. I got a bottle of High West Midwinters Night Dram for me and a customer. They had some great rare bottles. I come here every time I'm in SFO. read more

The last three times I visited Cask, including the last time where I bought a $6500 bottle of whiskey, is prompting me to write this review. Today was the most obnoxious experience I've ever had at any liquor store in my life. And I can thank Greg for it! I'm not even going to share how rude he was (and always is) because I'm writing off these stores forever. In fact, after sharing with my buddies how I was treated today, they ALL said the same thing. "I know exactly who you're talking about, and that's why I stopped visiting Cask a long time ago" Greg is probably the most unfriendly, disrespectful, POS I've ever encountered in this hobby. I've spent TENS of THOUSANDS of dollars at Cask over the past 6 years, and at no point has he ever been friendly or even knowledgeable for that matter. Just a condescending A-hole if there ever was one. There is no chance I spend any more money with these guys until he's gone. The Jug Shop, Ledgers, Royal, Maison Corbeaux, Healthy Spirits and Flatiron will be getting all of my business moving forward. Oh and by the way, ALL of those shops have better pricing and far better store picks than Cask. I used to recommend all of my buddies to visit Cask when in town but those days ended today. My suggestion is paying for Greg to take some courses on how to not be a dbag to people who spend good money, or simply fire him. read more

I went in to purchase a bottle of bourbon for a gift. The associate helped me was super helpful and made wonderful suggestions. They also helped me pick out some vanilla cherry bitters made by a local small business vendor. My friend was beyond excited about the gift (it was their favorite bourbon at that!) And they loved the bitters as well. Thank you so much for the Recs! I bought the four roses small batch. read more

A nice spot to find some good Scotch! The staff is friendly and it's a nice little shop. Not the largest selection, but what they have is good and there is a good variety. Worth a visit. read more

Great selection and friendly staff. Was able to find a selection of Buffalo Trace Kosher bourbons that are very hard to find, at retail price, to boot. Also have a few unicorns on the shelves. When I win the Powerball, I'll be back for the Michters 25! read more

Wow! In two short years I have become a brown drink monster! And Cask could very well be the genesis of my bourbon loving beginnings. But Cask is much much more than just a whiskey place. On a recent visit I picked up a bottle of sauternes for a good friend. And not only was able to find the perfect bottle, I was told why and given an in depth description as to why my friend would love it. The people at Cask are among the most educated on spirits and wine. They do a fantastic job detailing their stock and will lead you to that bottle that will have you singing. Then again after a few drinks of the cheapest wine will get me to belt out a few tunes. read more

The bitters selection alone made we weep. I'm not going to lie. I've got a thing for liquor and all its accoutrements. I can spend over an hour in a store like Cask. Actually, no. I am thinking of ways to set up camp here instead of at a hotel next time I visit San Francisco. Even if they won't have me inside, I can pretend it's 1925 (as I'm often prone to doing) and throw on the gutter snipe chic and call the sidewalk in front of it home for the week. No, that's not a threat, Cask! To give you an idea of the scope of this place: As opposed to having a full wall of different flavored vodka (what's with this horrific trend these days?), there's more love, nay, devotion, for the brown liquor: scotches, whiskeys, bourbons and of course, rye. Small batch? But of course. Rare? Uh, yeah. And then, there's the joys of juniper. So many never seen before labels for this gin junky. Absinthe? A selection of absinthe in an *Amercian* liquor store?! A not a bottle of that Lucid crap to be seen. Thank you, Cask. Thank you for knowing your customers have good taste. If I had been weeping at the bitters selection, I was lost in the throes of exquisite despair by now. Then there's the wall o' bar ware. Oh yes. That. I'm fiending just thinking about the muddlers and shakers. Lucky for us non-locals, there's quite a website to choose from. Cask isn't all about the product. This is the kind of liquor store you want to actually spend time in amongst all the wood and under the chandeliers, perhaps draped over that crude contraption that looks like a torture device, (but is most likely some kind of ancient mash tun). It's a far cry from the shops in Brooklyn where you still sometimes have to purchase your pint of swill from a guy behind bullet-proof glass. Well, I'd probably be at every tasting if I lived in the area. I. Am. Obsessed. No, that's not a threat, Cask! You had me at the bitters. read more

Perhaps it's Monday night and you want to start the week off right, so you nab a recipe for a cocktail called a Cadet. And let's say you need rye, Fernet Branca and benedictine for said Cadet. If you're anywhere in the vicinity of 3rd and Market, never fear: Cask is here! Should you require obscure liquor to fuel your cocktail connoisseurship, you will find it here. This should be no surprise - after all, Cask was started by the folks who brought San Francisco Bourbon & Branch! And in case you want to make your own Cadet, I've posted the recipe below. Enjoy! CADET 1 1/2 oz Old Overholt Rye 1/2 oz Bénédictine 1/2 oz Fernet Branca 1/2 oz Lime Juice Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. read more

Absolute excellent collection of whiskeys. Not recommended for 10:30am on a Saturday morning. Just no. We came here on a Saturday morning at 10:30am. I am not even sure if they're open at that hour, but they have a shockingly excellent selection of whiskeys, bourbons, and all things 40% alcohol and above. Without going into subsequent consequences of coming in so early, I will say they do whiskey flights & tastings, and have excellent staff and friendly patrons. This is your thing if you love whiskey! read more

I been working in this are for over 6 years and this place has been my go to... always greeted and welcomed when I come in by the staff. They recently moved on market st. Great location!! Saw a new guy I've never seen , he did not greet me (he was helping someone )#1, Two more men came in after me who he did not greet as well (mind you he has looked at everyone coming in) #2. One of the two guys that came after me left after not being serviced for a while. In the mean time I found the bottle I wanted and proceeded to put it on the counter. He then finished up with the customer. Common customer service is to help the next customer that walked in since I assume he was alone. He helped the caucasian customer before and looked pass my bottle that I placed on the register counter. No acknowledgment saying I'll be right with , if I'm fact he thought the other guy came in before me . Nothing..... very disappointing because I gave the place a lot of my hard earned money. I walked out saying "thank you for all your help" He said "your very welcome" I won't be going back 16 days later and no response here or via email after I expressed concern to them. To my black ppl and people of minority, think twice before going here. You know what I mean. read more

Beautiful store. The design is great, the selection is good. The staff, however, where unhelpful and unpleasant. They were 'smug and uninterested,' as the bf put it. We were visiting from a place that didn't have anything close to their selection, so we were ready to buy the stuff we couldn't get at home. The staff were not interested in talking to the bf, answering his questions, or helping him find what he wanted. I actually hung back, thinking that my average, uncool look might be holding him back. But despite his tattoos and hipster attire, he couldn't get any help. Somehow they managed to get some bottles of Stranahan's snowflake series whiskey for sale. Stranahan's claims to only sell it at the distillery (where folks line up before a batch goes on sale), which is where we bought it previously. Snowflake alone makes Cask a worthwhile stop. We bought a couple of things we knew we couldn't find elsewhere, but we are unlikely to come back. The stars are for the store and the selection, not the staff. read more

I've never liked candies growing up--still don't as an adult--, so the phrase "like a kid in a candy store" was irrelevant and somewhat offensive to me. How dare they assume all kids like candies? Because to me, imagining myself as a kid in a candy store, I would be indifferent and get that yucky sweetness-overload feeling from visualizing the taste of candy. CASK helped me relate to that phrase a little better, albeit slightly modified into something like "an appreciator of fine liquor in an artisanal liquor store" I was immediately blown away by their selection. After the heartbreaking loss of the Privatization of Liquor initiative (I-1100) here in Washington State, I lost all hopes in ever seeing a liquor store that is not depressingly bland, whose staff, for the most part, don't even give a shit about what they're selling, with the most limited, state-controlled selection of products. Seeing CASK breaks my heart even more, thinking about my fate in Washington State as a buyer and enjoyer of the alcoholic kind of beverage. But I was happy there. I examined every bottle of every rare whiskies I saw there. Asked the amazingly knowledgeable, friendly, and beautiful lovely lady a slew of questions about her impressive selection. I was giddy. I went there two days in a row; I wanted to go back again the next day. Is it wrong to want to live there? To be surrounded by beautiful bottles of liquor curated by the aforementioned young lady. With an interior space that's so handsomely-designed, which is all tied together with their graphics branding. Exquisite. In addition to all the liquor, bitters, and all the liquid goodness, they also carry barware, glassware, old antique cocktail literature pieces. Like a vintage SAVOY COCKTAIL BOOK for $500. They also do engravings on bottles! The service is free for any bottle over $100. Or it's $25. It'd give a touch of classyness when you give that special someone a bottle of Malibu Rum on their 21st birthday. Actually, I don't think they even carry that here. I will keep on dreaming and hoping for the day we Seattleites will get a boutique liquor store like this in our state. In the meantime, I'll just keep on fantasizing about CASK's beauty, California Dreamin' read more

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I walk down 3rd street almost every day to get to work. A year ago, this magical sign that said simply 'Cask' showed up and got me all excited. Well, after all that waiting, and investigation, and debate amongst friends the day has come. Cask has opened. True to my expectation, Cask does not disappoint. Awesome boutique spirits, definitely heavy on the hard to find whiskey. The moment I walked in the door, I saw a bottle of Laphroaig quarter cask on the cashier's table, which is probably my all time favorite scotch. Be warned, however. If you want scotch, they don't really compare to Whisky Shop. You might be better off talking to the dudes in kilts, but Cask has a remarkable amount of other stuff: Bourbon, Chartreuse, Gin, types of bitters i've never seen, glassware, and even a fine library of boozer books. Yeah ok, they have wine also, but who cares. Oh, and the space is just gorgeous. I want to add my own easy chair to the place and just retire there. read more

The selection here is large and great (5 stars for that) but the customer service was seriously lacking. I frequent small and fancy liquor stores in SF and they almost universally provide excellent service. I came in hoping to buy my husband a nice bottle of scotch as a gift, but no one even talked to me-- not even a hello; It was really disappointing. There were two men at the counter sitting there completely aloof. I'll stick to the other gems in the city instead from now on that know customer service is included with the inevitable price jump of a small independent and most craft focused liquor store. read more

If you're looking for the best selection of high quality spirits in San Francisco then look no further than Cask on 3rd st. Don't expect to find any "run of the mill" selections here because it's well curated and the offerings are unique. The prices are also the most fair I've found in the city...seriously! Along with selection and pricing, the staff is just as amazing. Walking into a place like this could be a bit intimidating if you're not well versed in the language of high proof alcohol but, the staff makes you feel warm, welcome and will steer you in the right direction. I'm particularly impressed with the whiskey and amaro selections but, the mescal and gin spots are legit too! read more

My short and sweet review of the month. These guys know their stuff. They have plenty of alcohol and are very knowledgeable about it. I was on the Pappy Van Winkle hunt and they directed me to a few options/places where I might be able to attain this exclusive drink. They also don't mark up their drinks, so while it is a bit pricey, you're still getting a deal. It's in the heart of downtown SF, so make sure you have a paper bag ready if you're someone who likes fancy drinks and wants to drink right away!. read more

***************************** 991 ******************************* Cask wine shop is 1 of my favorite to go to when I need last minute gift. Small little shop but pack with lots of different stuff for spirit lovers. Love their bourbon, and whiskey, especially Japanese whiskey selection. Service is efficient here. Cask is place I know exactly what I need to get. Get in, get out, and get it done. read more

Can't go wrong with Cask - particularly if you are in the market for something that's a little off the beaten path and unique. I've been here twice - both times seeking out a bottle of bourbon for a gift. I'm not a bourbon guy but the team at Cask had no problem hooking me up. The first trip I settled on a 10 year Michter's, and the second trip I went big and walked out buying the new 20 year Michter's. It wasn't cheap, but it was slightly less expensive than if I had purchased it online (PS: This isn't the place to go if you want a bottle of Phillips peppermint schnapps). Not to mention the Michter's 20 year is a rare bottle and not easy to get - they just happened to get one in. Service was outstanding both times, very informative and they even shipped it to my friend for a reasonable price. Both times the bourbon did not disappoint. I guarantee I will be back! read more

Cask - 20 year Michter's - purchased at Cask - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

As liquor stores go, man, this one sure takes the cake. Now, I should preface this review with the fact that I am a whiskey fan. The selection of whiskey at Cask is better than anywhere else in SF, beating even K&L. There's a fine selection of scotches (I just took home a Tomintoul 16, which can be hard to find), but also of bourbons, ryes, and straight-up whiskeys. The prices are pretty decent too. $26 for a Johnnie Walker Black, $18 for some Pimm's? That's at or below what you'd pay for these staples at BevMo. They've also got a pretty solid selection of gin and vodka that I saw, but I've never been able to look at them too closely because I'm too mesmerized by the whiskey. Go Cask! read more

I showed up at Cask a few years ago as a true newbie to the spirits world and got to meet James who was super helpful and patient explaining the wonderful worlds of Mezcal and Scotch to me. He helped me land on some extraordinary spirits in both categories. These days I know a bit more and whenever James is around the man always takes time to come chat about the industry, favorite distilleries, and bottles that are lesser known but real gems. Always great to chat with James and I always walk away with a stellar bottle and little more knowledge, can't ask for more than that. read more

What a great quick-stop for a bottle of scotch for good old pops. I wish I had more time to chat with the owner who helped me, because I felt like I could have learned a lot about their selection. He was so helpful once I told him the kind of scotch my dad likes, and most importantly, my budget (~$50). Yes fellow yelpers know its doable to find a good bottle for a reasonable amount in here. The bottle is still wrapped (yes they wrapped it for me!), otherwise I'd share the result, but I have no doubt customers would walk out feeling well taken care of and happy with their choice. I would go back here in a heartbeat, and I think I'll make this my newest bev stop before heading to my next partaaay. read more

The selection at this store is quite good, but unfortunately the staff is extremely disrespectful. My husband and I went into the store on a whim after a trip to the Museum of Modern Art, which is just down 3rd street from Cask. While we were exploring the cordials section, an employee came over and asked if he could help us. I explained that we were just passing by and not looking for anything in particular. I cringed as he eyed me up and down, and then said something to the effect of "we have small bottles in the cooler in the back, in case you just need a quickie". I politely said "thank you", not sure how to react. We ended up buying a bottle of bourbon from a brand we've enjoyed in the past, but I was left with a bad taste in my mouth after the exchange. read more

Great liquor store that, in addition to wine, beer and liquor, has some syrups and other nonalcoholic ingredients for cocktails that are otherwise hard to find, like orange flower water, orgeat and agave syrup. It even has essential cocktail equipment (shakers, Hawthorne strainers, jiggers, etc). read more

This is my go-to booze shop. Like others have said, if yer looking for vanilla smirnoff or somesuch, then this won't be the right place for you. Beyond that, though, you've got a temple to quality liquor. Most of the staff is knowledgeable. They make suggestions based on what you're looking for, willing to compare and contrast bottles, up for giving unique suggestions -- and all of that without just trying to steer you to what's priciest. On the subject of pricing, whenever I've been able to compare, theirs have been the same as they would be at Bevmo or K&L. So, don't waste your time at other liquor stores in the area which do price gouge. Go to Cask. read more

Great liquor store. Guys that work there were very knowledgeable and helpful. Parking was a problem but when is it not in SF lol.

Cask is a unique and small space that has a huge variety of whiskeys, wines, etc. I love coming here for gifts for birthdays or holidays, as there's a nice range of prices. I'm not a whiskey connoisseur by any means, but am always impressed by all of the unique and unrecognizable brands that you can't find in a typical liquor store or grocery store. I also really appreciate the employees' willingness to help me find a bottle - each time, they've provided a few thoughtful options for me to choose from based off of a few (probably not very descriptive) descriptions on what I'm looking for (e.g., smooth finish, non Smokey, etc). Check it out! read more

Cask was my go to store for buying spirits for years. I bought a $60 bottle of vodka there as a birthday present. Before giving it, the intended recipient was diagnosed with cancer and could no longer drink. I took it back to the store and was told that under California law, they could not accept returns. This turns out to be false. I will not shop here again. read more