Still need to buy a present for the blotto in your life? Get thee to Hi-Time Wine Cellars, of course. But don't just splurge on their usual assortment of amazing everything; take the plunge and finally pick something out from Hi-Time Wine Cellar's legendary's glassy display cases, the ones men circle again and again, pretending that they have the balls to splurge on the $9,000 Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old, the $6,000 cognac, the rare rums from Guadalupe, Fiji and even Grenada.
But 'tis the season, and you can actually find some awesome choices that justify the pesos. Take the massive 1.75-liter, whiskey still-shaped bottle of Willett bourbon I'm holding below—usually only available at their charming distillery on top of a remote hill in Bardstown, Kentucky. At $85, it's only about $20 more than the distillery price—plus you get a massive dose of the sweet, strong bourbon.
Other great deals include the $350 Don Julio (worth every drop, from the best mainstream tequila around), the Duncan Taylor run of rums (just over $100, all peppery and fabulous) and a couple of decanters y'all better not get because I want them (you're mine, sailor vodka man!). And if you're really needing a bargain? There's always the collection of baijiu, the Chinese firewater that you can get starting from $12 and that tastes like fermented ash. Merry Hannukah, cabrones!
Hi-Time Wine Cellars, 250 Ogle St., Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463. Instagram: @mrhitime
