In Idaho, this means going to a state-ran liquor store.
In California, you can buy liquor at grocery stores, gas stations, and specialty shops. Not the case here. For hard booze, you're at the mercy of the state.
And when the liquor store closes at 7pm on weekdays and is closed on Sundays, it becomes quite a pain.
Not to mention the higher markups and taxes. I'm paying about 25% more than I did in California for the same stuff...
However, there are some entertaining aspects in the Idaho stores that you don't find in California.
The "Smile, your on camera" signs posted every five feet are a nice touch. I was tempted to ask about my 'on camera', since I don't have one. Maybe they're free with purchase??
A good and bad thing is the variety. You're extremely limited in what the state offers, but they do have some out-of-the-ordinary selections.
Banana rum? Check.
Mashmallow flavored vodka? Check (and AMAZING).
But the best of all...
Bacon Vodka.
As awesome as this is, I didn't buy it. I want to sample it before I plunk down $30. Luckily I was told of a few bars in the area that stock Bakon, so I'll have to go try it out.
Bakon Vodka: Once again, proving that EVERYTHING can be improved with bacon. No exceptions. At all.
Wow, talk about combining the two best things in the world. All they need to do is make it money-flavored somehow.
ReplyDeletei guess i should consider myself lucky to live in ca, here the stores close at 2am. still i like vegas better when they never stop serving.
ReplyDeleteBakon vodka i want
Awesome! I am even slightly in love with their logo. Gaaaah.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean stute-ran (run)?
ReplyDeleteI'm from Cali too and would LOVE to write a post about how stupid the state I live in is regarding alcohol but people have gotten mad at me about that before. So now I never say which state I live in but let me tell you its Idaho but WAY worse. And flatter.
In Cali you can buy alcohol pretty much anywhere at any time and that doesn't end up in disaster. For the past 12 years I've lived in two horrible midwestern states. One, I had to drive to a different state (20 minutes away) on Sundays. Presently, I have to drive to a different town (20 minutes away) on Sundays. What in the Fing F is that about? What possible good does that do anyone but that town with that one liquor store (but only on Sundays) and gas companies?
NO GOOD! It does nobody any good and is no bueno. If I ever get out of here I swear to god almighty I am going to go nuts every Sunday - I am just going to throw raging Sunday Fundays involving obscene amounts of hard alcohol. Okay not really, but dammit!!
Tell me you don't ever experience that panic on Saturday night "shit, I don't WANT to go out, I'm good for now, but if I don't get dressed and drive all the way across this godforsaken town right now, I won't be able to drink until Sunday." Maybe I'm just bitter, or maybe I'm an alcoholic, but this dry state stuff is for a-holes.
Phew. Anyway. Alrighty then.
I meant until Mondays. Boy I really had a cow just then. Maybe I should check into AA. Or maybe I just need to get outta the midwest!!!! argh!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of it and you better bring a review of it when you've had it. I will so not forgive you if you don't. Kinda.
ReplyDeleteUgh, people want to make everything bacon flavoured.
ReplyDeleteIdaho is a funny place. They don't like the government involved in the free market when it comes to health insurance, but when it comes to booze they don't have a problem letting the government run things.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed the marshmallow flavored vodka in the liquor section of the supermarket we shop at not too long ago. I must admit, I've been tempted to try it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of banana rum so that's no surprise - but I do like the idea of marshmallow vodka lol
ReplyDeleteThe thought of bacon vodka is absolutely disgusting. I don't eat bacon and don't even like the smell. Drinking it is just not okay. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick to my Jack Daniels and tequila but have fun with the marshmallow vodka. ;)
New York is the same way with their liquor stores. I'm originally from a state where, like Cali, I could pick up wine and liquor at any grocery store. I never realized that this was different depending on the state and was seriously confused when I couldn't wine the selection when I was grocery shopping at first haha.
ReplyDeleteAlso, ew. Bacon. Ew. Sorry, but I'm strict vegetarian. I wonder if it's made with real bacon infusion or just 'flavoring'.
I need to look for that marshmallow vodka! That sounds kickass.
ReplyDeleteHere in MA, packies (licquor stores) weren't open on Sundays until recently. It took YEARS for the people that run this state to realize what a pain in the ass it was to run to New Hampshire or Rhode Island for our booze on Sundays. I mean, come on - Sunday is football day. We all know football = beer. Duh.
OK, I feel like I need to buy Bakon Vodka for my brother. For an Easter gift? Something, because that would make his day.
ReplyDeleteI draw the line at drinks. I love bacon and all, but only on food. Not liquids or dairy products.
ReplyDeleteLet me know how it tastes when you use it to cook scrambled eggs.
Are you serious? State run liquor stores? And also,...what is this sudden fasination with bacon? I mean, it's like a global thing! I've seen everything from bacon bandaids to bacon milkshakes. Yes, really.
ReplyDeleteYou really need to review this vodka so the rest of us will know if it's worth dropping $30 on. This could either be really terrible or really amazing. There is no in between when it comes to bacon.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Colorado is the same way. It's either liquor stores or nothing. I couldn't believe it the first time I went to Vegas with the wife and saw hard liquor in Walmart. Whaaaa???
Gawd I HATE,DISGUST,LOATH vodka. I do love some bakon. I have not see this, lolz. Let me know!
ReplyDeleteWhat does it say about me that I'm completely ignoring the whole point of this post and have become fixated on the fact that the liquor store sign requesting that you smile because "Your on camera" should be "You're" rather than "Your".
ReplyDeleteNever mind. I already know what it says about me. Dammit.
Do people creating signs in Idaho know the difference between "your" and "you're?"
ReplyDeleteThe flavored vodka is getting out of hand. I saw someone order a drink the other night and asked for cotton candy vodka.
You forgot to mention that in Rexburg you have to resort to making your own moonshine (bacon optional) or buying apple juice from Broulim's and waiting until it ferments on it's own.
ReplyDeleteWhich takes FOREVER!!!
Grrrrr.
:/
Just an FYI - the liquor stores are open until 8pm Mon - Thurs and until 9pm on Fri and Saturday. If there are specific products you are looking for, and are unable to find in a store, all you have to do is ask, and generally as long as the supplier is willing to ship to Idaho, the liquor store wil order it for you. As for the "smile, your on camera" signs, I can't speak to that, thank goodness that's not the store I work in and I would hope if we were to put signs like that up, we would be able to use correct spelling/grammar. Also, you compared the liquor stores in Idaho to the ones in California...Well the alcohol in Idaho is a bit more than in some other states, but what you failed to mention was the price of living in Idaho compared to California. So you have to pay a few dollars more for your bottle of booze, but it saves you about a million in other areas. Also, what is the crime rate in California compared to the Great State of Idaho? There are reasons the Liquor Stores in Idaho close early and aren't available 24 hours a day :) As for the Bakon Vodka - don't drink it straight up, but if you are a bloody mary fan, it is delicious! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and I forgot to mention, Keep your eyes open for the gummy bear vodka and the fruit loops vodka ;)
ReplyDelete