MON–WED 8AM–11PM
THU–SAT 8AM–MIDNIGHT
SUN 9AM–10PM
SINGLE-BARREL STORE PICKS
ANKENY, IOWA
Picked for you.
One barrel at a time.
A lot of bottles say "store pick" on them. At Liquor Lovers, it means one barrel our team tasted, liked and bought, bottled for our store in Ankeny instead of blended into the regular release. Over the last two years we've tasted more than 350 barrels and said yes to 43. Somebody has to do it.
One barrel only holds so many bottles, so when a pick's gone, it's gone. Call at (515) 655-8030 before you drive over and we'll tell you what's left. Follow us on Facebook to hear when the next one lands.
What's on the Shelf Right Now
Every one of these got tasted before it went on the shelf. Here's what you're in for.
Larceny
123.4
Proof
Aged 7 years
Vanilla latte, creamy caramel, chocolate-covered cherry, butter, and dark chocolate
Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel
103
Proof
Not your grandpa's Crown, 103 proof against the shelf bottle's 80. Notes of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and brown sugar
Hard Truth Double Oaked Rye
104.6
Proof
Aged 4 years
Vanilla custard, cream soda, brown sugar, raisin, apple, and root beer candy
Revelton
109
Proof
Aged almost 5 years
Brown sugar, vanilla, creme brulee, and cherry cola
Variety Club of Iowa
Cedar Ridge Double Barrel
117.2
Proof
Aged 5 years
Vanilla, butterscotch, brown sugar, walnuts, chocolate-covered raisins, baked apple, and tobacco leaf
Green River Wheated
114
Proof
Aged 5 years
Lemon meringue with graham cracker crust, banana cream pie, banana bread, and vanilla
How We Pick Them, and What We Pass On
We taste every barrel before it earns the Store Pick name. If it's not right, we pass, no matter how good the deal is or how much we like the distillery. You're trusting us to have done the tasting for you, and we don't take that lightly.
Every once in a while, a distillery sends over a barrel they picked themselves. We call that a Distiller's Choice, and we'll always tell you which is which.
Why a Store Pick Tastes Different From the Regular Bottle
The bottle you know is blended from a lot of barrels so it tastes the same every time. A Store Pick comes from one barrel, so it's got its own proof and its own personality. Take our Crown Royal pick. It's 103 proof, next to 80 for the regular bottle on the shelf. We call it Not Your Grandpa's Crown.
Store Pick Questions
What is a Liquor Lovers Store Pick?
It's a single barrel we select and buy directly, bottled for Liquor Lovers instead of sold as a standard release. Our team tastes every barrel before it earns the name.
How does Liquor Lovers choose its Store Picks?
We taste every barrel before buying it. Over the last two years we've sampled more than 350 barrels to land on 43 Store Picks. If a barrel doesn't meet our standard, we pass, even from distilleries we like.
Where can I buy Liquor Lovers Store Picks?
In the store at 1510 S Ankeny Blvd, Ste 107/108, Ankeny, Iowa. Quantities are limited, so call (515) 655-8030 to check what's still on the shelf.
Do Store Picks come back once they sell out?
No. Each pick comes from one barrel, so there's only so much of it. Once it sells out, it's gone, and the next pick will be a different barrel.