Empire Wine & Liquors Staten Island — Local services in New York

I had called a few liquor stores on Staten Island, asking about Ardbeg. Most had either never heard of it, or only carried the 10-year. One store owner asked me, after a long pause, "Hardback?" I was about to give up and just order online, but I decided to call a few more. Enter Empire Wine & Liquors. This store had the exact kind of Ardbeg I was looking for (Corryvreckan) plus a few others. When I arrived, I saw that they carried a wide variety of scotches in general, not just Ardbeg. The owner, Johnny, said they could order special ones on request.

What really impressed me though was not the size of their selection, but how friendly and knowledgeable Johnny was. As he got my Ardbeg, he asked me if I liked peat. I said yes. To my surprise, he invited me to taste some peaty scotches. Before each, he introduced the flavor characteristics, and after each, he told me the price of a bottle. All of this was in a really friendly and accommodating way, so I never felt any pressure to buy. Each comment or question seemed to be tailored to help me find a right Scotch for my own flavor and price preferences. This was my first visit, too, on a Monday night. It was really nice to be unexpectedly treated with such care and attention. At one point during the tasting, a small family walked in and exchanged warm greetings with Johnny as they bought something, and I thought "I'm far from the only one who had a great experience here."

TL;DR I had a great experience here looking for a special whisky. Johnny was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The service and selection were both leagues beyond that of any other liquor store I’ve been to on Staten Island. This will be my go-to place to buy liquor...

This liquor store's legit - very well lit, stocked and organized. The owner's solid and well informed regarding his inventory.

The selections are impressive - and they're ready to do business, unlike many stores who simply take advantage of the market fluctuations and fleece their customers while displaying their dusty prize bottles. This is a place you can forge a relationship where all parties benefit.

Honestly I won't waste my time going anywhere else when I'm on the island, and if you find yourself in need of a bottle in this area I highly recommend you don't either....

I highly recommend patronizing this place. It’s quite possibly one of best liquor stores on the island, it’s definitely the best in the neighborhood. The store is family owned/ran and they are uncommonly kind, gracious, and super friendly. You can always find something on special in the front of the store. If you are looking for something specific or a suggestion they will not disappoint - and they won’t try and upsell you. The prices are extremely fair and their stock...