Which Boston liquor store has lots of local spirits?

The Wild Duck, at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston, is a liquor store with more than 4,500 products in stock, and we can help you find a local bottle on that shelf. This guide explains how to tell whether a spirit is really local, which styles to choose, and how to check what is in stock before you visit.

Where can I find a Boston liquor store with lots of local spirits?

The Wild Duck is a liquor store at 86 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02117. We carry more than 4,500 products from more than 700 brands, across more than 100 categories, so you have a wide shelf to look through when you want something made close to home.

What we do better than the stores near us, in our own words as the owner, is selection, local and craft, and service. A local bottle is one of the things we want to help you find, and you can ask us about it in the shop, by pickup or for delivery.

You can see what is on the shelf today in our Liquor category, where our own best sellers come first and everything shown is in stock. If you would rather not travel, our Boston delivery page explains how delivery works. We also deliver to Cambridge and Brookline.

How do I tell a spirit is really local?

Read the back label before the front. A spirit is local when it is distilled in the place the label names, not only bottled there. Look for wording such as distilled by, produced by or made by, followed by a town and state. Wording such as bottled by or imported by tells you who filled the bottle, which may be somewhere else.

Some labels name a company and an address in small print. If that address is in Massachusetts or another New England state, the spirit was most likely made or finished there. If you are unsure, ask us. We would rather tell you what we know about a bottle than let you guess from the front label.

A brand name that sounds regional is not proof of origin. A picture of a lighthouse or a city skyline on the front tells you nothing about where the liquid was distilled. The place named on the back label is the part to trust.

What do small-batch and craft mean on a label?

In general, small-batch means a spirit was made in smaller runs than the large national brands. Craft usually describes an independent distillery that makes its spirits in modest quantities. Neither word has one fixed legal meaning for most spirits, so each producer uses it in its own way.

Because of that, treat these words as a prompt to read more, not as a guarantee. Check the back label for the distillery name and location. Check the age statement on whiskey and bourbon, because age tells you how long the spirit rested in the barrel, which the word craft does not.

If a label says bottled in bond, that is a specific United States standard with its own rules about age and strength. It is worth looking for on American whiskey when you want a clearly defined style.

Which styles of local spirit should I choose?

Choose by what you already drink, because a local bottle works best when it fits your taste. If you like whiskey, look at our whiskey shelf, including bourbon and rye. Bourbon is generally sweeter and rounder, while rye tends to be drier and spicier.

For clear spirits, gin and vodka suit mixed drinks. Gin gets its flavour from botanicals such as juniper, so a small distillery's gin can taste quite different from one bottle to the next. Vodka is the most neutral of the group and works where you do not want the spirit to lead.

For rum, brandy and liqueurs, the same rule applies: read the back label for where it was made. We also stock tequila, mezcal and cognac, which come from other regions and are good to know alongside local bottles. Examples are DON JULIO Reposado Tequila, GRANJA Nomada Mezcal and Hennessy Vs Cognac.

Can I ask The Wild Duck to help me choose a local bottle?

Yes. Service is one of the things we put first, and picking a bottle is a normal reason to ask. You do not need to know the makers. Tell us what you usually drink, and we will point you toward something that suits it.

It also helps to tell us what you plan to make or serve. A bottle for sipping neat is a different choice from one for an old fashioned, a highball or a punch. If you are building drinks at home, our mixers shelf includes Fever Tree, which pairs with many spirits.

We are rated above 4.5 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews, and we try to keep that standard whether you walk in, order pickup or ask a question about a bottle.

Can I check whether a bottle is in stock before I come in?

Yes. Our Liquor page lists what is in stock today, so you can look at the shelf before you travel. The same goes for narrower pages such as whiskey, gin and rum.

If you find a bottle you want, you can pick it up in the shop. We offer pickup, delivery and shipping as well as walking in. Pickup hours are Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

If you cannot find a local bottle on the page, ask us. Stock changes through the week, and we can tell you what is on the shelf.

Where is The Wild Duck and when are we open?

We are at 86 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02117. The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Delivery runs Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM and on Sunday from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM. We serve Boston, Cambridge and Brookline, and each town has its own page with the details.

If you prefer to collect an order, in-store pickup is available during the pickup hours above.

What local spirits suit a gift?

A bottle with a clear place of origin on the back label makes a good gift, because the giver can say where it came from. Choose a style the person already drinks. A whiskey or bourbon suits someone who sips, and a gin suits someone who makes cocktails.

If you are not sure what they drink, a gift card lets them choose. Our holiday gift guide covers wine, spirits and beer in one place.

Gifts of alcohol are for adults aged 21 and over. Please buy with that in mind.