Hey there, fellow drinks enthusiasts! If you‘re anything like me, you‘re always on the hunt for something new and exciting to sip. Well, let me introduce you to my latest obsession: Mash and Grape, an online spirits retailer that is seriously upping the liquor shopping game.
Mash and Grape is the brainchild of Adi Pal, a spirits aficionado on a mission to bring unique, high-quality bottles from around the globe straight to your home bar. Think small-batch bourbons, rare Japanese whiskies, artisanal mezcals – the kind of selection that‘ll make your local liquor store look basic.
I first stumbled upon Mash and Grape when a colleague gifted me a bottle of their Bluebird Alpine Liqueur, a Swiss amaro made with botanicals found high in the Alps. As someone who fancies myself an amaro enthusiast, I was blown away by the complex yet balanced profile. Notes of gentian, mint, and elderflower danced on my tongue – it was like nothing I‘d ever tasted before.
Intrigued, I started poking around the Mash and Grape website and quickly fell down a rabbit hole of rare finds and craft spirits. Did you know there‘s a Bolivian brandy made from Muscat of Alexandria grapes? Or a gin distilled with wild botanicals foraged in Kosovo? I sure didn‘t, but Mash and Grape did.
What really sets Mash and Grape apart is their commitment to stocking only the best of the best. Adi and his team regularly visit distilleries, meet with master blenders, and taste thousands of spirits each year to hand-select the bottles that make it onto their shelves. In fact, only about 5% of the spirits they try end up getting sold on their site.
I was lucky enough to experience Mash and Grape‘s curation process firsthand when I visited their flagship tasting room in Manhattan‘s Lower East Side. The knowledgeable staff walked me through a tasting of four different mezcals, each showcasing a unique agave varietal and production style. I learned about the differences between copper pot versus clay pot distillation, the impact of aging on flavor, and traditional mezcal drinking rituals.
But beyond just the amazing selection and wealth of knowledge, what I really love about Mash and Grape is how they‘re using their platform to support small-batch producers and celebrate unsung distillers. In an industry dominated by big brands, Mash and Grape is fiercely independent. They‘re not afraid to stock off-the-beaten-path bottles from lesser-known regions. In fact, they specialize in it.
Take for example Mash and Grape‘s single barrel program, where they partner with distilleries to hand-select one-of-a-kind casks just for their customers. These limited edition bottles often showcase innovative aging techniques or unique flavor profiles that wouldn‘t make it to mass market.
Some of my personal favorite Mash and Grape finds include:
- Jeppson‘s Bourbon: A bold yet smooth sipper aged for four years in charred American oak barrels. Great for Old Fashioneds.
- Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin: A citrus-forward American gin finished in bourbon barrels for a touch of vanilla and caramel. Try it in a Negroni.
- Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky: A high-end Japanese whisky distilled in a Coffey still for a silky texture and notes of tropical fruit.
- Nuestra Soledad San Luis del Rio Mezcal: A single village mezcal made from wild Tobalá agave, prized for its complex flavor.
At 2,000+ spirits and counting, Mash and Grape‘s selection can be overwhelming, but their handy site filters make it a breeze to find exactly what you‘re looking for. Search by type of spirit, price, region, size, and even specific flavors. The product pages include helpful tasting notes, distiller info, and even cocktail recipes.
If you‘re not sure where to start, I highly recommend signing up for Mash and Grape‘s Mashbox spirits subscription service. Choose from six clubs – Bourbon, Whiskey, Scotch, Gin, Tequila, or Rum – and get a curated full-size bottle delivered to your door each month, complete with tasting notes and the story behind the selection. It‘s a fantastic way to expand your palate and liquor knowledge with zero effort. Subscriptions start at just $49/month, which is a steal considering the retail value of some of these bottles.
Speaking of good deals, make sure to check Mash and Grape‘s website for regular sales and promotions. When I signed up for their email list, I got $15 off my first order over $100. They also offer a Refer-a-Friend discount if you want to introduce your buddies to your new favorite liquor retailer.
Mash and Grape isn‘t just an online shop, though. If you‘re in the New York City area, definitely swing by their gorgeous tasting room on Rivington Street. You can sample spirits, attend special tasting events, even fill your own bottle from their cask-strength whiskey and gin barrels. The staff is super friendly and always willing to talk shop. Pro tip: Head there for happy hour, when they offer 20% off select spirits and cocktails.
Customer service is another area where Mash and Grape really shines. When I ordered a bottle of limited edition tequila that got lost in transit, their team immediately sent a replacement, no questions asked. My sister used their Gift Concierge Service to build a custom scotch tasting set for her father-in-law‘s 60th birthday and said the process was seamless.
Of course, premium spirits come with premium price tags. You probably won‘t be restocking your vodka or doing your weekly wine run through Mash and Grape. This is more of a special occasion splurge or a treat-yourself kind of purchase. That said, I‘ve never felt like I overpaid for anything from Mash and Grape. The quality matches the cost and you‘re getting access to bottles you simply won‘t find at Total Wine or BevMo.
My liquor cabinet is now filled with beautiful bottles, each with its own story. A single malt Scotch from a tiny distillery in the remote Orkneys. A funky Jamaican rum made from wild sugarcane. An Oregon pear brandy aged in French oak for a decade. Each sip takes me on a new flavor journey, connects me to a passionate producer, and sparks memorable conversations at dinner parties. That kind of drinking experience is worth every penny in my book.
To sum up my Mash and Grape review: If you‘re tired of the same old booze brands and thirsty for something extraordinary, you need Mash and Grape in your life. Adi Pal isn‘t just selling great bottles, he‘s selling a spirits education, a sense of discovery, a story to share over a few drams with friends. Pull up the website, pour a glass, and prepare to up your booze game like never before.
Cheers!
-Your Trusty Liquor-Loving Fashionista
