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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Socialist Booze



My lovely wife and I were in search of a bottle of rum. (Why is the rum always gone?) Normally we leave New Hampshire with a half gallon and it gets up through the winter. We aren't big drinkers, but we like the occasional sundowner. It's also nice to be able to offer people a friendly drink. This year we hit the road with just a wee flask of the holy water.

Today we finally got around to picking up a bottle. We were able to find a bottle but rum isn't exactly exotic. These privately run liquor stores around here all look kinda shabby. Maybe it's the bars on the windows. Mostly it's the poor selection. Heaven forbid if I wanted a decent bottle of single malt scotch.

I miss the liquor stores in New Hampshire. They are clean, well lit, have excellent selection and helpful staff. As a special bonus, the prices are some of the lowest in the country. They are also a state run monopoly. When prohibition was finally repealed each state took their own approach on how booze was going to be sold. New Hampshire decided to handle liquor sales in state operated stores. They do a good job of it too.

One of the saddest liquor stores I saw was in Kentucky. The county we were in had been a “dry county” that prohibited liquor sales. The store was basically a pile of boxes on the floor with some industrial shelves where a few items were haphazardly stacked. Pretty sad looking. I hope it got better.

Now I understand there are plenty of people who should not drink. I can respect that, but please respect that there are some of us who can take a drink without having to see the bottom of the bottle. Then there are those who against booze for religious beliefs. Fine. As for me, I believe I'm going to have a drink.

-Sixbears

22 comments:

  1. Alabama has state run liquor stores. They are 30% higher than Florida. It is why I can sell backpacker beer. Funny you wrote about rum I ran 2 gallons Monday of dark spiced that is a clone for Kraken. Buttered rum is also popular.

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    1. Sounds like a nice rum.

      NH's biggest and best stores are on our borders as all our neighbors have much higher taxes.

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  2. I'm always amused by CHRISTIANS who claim to be against alcohol on religious grounds. I guess it must be because Jesus turned wine into water in their book.

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    1. I read a great short story once called, "Drinking with Jesus." Really funny.

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  3. One can buy beer and wine in the market (and it was a fight to get that) but one has to go one county over for the hard stuff.

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    1. Beer and wine are sold just about everywhere in NH.

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  4. I'll hoist a Chivas to you and the missus, Sixbears. And believe it or not, we even have some dry counties down here in Texas ...

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    1. My in-laws live in a TX county that until recently was dry. You could tell you crossed the county line as it seemed every single road out of it had a bar on in.

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  5. The first half of my life I lived in Pennsylvania and they had "State Stores" where you bought the hard stuff. But they had drive thru beer sales where they sold beer and ale by the case. I have no idea what they have now. Surely things have changed over time.

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    1. Probably hasn't changed all that much. Booze laws seem to take a long long time to change.

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  6. Sailors and Rum seem to have a symbiosis going on....

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  7. Sailors and Rum seem to have a symbiosis going on....

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    1. Isn't having rum on board required by the law of the sea? :)

      Good to hear from you Spud.

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  8. Arrrgh Six Bears, we share the same appreciation for a bit of Rum. Pirates and sailors alike. Dizzy, they still have state stores for booze and wine. Beer at the beer distributor or two six packs to go at a bar. Heard they are trying to sell beer everywhere. I left PA in 1985 but still have family there.

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    1. Rum's one of those drinks that goes down well even when its not cold. Very handy on a boat without refrigeration.

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  9. There is certainly a variety of stores here in Houston...some fancy and full of choices, while others are run down and seem to cost more. Savings are only for the rich, I reckon!

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    1. I do like the consistency of the NH stores. Even the small ones are clean and neat.

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  10. Hi 6-Bears!!,
    As ol' Jed Clampett would say,"Hooooodoggies!!"
    I live in Louisiana....State Liquor stores???What's that?? We have "Drive thru Daquri stands!!!!" Whiskey, wine and beer is available at any corner store, "stop-n-rob", Wal-mart, grocery store, drug store, you-name-it and did I mention Bars!!! BTW You want Rum?? We have this "Local" rum, "Rougaroux" a really nice rum Distilled and Bottled by Donner-Peltier Distillers, Thibodaux, La. 70301........'Having a "Cuba' libre'" as we speak.
    Got Rum........OUTLAW!!!!!,
    III%,
    skybill-out
    PS BTW....Did I mention "Mardi Gras???"

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  11. Hi 6-Bears!!,
    As ol' Jed Clampett would say,"Hooooodoggies!!"
    I live in Louisiana....State Liquor stores???What's that?? We have "Drive thru Daquri stands!!!!" Whiskey, wine and beer is available at any corner store, "stop-n-rob", Wal-mart, grocery store, drug store, you-name-it and did I mention Bars!!! BTW You want Rum?? We have this "Local" rum, "Rougaroux" a really nice rum Distilled and Bottled by Donner-Peltier Distillers, Thibodaux, La. 70301........'Having a "Cuba' libre'" as we speak.
    Got Rum........OUTLAW!!!!!,
    III%,
    skybill-out
    PS BTW....Did I mention "Mardi Gras???"

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    Replies
    1. Mais Oui! Mardi Gras!

      Let the good times roll.

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