Sauced

State Liquor Stores Discontinue Cherry Heering

The all-natural, not-too-sweet Danish liqueur can still be had via special order.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jan 19, 2011 at 12:08PM 3 Comments

Why, god, why? State stores discontinue Heering.

Admittedly, this news will not blow everyone’s minds. But after reading this Tweet from Kathy Casey (Dish D’Lish, Liquid Kitchen) last night, I had to find out whether or not it was true.

Yup, it’s true. Kimberly at the WSLCB confirms: Washington State stores will no longer stock Cherry Heering, though it is available by special order.

While not as well-known as angostura bitters, say, or vermouth, Cherry Heering—a ruby-hued Danish liqueur—is certainly a staple of the well-stocked home bar. I like to drink it with sparkling wine, Kir style, something I learned at the Copper Gate in Ballard.

But consider yourself warned, cocktail nerds: Next time you want to whip up a round of Remember the Maines, you’ll need to plan ahead.

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Tags: WSLCB, Cherry Heering

Costco Backs Liquor Privatization Bill

The warehouse chain begins an in-store signature-collecting effort this week.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jun 01, 2010 at 08:32AM 4 Comments

Beginning this week, Costco employees will begin staffing tables set up inside each of the chain’s Washington warehouses, from which they will solicit customers to sign liquor privatization initiative 1100.

If voted into law this November, 1100 will take the state out of the liquor game entirely and immediately, requiring it to sell all its distribution warehouses.

Costco picked 1100 out of three current privatization proposals. Modernize Washington, the group that authored 1100, has withdrawn a second proposal, 1109, which suggested a more gradual departure from the three-tiered system. That leaves 1100 and a third proposal, 1105, sponsored by former Joe Mallahan spokesperson Charla Neuman.

A summary of 1105:
“This measure would direct the liquor control board to close all state liquor stores and to license qualified private parties as spirits retailers or distributors. It would require licensees to pay the state a percentage of their first five years of gross spirits sales; repeal certain taxes on retail spirits sales; and direct the board to recommend to the legislature a tax to be paid by spirits distributors.”

Modernize Washington needs 242,000 signatures to get 1100 on the November ballot. Backers of 1105 have not begun signature gathering.

Costco’s stake in this battle should be rather obvious—the Kirkland-based chain hopes to begin selling you 12-packs of family-sized Wild Turkey by this time next year.

Read the full text of 1100 on Modernize Washington’s website.

Read the full text of 1105 here.

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Tags: Liquor Laws, Costco, WSLCB, Liquor Privatization