Epic Spirits

The delivery guy (the Indian one) is so creepy and he expects a 7 dollar tip on a $ 15 bottle of wine! I never knock on anyone, but this is an ongoing issue! It’s f*cking weird that anyone doesn’t give you change ($ 7 as I mentioned previously), and tells you that I’m soooo pretty and keeps eyeing me! Otherwise, delivery is quick (it’s a 6 minute walk, literally)

This is going to be a snob post. There, I said it.
I cannot support a business that;
1. When I asked whether they have locally made rye whiskey– they thought I meant AMERICAN whiskey. Ladies and gents, it might be a little snobby of me to think people know this means 300mi radius from NY. But hey, we are in Manhattan so where else am I gonna be a snob?
2. They handed me a bottle of American whiskey. Given most rye are labeled as such… I asked if it is rye. To which a staff member — wait for it — replied «it’s all the same»
*insert face palm*
Bad buying decisions are often caused by being time crunched … So I declined their ‘American options’ and went with Bulleit Rye.
But all I really needed to do is walk two blocks down and find another liquor store where, yes, they had NY and PA made products.

The name says it, there is a great selection here with wall to wall alcohol that is at least a story and a half tall. Prices are reasonable so if you’re on a budget and going to a party, look no further.

I have shopped at Epic Spirits many times, and I am here to report that it is superb. Their staff is nothing if not accommodating, knowledgeable, and helpful: I am always greeted with a smile upon entering the store, even when it’s abuzz with customers. The young manager is an accomplished sommelier with an impressive pedigree and is always happy to assist in selecting the perfect wine for the occasion. The authentic and unpretentious vibe of the shop is a refreshing change from the many I have wandered around throughout the city.
Epic Spirits: I offer you high praise for your ability to provide top-​class wine with a friendliness and knowledge base that is virtually unparalleled in the Midtown area.
I will look on with curiosity and hope that this special little shop continues to cultivate its convivial atmosphere while propagating wine that soothes the palate and warms the heart.

If you like to be forced to feel like a criminal, have strange men follow you to your house in a creepy invasive manner and ruin your night by accusing you of being a thief — then by all means, this is a perfect establishment for you worthy of 5 star douchiness rating !
If you are a regular person just like me who just wants to cozy up in a blizzard with great Netflix show and a bottle of wine, probably best to avoid this place.
Friday night before the storm: I, a regular customer, walk in to buy a bottle of wine like I have multiple times FOR THE LAST 1.5 YEARS and pay for it. I decline a plastic bag, because I care about our planet. A bottle of champagne in the back catches my eye, so I walk to see the price.
I check it out, decide to not get it, walk out and then walk literally 10 feet to my apartment next door. Several minutes later, my doorman calls saying there is a guy waiting for me saying I stole something and must come down immediately as he won’t leave.
I obviously freak out, unsure who the hell this is and what is going on — so I drop everything and come down. It’s one of the sales guys from the store, who basically insists I return back to the store to clear up this situation.
I return to store feeling weak in my legs and all shaken up at this point and basically ask what’s up guys? The guy implies I stole a bottle of wine and must pay for it and his reasoning how he profiled me as a thief? Because he saw me leaving the store with a bottle WITHOUT a plastic bag.
They essentially have me grab a bottle off the shelf to show which one I bought or «stole». They calculate how much it would have been with a tax and start looking for a receipt I signed. In the meanwhile, I am frantically pulling up my online banking to show that I indeed paid.
I am so shaken up by their tone, my hands are shaking as I am trying to log into my online backing. Few seconds later, the manager who by the way rung me up not more than 15 minutes before (short term memory problems much?) doesn’t even attempt to defend me — finds a receipt with MY SIGNATURE ON IT, showing that I paid. I pull out my credit card to show that receipt credit card matches my signature and credit number and they eat their words. But the damage is done.
So just to sum things up: you basically ran after me, followed me to my house (totally not creepy), refused to leave (not even a little creepy), humiliated me in my place of residence, essentially made me to return back to the store (again, completely not creepy).
Then PUBLICLY HUMILIATED ME and had me explain myself like a school child to prove that I, a 31 year professional, who lives in a penthouse next door and REGULARLY SHOPS IN YOUR STORE multiple times a week — AM NOT A THIEF.
And ALL OF THIS — because you thought I stole an 18 $ bottle of wine because as a responsible consumer I declined a plastic bag?
The weak mumbling apology won’t make up for this excuse of human garbage customer service. Absolutely unacceptable behavior on the manager’s part letting the employees behave this way — the whole situation could have been avoided by simply letting the employee who followed me know that customer has paid. Asked to speak with the owner or his contact information, no one has provided it.

Epic Spirits has an indeed epic interior. Their wine shelves go all the way up to the ceiling. There are so many kinds of wine from different countries, but this place needs to train their staff better. You cannot say the taste is «good» for every bottle of wine. Please have a larger source of descriptive vocabulary when a customer asks for advice.
I will come back because of their stock, but there’s a risk of not knowing what it is inside each bottle.

A great liquor store i think they renovate the inside and made it bigger. They also have delivery until midnight whic is really good

A solid 4.5! A friend took me here after work and I’m glad this is near my apartment! The last time I went, there was a friendly man with broken english who assisted me to another employee for my question about pairings. While I was leaving, the man that greeted me first asked me if I had my question answered.
It is expensive, I won’t lie but that’s what I expected when I moved to the city. The friendly staff is always a plus, will definitely be back!

$ 24.99 for a dusty bottle of Francis Coppola 2013 Black Label. .. Retail price is $ 19.99, and can be purchased for as low as $ 14.99.
Kicker. .. I go to pay and ask for the foil gift bag that you get at every single liquor store with your purchase. I’m told they don’t have bags, and am instead shown a rack of $ 3.99 bags. Really?!? Needless to say, I didn’t purchase their bag.
I live in the neighborhood and will NEVER be back.
Aside from their clean looking display filled with dusty bottles, lots of other things wrong with this store. Not sure where all the helpful people were that I saw mentioned in other posts? Three men behind the counter — period.. .. and I had to repeat myself several times requesting a gift foil — as the gentleman who took my money barely spoke English.

This place has a great selection at a decent price – especially if ktown eateries don’t let you carry out your soju, then this is a fantastic place to get that bottle.
Came across this place accidentally with a friend and everyone in the store were super helpful. Would definitely be back to sample what they have.

Totally love this place! I tell the guy what I’m making for dinner and he tells me which wine pairs best with that food on a budget. And seriously he’s dead ON with his selections. I never second guess him anymore. Whatever he picks first is what we are having for dinner lol.

Epic Spirits is a great little liquor store near K-​Town & just a few blocks from the Empire State Building. The store is small but they have a great selection of many types of alcohol. The staff was also super friendly!

Friendly and cute liquor store! Nice arrangement and variety of selections. Clean for NY standards :) will be back!

Nice and needed wine and liquor store in the neighborhood. A good selection and helpful staff. I snagged a case of tiny vodka bottles for the hang over kits in my wedding welcome bags. They are pretty Epic.

OK selection of stuff. red, white, champagne, sake
Good cold refrigerator to get ready to go whites and champagne.
Friendly staff
Great place when you’re in a bind

I’m loving this place already. It’s a tiny room with floor-​to-​ceiling wines, mostly mid-​priced, and an insanely good selection (especially considering the space). The focus is wine, although they have a small selection of obligatory spirits as well. Everything seems to have been selected with a lot of care and I saw a few brands I haven’t seen anywhere else in NYC. The guys working there were very nice and seemed to know their stuff. This seems like a neighborhoody kind of shop, but the best part is that it’s in the middle of midtown, right next to the train, so you can grab a bottle on your way home.