Why Bow Street Beverage beats a warehouse—every time.

Look, we get it. New Hampshire has no sales tax. You can load up a cart at a state liquor store, save 5.5%, and feel like you beat the system. Congrats. You also just spent 90 minutes in traffic to wander a fluorescent-lit warehouse with zero curation, zero expertise, and zero soul.

Here’s what you’re actually trading for that “savings.”

What You Lose at the New Hampshire Outlet:

1. Curation That Matters
NH liquor stores stock what moves. We stock what’s good. That means natural wines, small producers, Maine-made spirits, and bottles you won’t find anywhere else. If you want something worth talking about? Stay in Maine.

2. Staff Who Know Their Stuff
Our team lives for this. Ask us about a wine pairing, a whiskey recommendation, or what’s actually worth the hype, and you’ll get a real answer—not a blank stare and a shrug.

3. Discovery
The best part of a good beverage store is finding something you didn’t know you needed. That doesn’t happen when you’re scanning aisles of Yellow Tail and Barefoot. It happens when someone who knows wine hands you a Beaujolais and says, “Trust me.”

4. Supporting Maine
Every dollar you spend at BSB stays local. It pays our staff, supports Maine producers, and keeps a family-owned business running year-round. That’s not guilt—it’s just math.

The Real Cost of “Savings”

Let’s do the actual math:

  • Round trip to NH from Wells or Ogunquit: ~30 miles, ~1 hour
  • Gas: ~$4
  • Your time: let’s say $20/hour
  • Total cost of the drive: $24

Now, Maine sales tax is 5.5%. So if you spend $100 on wine in New Hampshire, you save…$5.50.

You just spent $24 to save $5.50. Congratulations, you’re down $18.50.

Even if you load up and spend $200, you save $11—but you’re still in the hole. You’d need to drop over $400 just to break even on gas and time. And if you’re buying that much wine in one trip, you’re probably hosting a crowd—which means you want good stuff, not warehouse wine.

The Bottom Line

Shopping local isn’t about overpaying. It’s about getting more—better selection, real expertise, and a conversation that actually helps you find what you’re looking for. It’s about walking into a place where someone knows your name (or at least your taste in bourbon). And honestly? It’s about not spending your Saturday in a New Hampshire parking lot.

So this holiday season, save the drive. Spend it on better wine. Come see us in Wells. We’ll hook you up.