In an effort to better serve you, the ever-dedicated Fayetteville Flyer patrons, we present “Fayetteville’s Bestest.” By using the powerful combination of opinion and mathematics, “Fayetteville’s Bestest” will fill you in on what’s awesome in the Fayetteville area. Our entire writing staff is given a subject (best place in F-Ville for oil changes, to buy cassette singles or to go watch one-legged strippers. Anything) and then told to pick their top three favorites. The subsequent list of favorites is then compiled into one “super list,” given a feral kitty named “Terry,” taken to old man Johnson’s farm for some good ole fashioned cow tippin’, made to smell stinky Steve’s wet armpit and then presented to you, our faithful readers.

In our last edition we awarded US Pizza the highly prestigious “Fayetteville’s Bestest” award for bestest deck/patio in town. This time, we’re going to dig deep and fill you in on the best place to get your booze.

We’re drinkers here at the Fayetteville Flyer. Whether it’s beer or wine, hard liquor or wine coolers (Ted Dancin’), we love to sit outside and relive the good times while tossing back a few. You could say that we’re experts on the subject of booze and where to buy it. Since we know so much about the area liquor stores, it’s only natural that we’d eventually clue you in as to be best spot to buy your liquid party sauce. So, here it is: Fayetteville’s Bestest Liquor Store:

#1 – Liquor Mart & Wine Shoppe

Hands down, Liquor Mart is the place to go in Fayetteville for your booze needs. While they may not boast the best selection in town, you can’t scoff at it either. The real reason why Liquor Mart can lay claim to be being Fayetteville’s Bestest Liquor Store: Their staff. Always friendly, always helpful and won’t make you feel like an asshole just because you don’t know the subtle differences between champagne and prosecco. Also, you can load your cooler up with free ice and their selection of 22’s is pretty damned good. This place is the shit.

#2 – Liquor World

According to the Steve, Liquor World’s “got the selection to make your booty go (smack).” And I promise you, that’s no lie. The selection at Liquor World is by far the best in the area. Whether you’re looking for a hard to find bottle of wine, a sixer of your favorite German lager or just a really tasty liqueur to sip on after dinner, Liquor World’s probably got it in stock. If some of the staff were a little friendlier, they would have been a serious contender for the #1 spot. Despite a lack of friendliness, the folks at Liquor World are helpful when you need them and won’t treat you like an idiot when you ask a question. Liquor World is in the upper echelon of liquor stores in Fayetteville for a reason.

#3 – Crossover Liquor

Crossover Liquor, on the corner of 45 and 265, is a little bit out of the way for most, but it’s a great store to hit when you’re in that neck of the woods. The friendly, helpful and Chicago Cubs loving staff treat you well when you’re perusing their excellent beer selection. Thirsty and hungry? No worries, my friend. On the weekends you can stop by and pick up some beer and a delicious hot dog from the vendor outside. Nawt Bawd!

Others: (4) Dickson Street Liquor, (5) Friendly Liquor, (6) Spirit Shoppe, (6) Wedington Liquor, (6) Liquor To Go

Points Breakdown:

18 – Liquor Mart
9 – Liquor World
6 – Crossover Liquor
5 – Dickson Street Liquor
4 – Friendly Liquor
2 – Spirit Shoppe
2 – Wedington Liquor
2 – Liquor To Go

How it’s scored: Each writer gets three votes. First place earns 3 points, second earns 2 and third brings in 1. The totals are calculated and the winner of the most points takes first place. Easy.

If you’re curious on how our writers voted and why, keep on reading.

JTrain:

1. Liquor World –Walking into Liquor World is like walking into heaven. Well, booze heaven. What I mean is that their selection is outstanding and I love being able to try all kinds of new beers and wines. Their beer coolers are clearly marked and their wine varietals are as well making it easy to find what you’re looking for. Some of their staff aren’t openly friendly, but they’re not pricks either. Just give it some time and they’ll warm up to you. I love Liqour World.
2. Liquor Mart – The dudes at Liquor Mart are super friendly. It’s almost a pleasure handing over money to those guys. Need free ice? Just bring your cooler. Need a decorative gift bag complete with a decorative ribbon? They’ll give it do you free and will even curl the ribbon with scissors for you. This place f’ing rules.
3. Crossover Liquor – Years ago, this place was a total dive. A few years ago they tore down the old store and build a very nice new one. With a long row of beer coolers, and a decent selection of wine and liquor, combined with some a pretty friendly staff, this place is very deserving of a top spot in the Fayetteville’s Bestest competition.

Ted Dancin’

For me, a good liquor store is all about how friendly the staff is. I drink Miller Lite and that’s about it. Every once in a while, I’ll get some gin or vodka or cheap champagne but I’m never looking for anything rare so pretty much everyone has everything I’d ever want. Here’s my list.

1. Crossover Liquor - The dudes that work here are always running around trying to make you happy. Lots of “I’ll be with you in a moment” and “You need help carrying this out?” type of comments. This is nearly unheard of in a liquor store.
2. Liquor To Go - These folks are so nice that I sometimes go out of my way to drive down there instead of going to the Spirits Shop which is waaaaay closer to my house. Plus, I kind of feel for them ever since Sam’s moved in next door.
3. Friendly Liquor - I’ve heard that these guys are not so friendly sometimes. However, they are always really friendly to me which makes the name even more badass.

The Steve:

1. Dick Liq - Sure, the selection isn’t that great, and sure the prices are kind of high, but you can’t beat the location. Dickson St. Liquor is the perfect place to buy the booze to fill your flask before the big show. Whether you are going to a wedding that doesn’t serve beer, or you’re an underage coed who wants to get drunk before you go to the bar so that if it takes a while to wash the black x’s off your hand it isn’t quite as big of a deal, Dick Liq has got you covered!
2. Liquor World - These guys got the selection to make your booty go (smack)
3. Liquor Mart - The selection isn’t bad, and these guys rule.

Farrah:

1. Liquor Beer Wine Mart - Love the newly expanded selection. Very nice staff and always gice you a nod if they recognize you but maybe not your name. They have gift wrapped liquor for me for FREE… And were quite nice and charming about it. The dude even knew how to make the ribbon curly for Christ’s sake. Always first choice in my book.
2. Liquor World - Number 2 on the list due only to proximity between my job and my home. They DO have a lot of selection. They do have a lot of “couldn’t care if you shop here or less” attitude.
3. Dickson Street Liquor - the Neighborhood Market of Liquor Stores. Has what you need when you need it, and most importantly where you need it. Nothing over the top in selection, price or value — just convenient. And for such a small place I have NEVAR had an issue with parking.

TomForth:

1. Liquor Mart - While Liquor Mart can’t claim to have the best selection in town, they make up for it in customer service. Whereas other places may be stocked with tons and tons of exotic wines, imported beers, and obscure liquors (most of which sit on the shelves getting dusty from never being purchased) Liquor Mart simply carries what you need–guaranteed. What sets Liquor Mart apart from the rest, however, is the staff. They’re always friendly, and even if they sometimes don’t know what they’re talking about, they’ll go out of their way to help you.
2. Liquor World - Easily the best selection in NWA, but would it hurt to hire a friendly person to work there? Even just one?
3. Dickson Street Liquor - Dick Lick is small, and the people who work there can be a bit on the smug side, but hey, it’s a block from my house.

Squidge:

1. Liquor Mart - I was just telling my mother the other day that the old LM is my favorite liquor store, hands down. All of the people that work there are more than helpful AND they are super nice. Also if you buy some beer there and bring your cooler in you can load it up for free out of their personal ice machine.
2. Friendly Liquor - It may be a bit over-priced and have one of the poorest selections in town, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t super convenient.
3. Spirit Shoppe - If you’re really not wanting to talk to anyone, pick up your 40 oz. and get the hell home this is your type of store. The dudes that work there don’t give a shit, but in that I-like-you-just-fine-I-just-don’t-give-a-shit sort of way.

Strokitecture

1. Liquor Mart - Hands down the easiest, friendliest, and classically simplest place to buy some booze…and the selection is never disappointing. The staff is well rounded in their knowledge of both wine & liquor and never treat you like an asshole for asking.
2. Wedington Liquor (new location): I have my personal bias, considering my close personal relationship with the architects, and have to roll with this store because their new location is super cool. The wine selection is primo because the owner is a connoisseur. I’m down with any owner that is willing to spend the time and effort on good design, to the point that I will sometimes make the effort to roadtrip west to get some booze.
3. Friendly Liquor: I love irony?

Dern Lanningham

1. Liquor Mart - I like the dudes that work there, they almost always have what I want, and it’s close to my house. They also have a good selection of 22s and 24s, which rule when you only want a beer or two.
2. Crossover Liquor - Why not? It’s nice and the dudes that work there are nice, even though that whole store in all about the Cubs. At least someone in Fayetteville is into baseball, even if it is the biggest bandwagon crybaby team ever created.
3. Spirit Shop - Whatever