Calling all whiskey lovers: If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate whiskey experience in all of Arizona, look no further than Batch — the official home of the state’s largest whiskey collection.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Ronnie Spece, owner of Batch at 118 E. Congress St. “It’s pretty exciting. It feels like a bit of a coup, having this in little ol’ downtown Tucson, at a homegrown ‘mom and pop’ shop, surpassing Phoenix, Scottsdale, etc.”
But what makes Batch stand out?
According to Spece, it’s the scale, first and foremost. “No one in Tucson is even close, and we’re about a couple hundred bottles ahead of the next closest in the state.”
Besides having more bottles than you can shake a swizzle stick at, the intention and diversity with which they’re curating their collection go the extra mile as well. “When we opened, we had less than 100 bottles,” Spece recalled. “We’re now approaching 1,200! We have whiskeys from all over the world, representing 19 countries.”
And you don’t have to leave your whiskey experience behind at the bar. Batch’s Bottle Shop is like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory but for whiskey. If you want it, they’ve likely got it, and if they don’t, they’ll help track it down for you.
Picture this: your very own private barrel of whiskey, hand-selected by Ronnie himself during his epic distillery adventures.
“The private single barrels are our pride and joy,” Spece said with eyes a-sparkling. “These were all hand-selected by us — many of them at the distilleries in Kentucky and beyond.”
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the choices? Fear not, Batch’s crew is here to save the day — acting like some whiskey superheroes on a mission to help you find your perfect match. We suggest considering a whiskey flight while you’re there, to help make matters easier… possibly.
Space assured us, “As whiskey continues to grow, we’ll keep growing with it; adding new and interesting bottles as we discover them.”
So, whether you’re a seasoned sipper or a newbie to the game, Batch is your ticket to whiskey paradise. Swing by, say hi to Ronnie and the gang, and let the whiskey magic begin. Also, head downstairs to check out their basement cocktail lounge, Snake & Barrel, which opened in late 2022.
Batch Cafe & Bar is located at 118 E. Congress St. For more information, visit batchtucson.com.
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