The best alcohol delivery services for spirits, wine, and beer

Best overall: ReserveBar

ReserveBar is an online delivery platform offering everything from bottom- and middle-shelf wine and spirits to the very tippy-top, like Armand de Brignac Blanc de Blancs and Remy Martin Louis XIII. You'll also find custom engravings, fancy crystal and barware sets, and gift baskets. Reserve Bar offers both shipping and same-day delivery, connecting you with nearby liquor stores for faster delivery.

However, ReserveBar does charge a premium on common bottles and brands. We recommend going to other sites or your local liquor store for the bottom- and middle-shelf stuff and focusing instead on all the rare vintages and limited offerings — if you have the budget.

Read our ReserveBar review.

Best on-demand: Instacart

Instacart works with your local grocery and liquor stores to quickly deliver wine, beer, spirits, mixers, snacks, and party supplies. The platform is technically free to use, but you'll pay a delivery and service fee unless you're an Instacart+ member. Delivery fees start at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35, but will vary based on retailer, size of your order, and speed. There are also add-on fees for heavy orders or rush delivery, and you'll also want to factor in a tip for your delivery driver. If you plan on ordering frequently, we recommend springing for the $9.99 a month Instacart+ membership ($99 annual), which can significantly cut down on the fees you pay.

Stock and pricing depend on your neighborhood retailer, but you can expect all the big brands and bar essentials, as well as some craft brews, bottles from local distillers, and exclusive wines. They should cost you the retail price or a little more, though Instacart also regularly runs deals and promotions to save you some money. In many markets, you can also shop big-box stores like Costco and Sam's Club through Instacart, even if you don't have a membership, which is great if you're stocking up for a party.

Keep in mind that an adult with a valid ID must be home to receive alcohol deliveries, and your Instacart shopper will scan the back of your ID card to verify age. Instacart won't deliver alcohol to businesses or college addresses.

Best for sampling spirits: Flaviar

The world of fine and niche spirits can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to the scene. But if you're interested in trying small-batch whiskeys, vodkas, tequilas, and more, Flaviar is an excellent place to start. Upgrade to Black membership status ($40 a year) for perks like free shipping, delivery in as soon as 90 minutes, exclusive discounts, and first access to rare liquors.

Flaviar carries more than 20,000 different spirits, and you can choose from full-sized bottles or a curated Tasting Box filled with various samples. Discover bottles at your leisure or consider a subscription to try a new bourbon or whiskey each month. This alcohol delivery service offers many other perks, including member reviews, articles about different spirits, cocktail recipes, and interviews with industry experts.

Best for wine: Wine.com

There's no shortage of wine choices at Wine.com, where you can shop by variety and region, or browse various curated lists and deals.

Each product page features helpful winemaker notes, reviews from trusted critics like James Suckling, and additional information about the vineyard. There's also a live wine expert chat function in case you need extra help.

In addition to home delivery, the Wine.com offers order pickup from more than 10,000 participating locations, including Walgreens and FedEx. If you anticipate ordering often, get the annual $69 membership, which is called the StewardShip program, and gives you free shipping on every order for a full year with no purchase minimum.

Best for indie wine: NakedWines.com

NakedWines.com specializes in lifting up independent wine labels around the world. You can become an "Angel" who invests $40 a month directly in up-and-coming winemakers, and in return, you'll get wholesale prices (up to 60% off wine) and a gift bottle for each month that you order a case. The $40 also serves as a credit to use toward your wine.

Even if you don't want to become an Angel, you can still shop the large variety of red, white, sparkling, rose, and sweet wines on the site and try the filtering system. You can even browse winemaker profiles to hear directly from the source, read customer reviews, and easily shop all the wine from that maker.

There's a generous welcome offer of $100 off your introductory case with several options dedicated to red, white, rose, or mixed. For future orders, there is a six-bottle minimum, as bottles are sold in cases as opposed to individually. Most orders incur a $9.99 delivery fee, too.

Read more in our NakedWines review.

Best wine subscription: Winc

Wine clubs ensure your wine cellar (or rack) is never low in stock. Each month, you can try six new wines with a Winc Wine Subscription or 12 bottles each quarter. Fill out the Palate Profile for recommendations, approve (or swap out) the selections, and then rate your favorites for more customized matches. The subscription structure also includes 20% off and free shipping (on minimum of four bottles), but you can still purchase from Winc without a subscription.

Winc is a great way to learn more about your favorite types of wine. In addition to the ability to browse wines by varietal, region, sweetness, and body, Winc has a good selection of low-sugar, organic, and certified sustainable and vegan options too. Each wine includes tasting notes and recommended food pairings, but that information is only available online and doesn't come in the box with your wine.

See more of the best wine clubs.

Best for beer: Craft City

If you have a particular craft beer in mind — maybe you tried it while traveling or you bought it from a store once and never saw it again — chances are that Craft City carries it. Not only is it a great place to order alcohol online, but it also carries other fizzy drinks, like craft kombucha and craft soda. The nice thing is that you can buy single bottles rather than full packs, so you can create a fully customized beer stash when you order alcohol online.

What to look for when buying alcohol online

Selection: If you're ordering for a party, go for the widest selection possible so you can save on shipping and take advantage of bundled deals. Alcohol delivery services like Instacart and ReserveBar offer the widest selection of alcohol, but they might not offer niche organic wines or local craft beers. A wine or beer-only retailer is best for when you have a targeted interest or want to expand your palette and need expert advice.

Availability: Make sure that your area doesn't have specific regulations that limit or prevent the delivery of alcohol. Check the National Conference of State Legislatures' Direct Shipment of Alcohol Statutes page for the most updated information. Some states have no restrictions on spirit type while others only allow the shipping of beer or wine. Some liquor stores offer another shortcut option: ordering alcohol online and picking it up in-store.

Memberships: Many specialty alcohol retailers offer memberships for access to discounts, special bottles and reduced shipping. It is not required to have a membership, but could be useful if you plan to purchase on a recurring basis as opposed to one-off.