Dan Murphy’s

Every parent needs a friend to stand by them in difficult times. My friend is Dan Murphy. We were a bit skeptical when it opened. Yet another supermarket chain bottle shop to appeal to the masses and drive the independents out of the market we thought.
Well, it probably appeals to the masses but it definitely appeals to me. A big store (at least by Hornsby standards) it has a far wider range than any of the other stores in the area. I’ve been able to indulge in a hobby of exotic liquers and cocktail ingredients.
I never have to worry about a birthday or Fathers’ Day gift for Dave again as he works his way through the (huge) selection of single malt whiskeys that Dan carries.
The staff know the products well and on occasion we’ve been able to try something that hasn’t been on general tasting.
Oh, and the prices are great. Definitely my best friend.

It’s not my favourite Dan’s. The store isn’t as big as most DM’s and it’s just not mind blowing.
The big drawback in this one is the aisle space. All it takes is one pirate sailing a trolley, with frigate-​sinking quantites of rum, down an aisle to ruin it for everyone. C’mon now! We aren’t pirates, you don’t need every last vestige of rum in the store. Arrrrggghhhhh. Speaking of rums, I’ve been here times when there are literally only 2 or 3 varities of the stuff to choose from. Being a bit of a rum proselytiser this situation vexes me. With DM’s buying power I want em all. Gunpowder, Kraken, Gosling Black Seal — and yes — Ron Zacapa, especially if you stock Ron Jeremy…
The Dan’s is in a great location, it’s ground floor right next to the car park, and two doors down from Woolies, so you can do all your shopping without having to worry about the rest of the shops. What also helps is it is well staffed. Despite being super biz, the lines move quick. There might be 4 or 5 checkout staff zipping peeps through which is the big plus here.

If you’re looking for alcohol at a low price (aren’t we all), Dan Murphy’s delivers. It’s cheaper than Woolworth’s Liquor (even though it’s owned by Woolies. go figure). Besides which, Dan Murphy’s stores are just better looking. Something about the layout, maybe. They just seem to be more spacious and well-​presented than regular liquor stores.
Generally though, it’s mostly the beers, wines, and mixed drinks that are cheaper. For some reason, the spirits are much the same as anywhere else. Smirnoff Voda is the standard $ 42, Absolut the standard $ 40. So if you’re a spirit girl/​guy (like me), you might not actually be better served by Dan Murphy’s. If, however, you’re the bourbon-​and-​coke, beer-​guzzling kind of guy/​girl, definitely go here for your reality-​altering needs.

Why would you buy your wine anywhere but Dan Murphy’s?
No…really, tell me why?
The prices are nothing short of staggering, especially when you compare them to your usual bottle-​o, or — shock horror — with restaurant prices! The savings are extraordinary, especially if you buy in bulk. And you should definitely buy in bulk.
Stock up for Christmas. Stock up for summer barbecues. Stock up for future trips to BYO restaurants. You can thank me later.
So Murphy’s law is supposed to be an unlucky thing, right? Not anymore. It’s high time you met Dan.