Updated: August 24, 2022

I’m a big fan of the city of Bend in Central Oregon and have been since I first visited in 2011. We’re regular visitors to the area and are lucky enough to spend time there at least twice a year. We have our favo(u)rites or old reliables as we call them when it comes to Coffee - Sisters Coffee, Backporch Roasters, and Strictly Organic. Restaurants - Spork, Jacksons Corner, 5Fusion, Barrio, and The Lemon Tree. Places to walk - Smith Rock State Park, Phil’s Trailhead, First Street Rapids Park, and of course Beer - Crux Fermentation Project.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted only one brewery on the above list! Having visited well over a dozen of Bend’s many, many breweries on the Bend Ale Trail back in the day I finally stumbled on Crux in 2015 or 2016, and it’s been a not-so-secret love affair ever since. We visit every time we’re in Bend for at least a pint and always bring some of their tasty brew home to Northern California with us.

So, with the latest chapter in my life being one of a journey into the world of Irish Whiskey, but also whiskey in the general sense, I feverishly tried to acquire a bottle of the Crux Fermentation Project & Pursuit Distilling Company Straight Bourbon Whiskey 50%abv/100proof first release. I must have called at least a half dozen liquor stores in Bend in early March in a vain attempt to get my hands on a bottle of what is apparently the most prized bottle in all of Oregon!

Having had a number of great chats with some of the very gracious folks in some of the liquor stores I decided to visit a few of them on our recent road trip and check out their selection of Irish Whiskeys and boy-oh-boy was I impressed!

Some items to note. #1. There is no State Sales Tax in Oregon. #2. Liquor is not allowed to be sold alongside beer and wine (unless in a standalone liquor store) and must be sold in its own enclosed area in a supermarket. Costco doesn’t sell liquor in Oregon, sadly!

Newport Avenue Market

1121 NW Newport Ave., Bend, OR 97701 | (541) 382-3940 | Website

Before I went exploring “the cage” where they sell their liquor this place was already great at making your credit card weep! You’d go in for a few items and before you know it you’d parted with $100 for items you never knew existed or that you needed. With that in mind and if you’re an Irish Whiskey lover, beware of the cage!

From bottom shelf to top they have a fantastic selection of Irish Whiskey and have given it its own full four-foot display with six shelves! When I visited in late May they had over 50 Irish Whiskeys on offer that included the usual suspects - Jameson, Tullamore DEW, Bushmills - but they also had three offerings from West Cork Distillery, some Redbreast depth, and a top-shelf that had my mouth watering - with offerings from Jameson and Midleton Very Rare!

Giorgio’s Westside

155 Southwest Century Drive, #100, Bend, OR 97702 | (541) 312-2229 | Website

Giorgio’s, which is located not too far from Newport Market on Century Drive on the westside of Bend has a solid selection of Irish Whiskey. They know their market here and to be honest, they have a massive selection of American - Bourbon and Rye - whiskey from across many states.

Again, they stock the usual suspects - Jameson, Tullamore DEW, Bushmills - but Clonakilty lovers would be happy with three on offer along with a couple from Silkie and Teeling. The top shelf offering was limited to a Bushmills Single Malt 16yo ($146) but overall a solid selection.

Trailhead Liquor

20516 Robal Rd., #130, Bend, OR 97701 | (541) 306-3747 | Website

Located in a newly built retail complex on the north end of Bend, Trailhead had an impressive selection of Irish Whiskey when visited. You may notice some missing bottles in the photo as I nabbed a Redbreast PX ($100) and a Power’s Johns Lane ($70) while I was here as I could no longer resist the decent prices for both and the incentive of no sales tax was the clincher!

The selection has a little more depth than the others seen on this trip with Clonakilty - five (5) available, Hyde - three (3) available, Powers - three (3) available - in addition to a Teeling Single Pot Still, Slane Special Edition, and Connacht Single Malt. Update: The top shelf selection here has expanded significantly and includes some gems from Bushmills and Midleton and a Writers Tears Cask Strength.

3rd St Beverage

740 NE 3rd St., Ste 5, Bend, OR 97701 | (541) 797-0028 | Website

Update: I finally made it into 3rd St Beverage in August of 2022 and was thoroughly impressed by their Irish Whiskey selection. They appear to stock pretty much every Irish whiskey available through the State-run OLCC - Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission - and have prices (state mandated) that are both cheaper and more expensive than where we live in Northern California.

They stock the usual suspects Jameson, Tullamore DEW, and Bushmills but you’ll find a comprehensive selection with over 60 available and some nice depth from Tullamore DEW and Bushmills. The top shelf, as with the other stores in Bend, is impressive where a rarely seen Red Spot was spotted!

In addition to the above, there are a number of other liquor stores in Bend that are on our radar that we’ll visit and write about the next time we head to Central Oregon - East Bend Liquor, Bend-South Liquor, and Wagner Mall Liquor.