How to buy alcohol online and where to shop

Ordering beer online is an option fewer people have than with wine orders, but most Americans can still probably get their brew delivered. Here are two great sites to check out.

Craftshack delivers beer to every state but AK, AR, KY, MN, and UT, so most Americans can make use of this fine craft beer delivery service. The company stocks more than a thousand beers and uses a simple flat rate shipping charge. You order either the smaller box or the larger box and, depending on what region of the nation you live in, you always pay the same shipping price no matter what you stocked your box with. Of course things still get pricey if you order lots of fancy beers.

Tavour is a beer subscription service wherein you can regularly curate beer deliveries. This isn't the place to shop if you're stocking up for a party or the holidays, but if you love great beer and want to try all sorts of varieties, this is a great go-to.

Liquor is a bit trickier when it comes to online sales. Only eight states explicitly permit direct to consumer ordering and delivery, though people in many more states squeak by.

ReserveBar.com ships liquor across a vast swath of categories, including Scotch, rum, cognac, moonshine, mezcal, and more. The site is crisp and easy to navigate and each bottle offered comes with a detailed description of what you'll be getting. Which is appreciated, as many offerings here cost hundreds of dollars.

Can't wait a few days for that beer, wine, or whiskey, but don't want to head to the bottle shop yourself? No problem.

Drizly is yet another service that couldn't have existed even a few years ago. It relies on technology that links your search to the inventory of local liquor stores and can, in most cases, bring you a booze delivery in less than an hour. While not everything you want will always be available when you want it, because Drizly works with so many thousands of liquor stores (and wine cellars and craft brew shops), it will eventually offer the biggest selection of online alcohol in America. Currently, it serves just over 100 cities (and the metro areas close beyond) but Drizly is growing fast. And it's little wonder why. I mean ... booze delivery.

We've tested multiple services and their wines (a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!), and have selected some of our favorites for you to try. Whether you've been drinking wine your whole life or are just beginning to discover whether you prefer red to white, we've got you covered.

• Best wine subscription overall: Winc
• Best wine subscription for everyday needs: HelloFresh
• Best wine subscription for sampling: Vinebox
• Best wine subscription for pairing with foods: Blue Apron
• Best wine subscription for personalization: Bright Cellars
• Best wine subscription that evolves with your tastes: Firstleaf