Discover the whisky of your dreams at Tacoma’s stunning new specialty spirits shop

With a literal library of spirits lining the walls from floor to high golden ceiling of a historic building, McCallum & Sons Whisky opened Dec. 12 in downtown Tacoma.

Owners Glen and Maxine McCallum promised a boutique spirits store with a heavy focus on whiskey, predominantly Scotch but also American ryes and bourbons, Japanese, French and Indian single malts. At least two dozen countries produce whiskey, in fact, and if you’re curious, you will discover a world of treasures at this stunning new store.

The name follows the Scotch whisky spelling, also followed in Canada. As the saying goes, only countries with an ‘e’ use it in their whiskey.

At 1115 A St., the vast selection also includes bottles of Cognac and its underrated (and often better value) older sister, Armagnac, as well as select gins and agave spirits, from fine añejo tequila to small-village mezcal.

“Honestly I couldn’t be happier with how the first few days of business have gone,” said Glen McCallum this week. “People are really excited about the store and are blown away by the aesthetic when they walk in.”

Collectors and neophytes alike will be wowed by the selection here, but it’s not intended to be intimidating. They strive to carry bottles in every price point — but they extend far beyond the familiar names of big-box stores.

Since announcing the concept over the summer, Glen McCallum has amassed more than 800 different bottles. Meanwhile, his wife and business partner Maxine McCallum honed the store’s design, with dark tones accented by targeted lighting highlighting the products themselves.

“We want it to feel like you’re walking into a Louis Vuitton or Chanel store but for whisky — minus the snooty attitude,” said McCallum.

A veteran who left the Army in May, Glen McCallum spent several years stationed in Europe, where he developed an affinity for Scotch while falling for the continent’s storied bar culture — and Maxine, who is German. They moved to Tacoma when he was assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and decided not to leave. When this historic space, previously home to Watermark Gifts, became available, the project took shape.

Rob and Kelly Richards of Tacoma Wine Merchants, a boutique shop and intimate wine bar in the Stadium District open since 2003, encouraged them to pursue it, insisting the area was ripe for such a place. Turns out it was in good hands, too.

When you enter, note the custom tile engraving on the entryway floor, open the second set of doors and take a deep breath: You’re gonna be here a while.

To your right, the bottles begin with American whiskeys, followed by Scotch — so much Scotch — leading to Irish whiskey, then international, featuring some of the highly coveted Japanese juice as well as Italian and Austrian takes.

To your left are non-whiskey spirits, and behind the long, low counter, the shining stars of rare and extra-limited-edition bottles.

Availability has always been an issue with long-aged spirits and coveted brands, but renewed interest in whiskey in the U.S. coupled with growing demand in Asia has further dwindled supply. The opening collection at McCallum & Sons is thus all the more impressive with several kingfish, including a 25-year-old Springbank, a modestly sized but highly respected distillery in Campbeltown, the Scottish peninsula hiding in the peat shadow of Islay. It retails for upwards of $1,000.

Oh, they get swankier from there.

For the rest of us, McCallum is likely to have just the right bottle for you or your very lucky gift recipient, right in time for the holidays.

Meanwhile, the couple will continue to work on the second side of the business: a lounge in the adjacent ground-floor space, the details of which are still in flux. It will likely entail member lockers to store bottles for on-site sipping and special event tastings.

McCallum & Sons Whisky Co.

▪ 1115 A St., Tacoma, mccallumandsonswhisky.com

▪ Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

▪ Details: boutique whisky store with regular tastings; follow on Instagram for updates on special ticketed events