Cork N’ Bottle

This place is the best corner store liquor place I could ask for. The staff are friendly and it’s always a pleasant experience. It’s a bit pricier than Woodmans or another grocery, but I’d say it’s worth it for the convenience and experiencec.

Finally found dry Sherry!
(Matt tells me it’s other places but I felt like I was searching for days.)
I dig the fact these guys have a slim selection of things you can’t find elsewhere in town. And when I’ve called they’ve always been cool putting me on hold and checking the shelves before I drive over.

If you like booze they got booze… and they know a thing about wine.. .cuz they drink enough of it to know!
Dickie will feed your dog too many treats and they WILL get the shits.

Having been back to Cork & Bottle several times since my original review, I’ve interacted with other employees and have had a much better experience! I’ve updated my original 2-​star rating accordingly.
Still a great selection and very convenient location.

Delightful staff with a deep connection to the neighborhood. We moved to the southeast side, but continue to return for wine. They also have a nice selection of micro-​brews. They treat their employees like family and always offer a friendly, interested greeting to all. If you drop in on Saturdays, old friends/​employees/​customers gather around the counter for wine and cheese.

Fantastic selection of craft beer. My pooch also approves, he gets handfuls of treats every visit.

Cork & Bottle is a great neighborhood liquor store. They have a well-​curated selection of wine, beer and spirits. Overall, the staff is friendly and helpful; especially with questions about wine. The store is on the small side so they won’t have everything, but that shouldn’t stop you. Sure, you can go to Woodmans or Hyvee and find every alcoholic thing under the sun, but I urge everyone to come out and support a wonderful local business. If they don’t have something, just ask and they will happily point you to an acceptable alternative.
Bonus: Come on Saturday between 3 and 6 for a wine tasting. I’ve also seen some random liquor tastings as well.

They always are ready to give advise on what wine to buy in the price range the customer is willing to pay. Jim, the owner, will often pick out one or two that may be a bit more costly, but a big bump up in favor. They never make you feel dumb about wine and take the time to explain the differences between wines. I never go away disappointed when I spend a little more on their recommendation. They often get me to try something new like sparkling Pinot Noir rather than champagne.

This liquor store is one of the best places to buy liquor, wine and beer in Madison. The wine tastings on Saturdays are a lot of fun. Today was a sparkling wine tasting. There were at least nine bottles open. The store was full of people drinking champagne, sparkling wine, eating french bread and brie cheese. Their selection is often unique and fun. The staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and just nice.

This place has the most wonderful (FREE) wine tastings from 3−6pm on Saturdays. There are usually three people behind the counter to serve you and tell you all about the wines. One guy in particular is incredibly knowledgeable about each of the wines and loves to engage you in a conversation about what you’re experiencing while you’re drinking it. I love this, personally, but others might not. Plus, they actually will put out sharp cheddar and crackers to heighten the experience. Did I mention it’s free?! Well… initially it’s free, but I’ve been completely unable to resist buying a featured bottle any time that I’ve gone. ;)
Wine selection aside, they’ve got a great, unique beer and liquor selection. They are undeniably more expensive than say, Woodman’s, but I love them so much that I don’t even care. Support your neighborhood boozerie!

«Highest Employee to Customer Ratio in Madison» — funny stuff. There’s always like a family of cashiers behind the counter plus a wine rep wandering around.
And they give my pup treats. Nothing makes a dog walk better than picking up a six pack mid-​stroll.