Gem in EVL: Leading seller of Bourbon in NYS
By Kate Bartlett
Tanya Whitwood is the manager of E-Ville Spirits & Wines located at 10 Monroe Street in the village of Ellicottville. She is deeply connected to Ellicottville as she was born and raised here in the village. “Our family all lived on Rockwell Street, and some still do. Some of you may know my parents Deb and Don Howard, they were the last owners of King’s Market in Great Valley.”
Shannon Carscallen opened E-Ville Spirits & Wines in 1991 as a 3rd generation Liquor and Wine store. “That was her drive, to be a part of her family legacy. This community needed something as it was ever changing and growing. She couldn’t have chosen a better location for her shop.” Tanya joined Shannon’s team in July 2021 after making the decision to leave Corporate America; and she has never looked back. “I am so thankful I decided to join her. Shannon is an amazing boss and friend! It has been great returning to my roots and take in how far this once little town has come.”
E-Ville Spirits & Wines stocks everything from Vodka, Whiskey, Bourbon, Gin, Tequila, Creams, & Scotch. Their featured products change from time to time, and currently they are featuring their own 2 bourbon barrels. “This season we have Bulleit 104 proof and Old Elk 110 proof. Before the barrels, our favorite bourbon is Blade and Bow. We have sold more cases of this bourbon than any other liquor store in New York State. If you haven’t tried it…. you need to.” They’re also featuring an all-female made Tequila named La Gritona with noteworthy salt balance for its price point. They have a variety of wine to suit everyone’s pallet. “From California to France, and even Argentina, we can get you what you want no matter the grape.”
“We make sure to go above and beyond to meet our customer’s needs. We consider ourselves educated in the products we sell. Whether we are talking about liquor or wine, Shannon has made sure that we know and taste our products. We’re able to describe the products to our customers in detail, where it is from, and offering a full description of nose, taste & finish. We have deep knowledge of our products, and our customers leave feeling confident about their purchase.”
“Our store is just what this community needs. We have customers who have traveled great distances, but mainly Ohio, Pennsylvania & Canada residents frequent our shop the most. Many people are generally quite shocked about how good our collection of Bourbon and Wine is here. We hear people comment how the building is very deceiving from the outside, it feels so much bigger when you come in or how they feel like they found a hidden gem.”
“The best thing about Ellicottville is the people by far” says Tanya. “Everyone is so nice. The shops here are so different than other small towns. The restaurants and food in this area are amazing as well. I know there are times we will step outside and every restaurant around us is cooking and all the delicious aromas are filling the air… it is so awesome.”
“My favorite thing about my job is my Boss and my team. Without them we are nothing. We have a great bond and work together very well. This is so important when running a successful business. Businesses that have a lot of tension can be felt by customers and we like to remove any tension from our environment so we can all be pleasant. I try very hard to keep owners from spending money on things that I can make myself. Whether it is tag labels, signs or just knowledge of a better way, I like to use my creativity to help the business.”
“I have heard more than once that many people didn’t even know that we are here, and they have been coming to the area for many years. I am working on changing that. Each guest in our town should know the businesses in the area, so I am working on a board game that will showcase local businesses and what they offer to each guest.”
E-Ville Spirits & Wines hosts monthly wine tasting classes typically on the first Thursday of each month at 6pm. During regular season, they also offer fun and educational bourbon tastings. They offer convenient delivery and curbside pick-up. Be sure to follow on social media @ E-Ville Spirits & Wines and check their website https://www.evillespirits.com for upcoming events, such as blind tastings this summer with various liquors and wines. They are also planning a wine tour in September to the Finger Lakes, check online, email Evillespirits@gmail.com or call 716-699-4474 for more details. They are also still accepting new members for our Bourbon and Scotch Clubs.
Final words from Tanya “Come in as a stranger, and leave as a friend.”