By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A new Hays local liquor store seeks to offer a unique selection of wine, liquor, beer and cigars conveniently located near Interstate 70.
Lauren Mack and Josh Tanguay opened Stone House Spirit & Cigar, 4320 Vine, in a 3,000-square-foot storefront at Tebo Village and hope to make their mark with a unique selection of regional and carefully selected brands.
The couple said they saw a need for a liquor store in north Hays with easy access to the interstate.
"That is one of the things that we're passionate about is the experience that liquor and cigars bring for people," Mack said. "For us, it is trying new things and experiencing those different pieces."
Tanguay, who has a continuing therapy practice, and Mack, who has an ongoing vet practice, said they have been working toward the store since spring 2022.
The store offers daily tastings of a variety of wines and liquors. The wine samples are in a special dispenser that features both white and red samples.
"We want to share a great bottle with a friend or as a gift, and that is where the inspiration comes from," Mack said.
She said the store focuses on creating a great cocktail or having a great bottle of wine. However, the store also has a walk-in beer cave and carries craft, domestic and imported beers.
"It doesn't have to be expensive to be great," Mack said. "Those are not synonymous things. We have many great bottles of wine. We have one that we have already sold a case of. It's a $12.99 bottle, and it's amazing. It would rival any red."
She said she wants to have quality across the price points.
"I want someone who is new to wine to find something that is approachable at the right price," Mack said. "All the way up to someone who is a really dedicated cabernet drinker."
Withco is a mixer line from the southeast. This month the store is featuring old fashioneds, which Tanguay said is still the most popular cocktail in America. Withco makes a mixer for old fashioneds. Simple Times is another mixer line the store carries.
The store also commissioned a Stone House Single Barrel Whiskey that was specially bottled for the store.
"We think a lot of people love great cocktails, but not a lot of people want to put in the patience and effort to be really good at-home bartenders," Tanguay said. "It's a lot of work, and it's kind of expensive.
"There are a lot of higher-end mixers out there that are really good."
The couple has tested more than 40 of the products for the store. If they would not buy it again, they didn't stock it in the store, Mack said.
If you need bartending accessories, Stone House has that too. This includes Lolita Glassware, which is handpainted.
The store has a large dedicated section of all local wine and liquors, as well as a beer-cave door dedicated to local beers, including Hays' Defiance Brewing.
Other Kansas names include Boot Hill, Shiloh Winery, Smoky Hill Winery and Grace Hill Winery.
"We want something you can't get somewhere else," Mack said. "When we travel we go look for products like that. I don't want the products I can get at home. I want to try something unique to the region."
The store has multiple cigar humidors, which are calibrated to maintain the correct temperature and humidity for the products.
Tanguay said he also wanted to keep the cigar selection accessible. The store also offers cigars at a variety of price points for beginners to connoisseurs.
The store buys its cigars directly from manufacturers. Tanguay said he believes this will allow Stone House to carry some labels other stores may not. The store also carries cigar accessories.
In the past, Mack said she would have loved to buy her husband cigars as a gift but never knew before what to choose. The staff at the store can help shoppers in their selection process.
In designing the Stone House space, the couple focused on a shopping experience that you might not find in other liquor stores. They widened the aisles and took advantage of natural light as much as possible. You also won't find a design cluttered with neon or alcohol branding signs.
The name Stone House was inspired by the limestone homes and buildings in Kansas. A portion of the interior is decorated in native limestone.
The store has a website and will be launching an app soon. The store will offer online ordering for pickup. A cigar loyalty program will launch with the app. The store also carries ice.
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
You can contact the store at 785-621-2699. Follow them on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at www.facebook.com/stonehousespiritandcigar.