Hop Sing Laundromat Unveils Most Expensive Well Selection in the U.S.

The hotly-anticipated Hop Sing Laundromat added more fuel to the excitement fire today, unveiling the deepest and most expensive well liquor selection of any craft cocktail bar in the U.S. In an interview with Eater, owner Lêe listed some of the high-end bottles that will be available at the opening, and his pricing model to handle the insanely high cost of the spirits.

"Even though we brought in high-price liquors for our well program, our base prices will be the same as any other cocktail bar in Philadelphia," said Lêe. "Most bars spend 20% at the most on liquor cost, and ours is between 52 and 64%. But, since we're not paying NYC rent, which can run $20,000 a month, we cannot and will not gouge our guests with NYC pricing. I want our guests to have the best at a legitimate price point."

The delays in opening Hop Sing Laundromat were attributed in some cases to construction issues with the space itself, but mostly it's been the cat and mouse game Lêe has to play with the PLCB to get rare and never-before-seen liquors inside the bar. It was well worth the wait, though, as his well list alone adds another layer of uniqueness to his already one-of-a-kind bar.

The list below indicates what Hop Sing Laundromat will offer in the well at opening, with a few more surprises on the way before ribbon cutting.

· Glenlivet 15 Year Old Single Malt
· Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Bourbon
· Johnny Drum Private Stock Kentucky Bourbon
· Red Breast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
· Hibiki 12 Year Old Japanese Blended Whiskey
· Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt Japanese Whiskey
· Pig's Noses Scotch Whiskey
· Rittenhouse Rye
· Willett Rye 5 Year Old
· Beefeater 24 Gin
· Plymouth Gin
· Nolet's Gin
· Dry Fly Gin
· Greenbrier Gin
· Ultimat Vodka
· Cold River (rare pure potato vodka from Maine)
· Belvedere Intense Uncut Vodka
· Ilegal Mezcal
· El Dorado 6 Year Old White Rum
· El Dorado 15 Year Old Special Reserve Rum
· Patron Tequila
· Chinaco Tequila
· El Grand Jubileo Tequila
· Don Julio Tequila
· Segvinot Cognac V.S.O.P
· Pierre Ferrand Cognac

"The list isn't complete, as I'm working on getting a whole barrel of whiskey just for our bar," said Lêe. "And, we're having Elijah Craig 18 Year Old in the well, too, I'm just waiting on the PLCB to come through. We're proud of the list."

Lêe wouldn't divulge any more information about a concrete opening date or his upcoming one-night test run, but did talk more about the exorbitant pricing he sees in Philly that closely compares to our neighbor to the north, and how he hopes to change the local landscape.

"Restaurants are a much different beast with chefs on payroll and food costs included in the prices they need to keep the lights on, but how can a Philadelphia bar charge the same price here that we see in NYC while using the very same liquors?" said Lêe. "We will be very conscious of our prices at Hop Sing Laundromat, while we continue to reach out to suppliers to bring new spirits here. We're proud to be uniquely Philadelphian in price, and in product."

· All Hop Sing Laundromat Coverage [~EPHI~]
· Hop Sing Laundromat [Official]