Best-Rated Online Liquor Stores

Compare Online Liquor Stores in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Whisky and More, Big Barrel, Bottle-O, Liquor King, Bottle-O, Super Liquor and Liquorland and were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Customer Service, Layout of Website, Relative Price, Range of Products, Value for Money.

See our Ratings Methodology.

Most Satisfied Customers | Whisky and More

Cheers! Once again, the drinks are on Whisky and More, as the retailer takes out Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers | Online Liquor Stores Award for the second year in a row.

How we rate online liquor stores

Our review compares online liquor stores on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared liquor retailers before you go ahead and make a purchase. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which online liquor stores they think are best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 504 Kiwis who had made a purchase from an online liquor store in the past six months and asked for their feedback on their purchases.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their online liquor stores from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:

  • Overall Satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with an online liquor store as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Customer Service: the online liquor store’s customer service was helpful, knowledgeable, and dispatched orders quickly and correctly.
  • Layout of Website: the retailer’s website is easy to navigate and provides sufficient product information. The process for ordering and paying for goods is simple and efficient.
  • Relative Price: the prices on offer are competitive when compared to those of other liquor retailers.
  • Range of Products: the range of products on offer is wide and offers a variety of different brands/options for each type of alcoholic drink.
  • Value for Money: the prices offered are reasonable given the quality of the products and the retailer’s delivery service.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall Satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall Satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Retail brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • Whisky and More
  • Big Barrel
  • Bottle-O
  • Super Liquor
  • Liquorland


Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.

Best online liquor stores in New Zealand

  1. Whisky and More
  2. Big Barrel
  3. Bottle-O
  4. Super Liquor
  5. Liquorland

Whisky and More

Ratings Results

Last year, Whisky and More achieved a truly remarkable clean sweep of 5-Star results across every category to win Canstar Blue’s Online Liquor Stores Award. And although it doesn’t quite mange to replicate that feat in our 2023 awards ratings, it still earns a set of customer ratings that set it well ahead of the field. In total Whisky and More earns two 4-Star ratings and four top 5-Star ratings, including for Overall Satisfaction.

Editor’s Notes

As its name suggests, Whisky and More specialises in top single malts, Scottish blends and international whiskies. But it also stocks a full range of beers, wines and other spirits.

Established in 2010, Whisky and More has built an international network of suppliers and cuts out the middleman to deliver the best products directly to NZ consumers at the best prices.

Whisky and More’s aim is to provide its thirsty Kiwi customers the best deals in the country. And given the retailer’s outstanding result in our awards over the past two years, it’s clear it’s delivering on its promise.

Whisky and More delivers direct to your door for $4.99 (up to 12 bottles North and South Island) or free if the order is over $200.


Big Barrel

Ratings Results

In the three years since the inception of our Online Liquor Stores award, Big Barrel has always place in the top three. In 2021, it won our inaugural award, last year it placed third, and this year it comes in second, with a set of admirable customer ratings, including 5 Stars for Value for Money. It scores just one three-star rating, for the layout of its website.

Editor’s Notes

Big Barrel is 100% NZ family owned and operated, and has grown from a single store in Napier to 43 stores nationwide. Its online offering provides two options: shop your local Big Barrel (online) and click and collect, or shop from Big Barrel’s full range, direct from its warehouse, and have your order delivered to your door.


Bottle-O

Ratings Results

One of three online liquor stores in the bottom half of our ratings grid, Bottle-O earns consistent 3-Star ratings across all categories measured.

Editor’s Notes

Bottle-O is an independently owned New Zealand liquor store brand. It offers a wide range of products, and its regular catalogues are full of great savings. Online, you can either click and collect, or have your order delivered.


Super Liquor

Ratings Results

Super Liquor earns just one 4-Star rating, although it is for Value for Money, which is always an important consideration. Across all other categories, including Overall Satisfaction, it earns 3-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

Super Liquor has been around since the 1970s, so you know there is decades of experience behind the brand. Operating over 160 stores nationwide, Super Liquor offers a huge range of products, ready for you to pick up at your convenience, or have delivered.


Liquorland

Ratings Results

At the bottom of our awards ratings for 2023, Liquorland earns a consistent set of 3-Star ratings across all categories measured.

Editor’s Notes

Liquorland is one of the most recognisable liquor stores in New Zealand, with well over 100 stores nationwide. And its online offering utilities that expansive network, featuring a huge range of products at great prices.

Another big plus for customers is the opportunity to get Fly Buys or earn Airpoints Dollars. And as Liquorland is a participant in the Fly Buys rewards program, customers can also redeem points for liquor rewards.

It’s worth noting that Liquorland does not offer delivery, just click and collect from a local store.

Other online liquor stores

Not all online liquor stores in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are two more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.

  • Fine Wine Delivery
  • Vine Online

Fine Wine Delivery

Editor’s Notes

Fine Wine Delivery specialises in fine wines from New Zealand and abroad, and stocks a huge variety of premier wines from around the world. However, it also offers a full range of spirits and craft beers.

It only has one retail store, based in Auckland’s eastern suburbs, so delivery is a must unless you live nearby. Fine Wine’s delivery charges vary depending on the size of your order. However, its current standard freight charges per case range from just $5.50 in central Auckland areas, through to $14.49 to rural parts of the South Island.


Vine Online

Editor’s Notes

Vine Online is an online only liquor retailer that stocks wines, spirits, beers and ciders. Its range of alcoholic drinks covers products for all budgets, from cheap party plonk through to premier wines and spirits.

And Vine Online’s delivery prices are as just as sweet. North Island deliveries cost $6.99 per order. Mainland deliveries are $8.99 per order. And if your order is more than $200, you only pay $1 for delivery. Note: there is a $40 minimum spend on standard deliveries.

Choosing the Right Online Liquor Store for You

One of the great things about shopping online for liquor is that you can sit and browse many different type of wines and spirits at your leisure, read their tasting reviews and discover new products. As such, our awards research reveals that for online liquor store customers, the Range of Products on offer is the most important factor driving their consumer experience. It’s closely followed by Layout of Website – something that’s equally as important when making online alcohol purchases.

In fact, Value for Money is only the third most important factor, while Relative Price (the price of a product compared to a competitor’s price on the same item) places last. However, the fact that cost isn’t rated more highly by our consumers is perhaps an indication of a very competitive market, one in which prices for wines and spirits are closely matched by rival retailers.

Overall, here’s how the consumers in our survey rank the main things they consider when rating their choice of online liquor store:

  • Range of Products: 28%
  • Layout of Website: 22%
  • Value for Money: 19%
  • Customer Service: 19%
  • Relative Price: 12%

About the editor of this page

This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.

More Information

Key statistics

Since the pandemic, have bought significantly more alcohol online: 34%

Try more varied drinks online: 33%

Drink more if the alcohol is there: 30%

Affected by online offers: 29%

Buy higher quality alcohol online than would in a store: 21%

Tend to buy more online than would in a physical store: 19%

Buy most of alcohol online: 17%

Feel guilty about the amount of alcohol they consume: 11%

Are a member of an online wine club: 7%

Often disappointed with online alcohol choices: 6%

Canstar Blue surveyed 2504 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from respondents who had made a purchase from an online liquor store in the past six months. In this case, 504 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.

The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Online Liquor Stores ratings:

  • 2022: Whisky and More
  • 2021: Big Barrel

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