By David Landis, The Gay Gourmet—
When you walk into Full Proof Bottle Shop on 18th Street in the Castro, the first thing you see isn’t whiskey or tequila—it’s a carefully curated selection of non-alcoholic spirits. That intentional welcome says a great deal about owner Brad Levine, a former Peace Corps volunteer and U.S. Department of Labor grant manager who made a bold leap from government service to retail spirits. The Gay Gourmet recently sat down with Brad to talk about his unlikely path, his philosophy of education over salesmanship, and why the Castro felt like home.
The Gay Gourmet (David Landis): Brad, your career trajectory isn’t typical for a bottle shop owner. Can you tell us about your background?
Brad Levine: I always say I had two feet in two different worlds. I grew up being very civic-service minded. In high school in Massachusetts, my brother and I would volunteer at the local elementary school, helping kids with their homework. After college, I joined the Peace Corps in Honduras. My program was called Municipal Development. The whole point was to assist communities at the grassroots level, and we really did that. We built a real estate tax system from the ground up, which allowed the municipality to pay its employees on time and qualify for federal grant matching. What I’ve seen on Facebook since is that the town has really flourished into something like an artist colony, with statues and murals all over. I was only a small part of it, but it was absolutely amazing.
David Landis: What brought you to San Francisco?
Brad Levine: It was a tumultuous time in my life when I was going through a transition. I found a position here with the U.S. Department of Labor doing grant management and compliance work. We ensured that money going to cities, counties, nonprofits, and municipalities was actually reaching the people it was supposed to serve. Two programs I especially loved were the re-entry program, which helped justice-involved individuals gain skills while still incarcerated. That way, they could transition to better-paying jobs. I also worked with YouthBuild, which took high school dropouts, and provided them with both a high school education and pre-apprenticeship experience. I was honestly ignorant of the amount of barriers incarcerated individuals face. These programs really helped people clear those hurdles.
David Landis: So how did you make the leap from government work to spirits?
Brad Levine: A couple of things happened at once. The Trump administration came in, DOGE happened, and there were reports that my department—the Employment and Training Administration—was slated for roughly 50% layoffs, with rumors of even more. Out of fear, I left on my own terms, and took the buyout. I had previously owned a liquor store in Washington State, which I absolutely loved. But I failed at one really important thing: delegation. For the better part of three years, I basically lived in that shop and burnt myself out. Ever since then, no matter what I was doing, I always kept an eye out for available liquor stores. When this one in the Castro came up, it was sort of the perfect storm.
David Landis: What drew you specifically to the Castro?
Brad Levine: I could give you the canned answer that it’s vibrant, but I think the Castro is something more. It’s special. It’s not just the businesses here; it’s the people. Anywhere else in the city, you’re not going to get that same welcoming spirit. The Castro grew out of counterculture, and what that bred is a community of warmth and genuine friendliness. That’s what my partner and I loved about it.
David Landis: You let customers taste spirits before they buy. Was that willful?
Brad Levine: Absolutely. First and foremost, Full Proof Bottle Shop is an educational place. We want customers to know everything about a spirit before they buy it, and sometimes that means offering a taste. When I was a customer myself, I would spend $100 on a bottle based on a salesperson’s recommendation. Half the time, I would come home disappointed. All of us have different palates. By educating our customers and letting them taste, we can ensure, to the best of our ability, that they leave us happy. Just recently, a customer walked in and said, “That’s a terrible brand.” I took the time to educate him about it, and he left with that very same bottle.
David Landis: The non-alcoholic spirits section right at the front of the store is a wonderful touch. Was that a deliberate choice?
Brad Levine: Completely intentional. We’re in the Castro, which is an inclusive place. We want everyone to feel welcome. Traditionally, a bottle shop draws you in with the alcohol. But we made a deliberate choice to put the NA (non-alcoholic) section front and center. No matter who you are, that’s the first thing you see. It’s for the people who don’t drink (alcohol), but still want that habit of relaxing with a sip after work. It’s really gratifying. A prominent activist in the NA movement came in recently and was genuinely surprised by the breadth of our selection.
David Landis: You’ve really leaned into gins and amari. Was that your personal choice?
Brad Levine: Honestly, it wasn’t my first instinct. My plan was to fill about 70% of the shelves with standards and leave 30% open to community feedback. Typically, whiskey leads, then vodkas and rum, with gins and amari as secondary categories. But the community here told us loud and clear: gins and amari. So, we listened. Week by week, we hand-selected what we carry: classics everyone knows, plus some hidden gems that people may not have discovered yet but will love once they do.
David Landis: Do you have personal favorites among the spirits you carry?
Brad Levine: It’s like picking among my babies! For amari, it’s the Scarlet. I don’t usually like bitter, but this one balances bitter and sweet in a way that’s truly extraordinary. I can sip it on its own, serve it to guests, even pour it over ice cream. I saw it on the menu at a fine dining restaurant for $20 an ounce. Then there’s Gin Primo, a salt gin from Italy. When a rep first suggested it, I said, “Get it away from me.” I tried it, and it beautifully balanced classic gin flavors with a lovely salinity. I thought, if I don’t carry this, what am I doing? For whiskeys, Old Fitzgerald 7-year is
phenomenal, and The Fiddler is a real sleeper. It’s made in Indiana, which some people frown upon, but everyone who tries it says, “Oh, my god, that’s delicious.”
David Landis: Since I write a food column, I have to ask: Which spirits pair best with which foods?
Brad Levine: Whiskey and meat, that’s just an amazing combination. Rum pairs beautifully with anything tropical or Caribbean. Tequila and Mexican food are a classic for good reason. Vodka, I think, pairs wonderfully with a pre-dinner amuse-bouche. And gin is truly the most versatile of all. It pairs with fish, charcuterie, even sushi, or a curry. As for amaro, it’s the perfect digestif: just a small sip after dessert, and you’re done.
David Landis: What’s your favorite gin cocktail?
Brad Levine: I’ll go basic: the martini. But here’s why. With just two or three ingredients, changing the ratios will produce wildly different results every single time. You can make endless variations, and the best martini is probably the one you’re making at home, tuned exactly to your own taste.
David Landis: I understand Sam Smith’s crew was shopping with you during their run at The Castro Theatre. How has the theater’s reopening affected the neighborhood?
Brad Levine: Sam Smith’s crew were some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and we definitely saw an uptick when they were in town. The concert lines now stretch all the way down to 18th Street, which is just fantastic to see. What’s good for one business is good for us all.
David Landis: How has the broader Castro community welcomed you?
Brad Levine: Wonderfully. Michael from The Edge has accepted us with open arms, just incredibly kind and generous. And Gordy from 440 stops by, too. Whenever you see him, he brightens up the whole room. The bars in the Castro have been nothing but welcoming to us.
David Landis: Any plans for the future you’d like to share?
Brad Levine: We’re excited to eventually bring in winemakers and master distillers for educational events. We’ll create real symposiums on spirits and wine: how they’re made, and what makes them special. We’re still getting our feet under us, but give us a few months, and we’ll be ready to start planning. We’re also thinking about community events that bring people together in new ways. Getting out there can be hard, and we want Full Proof to be a place that helps make connections happen.
Bits and Bites
I just got finished reading Lost Treasures of San Francisco by Maria Lenhart (from Reedy Press)—and it was wonderful to revisit some of our city’s best restaurants, including: Blum’s, Ernie’s, Trader Vic’s, and Stars, among others. Do yourself a favor and buy the book for a wonderful trip down San Francisco’s culinary memory lane.
Gay Wine Weekend, one of the country’s most beloved LGBTQ+ wine and lifestyle events, proudly will return to Sonoma Valley for its 15th Anniversary Celebration July 17–19. The anniversary weekend will feature a full lineup of signature events and exclusive wine experiences. Highlights will include Winemaker Dinners and Wine Tours, and a Drag Queen Brunch & Wine Auction benefiting Face-to-Face, a local Sonoma HIV/AIDS nonprofit.
Full Proof Bottle Shop is located at 3978 18th Street in the Castro: https://www.fullproofsf.com/
Lost Treasures of San Francisco: https://tinyurl.com/yc8a6wfh
Gay Wine Weekend: https://www.outinthevineyard.com/
David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. You can email him at davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: https://gaygourmetsf.com/
The Gay Gourmet
Published on July 16, 2026
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