About
Cyclone Liquors
A staple in the beer, wine and spirits game since 1988, not much has changed about Cyclone Liquors. We value quality over quantity and love to share our knowledge and expertise with our customers. We boast over 1000 different beers, 1200 spirits and one of the largest selections of wine with almost 2500 options to choose from. If there is something you are looking for, we would be glad to aid you in finding it whether we have it on our shelf or not.
The Cellar
At Cyclone Liquors, we count ourselves among collector enthusiasts. We take Cellar collections seriously! We know that creating the perfect spirit cellar requires collecting those special products that will withstand the test of time.
We’ll get you started with vintage ports, Italian super Tuscans, the finest of Bordeaux as well as Napa’s big boys. But wine is just the beginning. We also have the finest beers, single malt scotches, Kentucky bourbons and everything else the perfect collection should hold.
Barrel Picks
Cyclone is constantly searching for new and different products for our many collectors. For this reason we will often invest money into entire barrel allotments of high-end product specifically for our store. It is not unusual for us to have almost one a month. Many of these products revolve around the popularity and scarcity of bourbon. Some of our recent barrels have included; Weller, Makers Mark, Jack Daniels, Eagle Rare, Elijah Craig, Buffalo Trace, Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve and many others. Check often to see what unique opportunity awaits you at Cyclone Liquors!
Social Media
You will find Cyclone Liquors and Cellar 626 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We invite you to follow our version of what we find funny, sometimes serious and various announcements about our events. Our goal is to have fun and enjoy our shared love with those likeminded individuals we call customers.
Who We Are
Karlton Kleis
Owner
A Des Moines area businessman. Karlton was one of the first investors to partner with Brian in protecting the Cyclone Liquors brand in 2009. He has had an interest in this area for some time and enjoys sourcing various products from his trips around the world. His goal of being unique and unlike anyone else in this market space has helped Cyclone stay on top of various trends.
An Iowa State alum, Roger Esser has been with Cyclone Liquors since 1991, and is currently the Managing Director. Central Iowans, industry experts and producers have come to appreciate the passion and level of expertise Roger brings to our store. Always happy to share his experience, Roger hosts over 40 tasting classes a year at Cyclone Liquors––and he will enjoy helping you find that perfect wine or spirit for your next special event. Stop in and meet Roger. He’ll help find the perfect product for you.
Living in Ames for the past 14 years, Tim would come into Cellar 626 to have a cocktail and became friends with everyone; which ultimately led him to joining the Cyclone Liquors team. Tim’s favorite thing about the industry is experimenting with new drink combinations. If you’re looking for a cocktail at Cellar 626, Tim suggests trying The Black Magic. “I love coffee and the cold brew in it has fun Mexican spices that go with the whiskey.” Outside of work, Tim enjoys anything outside- camping, kayaking, & hanging out with friends. When you have a chance ask him about his time as a USAW coach or his famous cure for hiccups.
Kaycee Webber
Assistant Manager
After working for 7 years in the Wine & Spirits Dept at a neighboring grocery chain, Kaycee was looking for a change that wouldn’t have her leaving the wine and spirits industry- so here she is at Cyclone Liquors! Walking through the aisles, she’ll be able to help you find your favorite wines- in doing so herself, she finds she loves Napa Valley red wines. In theme, Kaycee has two cats, Pinot & Cork. Themes are important to Kaycee & would suggest in planning a party to not be afraid to include themed drinks. In her free time, Kaycee likes to read, go to the movie theater and travel. When traveling, she enjoys trying new restaurants and cocktail bars. While learning the Cellar 626 menu, Kaycee has found that favorite so far is the Smoked Stan!
Brooke Barrett
Assistant Manager
Brooke comes to Cyclone Liquors with a vast knowledge of the beverage industry. What drew her to the team was the ability to use her past beverage knowledge & getting to know the customers and staff. “It feels like Cheers here,” Brooke says. Her favorite part of the job & industry are the good stories & knowledge about all the different liquors, spirts, etc. It’s opened her mind to traveling to different places based on learning about new items. When asked, her favorite wine region is Alto Adige in Italy. It’s at the very north side of Italy- it has a lot of art, history and different languages spoken. There are a lot of smaller vineyards in the region that work together helping each other out—a quality that Brooke brings to the Cyclone Liquors team.