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                                                                 Exhibit 10.17

March 3, 2000

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Scott Brian Clark
29 Herkimer Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583

Dear Scott:

         On behalf of Liquor.com, we are pleased to extend to you the following
offer of employment:

         1.  POSITION/TITLE - Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel and
             Member of the Executive Management Group. You will report directly
             to me as CEO and have senior financial and legal responsibility for
             the company and have such other duties commensurate with your
             position as assigned to you by the board of directors. Among other
             things, you will have senior responsibility for the overall
             financial and legal management for Liquor.com and be our primary
             interface with our outside lawyers and accountants. In addition, we
             expect you to meet with the bankers and investors to advance the
             company's private offering efforts and to assist in the
             consummation of our contemplated initial public offering which we
             expect to file shortly, including participation in "road show"
             events. You will also have a critical role in business development,
             focusing on the implementation of partnerships and business
             alliances within the eCommerce industry and elsewhere.

         2.  COMPENSATION

             -   $175,000 per annum, including "additional compensation" of:
                 -     $25,000 on the first anniversary of this agreement.
                 -     $25,000 upon the public offering of our shares or a
                       significant financing event.

                 -     "additional compensation" after your first year will be
                       determined by the Board of Directors but in an amount of
                       not less than $50,000.

             -   Benefits

                 -     Initially, the Company will pay the Cobra premium of your
                       medical and dental family insurance. Thereafter, you
                       shall be entitled to the


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Mr. Scott Brian Clark
April 11, 2000
Page 2

                       benefits established by the Company or, if such benefits
                       are not similar to your current indemnity plan coverage,
                       the Company will pay for the cost of a similar indemnity
                       plan or like coverage.

                 -     Participation in any additional bonus, stock option and
                       employee benefit plans, including pension and medical to
                       be determined by the executive management group.

         3.  OPTIONS - The Company will grant you options to purchase up to
             160,000 of common shares at $3.52/share under the Company's 2000
             Stock Option Plan which shall vest as follows:

                       - 40,000 to vest upon your starting date;
                       - 60,000 to vest evenly over the first 12 months;
                       - 20,000 to vest evenly over the next 12 months;
                       - 40,000 to vest upon the 2nd year anniversary of your
                         starting date;
                       - Any vested options will not expire prior to the second
                         anniversary of your termination or withdrawal. All
                         options become 50% vested upon a change in control of
                         the Company. The options will have such other terms as
                         established by the Board of Directors pursuant to the
                         Company's 2000 Option Plan.

         4.  LOAN - Liquor.com shall provide you a two year, non-interest
             bearing loan (or tandem stock appreciation rights) to allow you to
             immediately exercise vested stock options on a cashless basis. The
             loan will have such other terms as determined by the Board of
             Directors.

         5.  DURATION AND SEVERANCE - Your employment will be at-will. Only the
             Chief Executive Officer and/or the Board of Directors may terminate
             you, and any such termination shall require delivery to you of a
             90-day advance written notice of such termination. If you are
             terminated without cause, the Company will pay you a six month
             severance amount, based upon your per annum rate, within thirty
             days of your termination

         6.  STARTING DATE - On or about March 27, 2000.

         7.  FURTHER MATTERS - Further, Liquor.com agrees to immediately
             purchase Director and Officer (D&O) liability insurance, sufficient
             to adequately cover all officers and



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Mr. Scott Brian Clark
April 11, 2000
Page 3


             directors for any potential liabilities. It will be your
             responsibility to work out a proposal for D&O insurance, for
             immediate approval of the executive management group.

             Your reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for all travel and
             subsistence, including all reasonable such expenses incurred in
             commuting to the main office in Chicago will be reimbursed. As CEO
             I will review and approve your expense report.

             At your or Liquor.com's request, any issues arising under this
             agreement shall be settled through appointment of an independent
             arbitrator/mediator to be selected by the parties. If the parties
             cannot agree on such arbitrator/mediator, Liquor.com's outside
             attorney will appoint one. Costs will be split equally between
             Liquor.com and you. The venue for any arbitration (or action)
             arising under this agreement shall be New York.

             Upon any change in control you will have the option to terminate
             your employment and be entitled to a severance payment equal to one
             times your annual compensation payable within 30 days of the change
             of control.

         It is our pleasure to welcome you to Liquor.com. Please indicate your
acceptance of the terms of this agreement by signing the enclosed copy and
returning it to us.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         /s/ Barry Grieff
                                         Barry Grieff
                                         Chief Executive Officer


I accept the terms of employment as outlined
in this letter

/s/ Scott Brian Clark
---------------------------------
Scott Brian Clark

Date:  4/3/00
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