Going to Binnys!!

[Gov]

I am heading to Binny's this Thursday and want to get a few reasonably priced Bourbon's. I like the rye heavy stuff (WT 101, OGD BiB, EC 12 etc) But, I am not opposed to some wheaters maybe Old Weller 107? I am looking for something that Binny's may only carry. I dunno, I am open for your suggestions.

Regards.

[callmeox]

If you're going to the South Loop store, you can sample a few pours in their tasting room before buying. The prices for the pours are very reasonable.

[Gov]

If you're going to the South Loop store, you can sample a few pours in their tasting room before buying. The prices for the pours are very reasonable.

Going to the Schaumburg store

[bluesbassdad]

I am heading to Binny's this Thursday and want to get a few reasonably priced Bourbon's. I like the rye heavy stuff (WT 101, OGD BiB, EC 12 etc) But, I am not opposed to some wheaters maybe Old Weller 107? I am looking for something that Binny's may only carry. I dunno, I am open for your suggestions.

Regards.

Hopefully one of your fellow Chicagoans, such as Chuck, will give you some inside information as to what's available "in the back".

Failing that, take a look at their website and keep an eye out for Binny's hand-picked barrel bottlings, for example here and here . Or start here for the big picture.

If I were making the trip and looking for rye-heavy bourbons, my purchase would probably include this and this .

As a rye fan you should also consider a rye whiskey or two, such as this, this and this. Also ask whether there's any Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye hidden in the back.

You might try calling their whiskey hotline before you set out. The guy to talk to used to be Brett, but I don't know whether he's still there.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[ILLfarmboy]

...

You might try calling their whiskey hotline before you set out. The guy to talk to used to be Brett, but I don't know whether he's still there.....

I second that. Brett is the man to talk to, he'll tell you what they have, things they have that aren't listed on the web site.

[spun_cookie]

they got that 27 yr Willett SW Juice Cask that is now down to 22 bottles left of the 24 (Bird and I just had to have one)

[Rughi]

I am heading to Binny's this Thursday... I am looking for something that Binny's may only carry. I dunno, I am open for your suggestions..

Binnys has/had a few specialties that may interest you:

AAA 10yo

Buffalo Trace with Brett's collaboration on the barrels

Elmer T Lee

I'm intrigued by their 3 FRSB selections, but that's pricier than you said you wanted.

Would you also go to Sams? They have the Saz 10yo and I think they do a Buffalo Trace Single Barrel, which is really funny because BT was never meant to be a single barrel.

Roger

[spun_cookie]

Definitly get the AAA 10 yr... great bourbon/$

[fishnbowljoe]

That is a nice store. The only Binny's I've had the pleasure to visit so far. If you haven't been before, don't let your jaw hit the floor when you see their selection of bourbons. I like the Weller bourbons. Try the 107. It's one of my favorite pours. They also have their own bottling of Weller 12 yr old. It's darn good too. Don't forget to sign up for your Binny's card! Have a good time and let us know how it goes. By the way, where do you call home? Joe

[Gov]

Thank you for the suggestions. What is AAA 10 yr??

Home for me is in the far NW suburbs of Chicago, more specifically in Lake in the Hills :grin:

[Rughi]

Thank you for the suggestions. What is AAA 10 yr??

Home for me is in the far NW suburbs of Chicago, more specifically in Lake in the Hills :grin:

Ancient Ancient Age 10 year (don't settle for 10 star)

It's one of those underpriced gems of decent whiskey in the same way as Heaven Hill's various BIB bottlings. Once a fixture available in Kentucky and occasionally other states, my understanding is that it is rarely seen anymore except at Binnys.

I have always thought that this and the HH 10yo BIB were distillery "thank yous" to Kentucky.

Roger

[cowdery]

Ancient Ancient Age, a 10-year-old Buffalo Trace bourbon. It's not widely distributed around here but Binny's always has it and it's an exceptional value.

You don't say where you're coming from, but it's possibly someplace where Four Roses isn't available, so by all means get some Four Roses. They should have a couple different expressions of the Single Barrel that Brett selected. Any Four Roses is good.

Any of their hand-selected barrels are worth consideration.

Stock up on Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond, another exceptional value.

[Gov]

I went today and picked up the following bourbons

Rittenhouse BiB X 2

Sazarac 6 yr

WL Weller 12 yr

EC 12

They no longer carried AA 10 yr in that store

I also picked up one Irish and several scotches

[bluesbassdad]

I went today and picked up the following bourbons

Rittenhouse BiB X 2

Sazarac 6 yr

WL Weller 12 yr

EC 12

They no longer carried AA 10 yr in that store

I also picked up one Irish and several scotches

That looks like a good assortment to broaden ones horizons without busting the budget. I've never had the Saz 6 y/o, but I've found the others enjoyable.

EC 12 prompts the widest range of reactions of any bourbon I know of. If it doesn't strike your fancy at first sip, give it time. It has a way of growing on people.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[birdman1099]

I went today and picked up the following bourbons

Rittenhouse BiB X 2

Sazarac 6 yr

WL Weller 12 yr

EC 12

They no longer carried AA 10 yr in that store

I also picked up one Irish and several scotches

I was at the downtown store friday, and they had alot of the AAA 10 yr !!! (and 2 less willett 27 yr):grin:

[cowdery]

I went today and picked up the following bourbons

Rittenhouse BiB X 2

Sazarac 6 yr

WL Weller 12 yr

EC 12

They no longer carried AA 10 yr in that store

I also picked up one Irish and several scotches

Did you make those selections entirely on your own or did a store associate assist you by making recommendations? It's a good selection and if any of those choices were an associate's recommendation, they have some folks there who know what they're doing, which is nice to know?

[Gov]

Did you make those selections entirely on your own or did a store associate assist you by making recommendations? It's a good selection and if any of those choices were an associate's recommendation, they have some folks there who know what they're doing, which is nice to know?

No, the associates were basically of no help. The store was jam packed today, and the employees were running around like crazy. The recommendations were posted here on this great website. Thank you for that! I like rye heavy boubons, so, with the exception of the Weller (wheater), I am sure I will like all of them.

I just opened the EC 12 and really enjoyed it very much! Wonderful nose and great finish. It was a good choice!

The only bourbon I have had that I don't like so far was MM. Too much like caramel corn and pancake syrup :bigeyes:

[cowdery]

Opps, then you're right, you may not like the Weller.

But I'm glad my faith in the worthlessness of most retail associates wasn't misplaced.

[SBOmarc]

Opps, then you're right, you may not like the Weller.

But I'm glad my faith in the worthlessness of most retail associates wasn't misplaced.

I think I understand your faith, or lack there of. I am the one that educates the vast number of retail associates when I shop for Bourbon. It also means other shoppers mistakenly think that I work there.

Happens way too much.

[cowdery]

I keep thinking people like me should be in high demand to do product knowledge classes with liquor store employess, yet I'm not.

[CorvallisCracker]

I keep thinking people like me should be in high demand to do product knowledge classes with liquor store employess, yet I'm not.

The reason is simple: the bottom line.

It would cost to pay you to do that. Knowledgeable employees might want more pay.

And where's the up side? If the customer is already in the store, he is going to buy. He may not feel as confident about his choice as he might if given some guidance by a knowledgeable employee, but he's still going to buy.

One of the two local liquor stores had, until recently, a guy who knew a lot about whiskey (both bourbon and Scotch) and a fair amount about rum and tequila. He was a full time (40hr/wk) employee. He was recently laid off in favor of two part time (20hr/wk) college boys who work for a lower hourly rate. Neither of these children know squat about the product.

But that doesn't matter to the owner - he's making more money this way.

[unclebunk]

Hey guys! I woke up this morning with no kids on my hands, so I decided to make a Binny's run to re-stock my Very Old Barton BIB and check out a few other low cost items like the AAA 10 year old. I have the good fortune to be within 15-30 minutes drive of four different Binny's stores and usually shop at the Willowbrook location which is always well stocked but never has the VOB for some reason. Having never been to the Schaumburg location I thought I'd give them a try for a change after reading about their great selection. I called ahead and confirmed that the VOB was in stock but was told that the AAA was "a discontinued item" and to try the South Loop store. I went there instead and picked up two AAA 10's (leaving a half dozen left), four VOB BIB's, a Weller Antique and a bottle of Virginia Gentleman which I'm looking forward to trying tonight for the first time. Nobody could tell me if the AAA would be discontinued at all Binny's stores or just some locations.

It's an odd thing about Binny's but many of the stores stock different stuff, so you have to shop around. The Willowbrook store hasn't had the Rittenhouse BIB for several months, while the Glen Ellyn store had plenty. (The South Loop had none either.) The South Loop had tons of ORVW 90 but no 107 proof, while Willowbrook had plenty of both. The Four Roses Small Batch is sometimes tricky to find at all locations as well but I'm always happy as a clam to grab the Single Barrel or Yellow Label instead.

[cowdery]

When I was at Binny's Jefferson Street on Saturday they had no Rittenhouse of any kind, except the expensive one in the locked room. I was surprised to see a large set of VOB, but look again at your bottle. It's 100 proof, but not BIB. The long-rumored demise of VOB BIB seems to have arrived, but only the BIB part has departed. A 100 proof expression is still very much on offer.

[Rughi]

The long-rumored demise of VOB BIB seems to have arrived, but only the BIB part has departed. A 100 proof expression is still very much on offer.

Chuck,

I remember a few years ago when you posited the "do we really need anything other than VOB" topic.

Do you think the non-BIB's profile will be different? I would guess going away from BIB would help Barton to remain more consistent.

Roger

[cowdery]

I don't anticipate any problems or any changes. BIB makes them jump through some hoops that few customers care about any longer, or even understand, especially when you consider that VOB is a value brand. This way they can create a batch and use whiskey from different distillations to hit both the profile and the number of barrels they need to dump. (Different distillations is mostly the issue. It's all going to be from one distillery and one distiller, which are the other two requirements.) They can also start with the 100 proof, bottle as much of that as they need, add water for the 90 proof, and so on, which probably will streamline their operation. Before they had to make sure the BIB met those requirements. Perhaps they were doing what I described, with the dilution, but they were doing it with essentially a bonded product. This way they can, as I said, just simply match the profile, as long as nothing they use is younger than six years.

The timing was probably just a matter of when the old labels ran out. We should keep an eye-out, though. It's possible they're going to keep it BIB in its core markets and just market the non-BIB in new markets, like Illinois.

It's important to remember that in Kentucky, VOB's sales are comparable to Jim and Jack. It's one of the best selling bourbons in the state. I always say that's because people in Kentucky know a good bourbon and know a good value. Considering all that, I don't think they're going to mess with the brand. It's just too valuable the way it is.

The fact that stores like Binny's are now carrying it tells me both they and Constellation are listening to people like us, and that's nothing but good.

I also expect that before too much longer, we're going to see some more top shelf bourbons from the Tom Moore Distillery.