Help picking a bottle from Binny's

@Benancio

How many bottles can this person transport for you? I would find as many value bottles ( by value I mean something you want at a reasonable price that you can't find at home) as he can carry, buy in advance and have him pick them up.

@Nozinan , thx that's good advice. I don't want to impose on his hospitality but I will ask him what he's comfortable caring. I think 2 bottles would be fine. Benny's carries so many independent bottlings of distilleries I've never seen or tried. Locally our best selection comes from Total Wine, which carries the standard line of single malts.

If you were getting something from Binny's what would it be? Thx

Probably not a deal breaker but make sure to keep in mind the 11.95% sales tax on the retail prices, if purchased in the Chicago and metro area That said, the current sales tax is considerably lower than the combined county + state tax imposed only afew years ago.

@cherylnifer it's not a deal breaker but something to consider, thx

If you are interested in indie bottlings or "less common" bottles that might not be available to you, try one of these:

Signatory Blair Athol 1999 11 yo Blackadder Glen Spey 1990 12 yo Gordon & Macphail Tormore 2000 13 yo Cask Strength Gordon & Macphail Ardmore 15 yo Signatory Glen Elgin 1996 13 yo Blackadder Raw Cask Clynelish 1995 19 yo (200ml bottle) Chieftain's Choice Longmorn 1994 13 yo Gordon & Macphail Scapa 2000 11 yo Port Charlotte 10 Heavily Peated Gordon & Macphail Caol Ila 2007 7 yo JW Green Label Longrow Red 11 yo Cabernet finish Signatory Glenburgie 1995 19 yo Signatory Linkwood 1998 16 yo Compass Box Flaming Heart Compass Box Lost Blend

@TheConscience That is a nice selection of independent bottlings. I'll look for reviews and consider them. I've had Clynlish, Longmorn and JWG, I enjoy them very much. Thank you for the list.

Binny's is one of the few places holding the line on Laphroaig 10 CS at $60 instead of the $70+ that most places charge these days. So that's my value pick.

Have you already filtered the website on sale items? Binny's has been clearing out IBs this spring and still have lots left, though many of those still available are the ones that they won't ship. So pay attention to which Binny's location has the bottles you're eyeing. The good deals here are very good deals.

You can also filter on "handpicked casks" to find some single barrels exclusive to Binny's.

All that said, I'd go for the Longrow 10 100 Proof if your buddy is going to the right location.

@OlJas good idea, I'll do some of the filtering you suggest. I'm a little apprehensive of the SB independent unless someone has tasted them and give it a stellar review. I'm definitely no counting them out.

Longrow 10y 100 proof has an amazing review by @PeatyZealot. PeatyZealot reviews are right in my wheelhouse, Talisker DE, Ardbeg Corry, Sprinbank 12y CS.

How does the Longrow 10y 100 compare to the Springbank 12y CS?

Thx for the help.

Living in Wisconsin, and having visited Chicago numerous times over the years I've found most Binny's (in particular the Highland Park store) to have an exceptional selection of whisky.

If I were to get something from Binny's - I'd have to say the Ancnoc Peter Arkle #3 Bricks, and #4 Warehouses.

@FMichael thx I'll consider Ancnoc, it's a distillery I've never tried. @galg has done several reviews of Ancnoc.

@Benancio I'm with Nozinan on that one! You should go for whiskies you can't have in your state.Saying that, it doesn't have to be IB. For example, if it is true that they still have Amrut Portonova and Intermediate Sherry, you should consider these two Indians. This apply also to Glenmorangie Companta. And to show you that I am not against IB, here is a last suggestion, binnys.com/spirits/…. There is also a large selection of Longrow and ... About the money you can save on product already available in your state, is it worth 20$ to loose an opportunity to have a Whisky you will never taste otherwise? So have fun, making a choice is building the anticipation of nice evenings to come. Cheers!

@Robert99 Portnova sounds amazing. I looked at your list and it reminded me how much you like Canadian whiskey. I see that Binny's has Wiser's but not the Legacy, they do have Lot 40. I plan on going with Nozinan and your advice and look for a bottle or 2 I can't getting locally. Thx for the help.

Note that Robert99's Macallan pick is an in-store only bottle, and the one store that has it is the Lakeview location. But if that's where your buddy's going, then boo-ya.

And I totally forgot about Amrut. When I window-shop on the Binny's site, I almost always filter on "scotch." Good calls there.

And speaking of getting beyond scotch, maybe take a look at stuff from the English Whiskey Co. I live up by Madison, Wisconsin and never see those on local shelves, but Binny's has them: www13.binnys.com/all/english/… That "dual cask" is peated and cask strength (though NAS) for just $50. If it's the same one I ordered from them a while back, I can vouch for it being solid (and unusual of course) and a great value. Their regular CS peaters is also on sale ($60) and it's the one that comes in the great-looking bottle. And I bet that peated "Fountainhead Collaboration" is a single cask. $40! Remember that EWC is the outfit that the old Laphroaig distiller helped set up.

Binny's also has a single cask, cask strength version of Corsair Triple Smoke for $70. I'd be interested in that. I had just a couple glasses of the normal 40% version last year and thought it was interesting but far too watery. The CS version might kick some serious ass for all I know.

And you asked about the Longrow 10 100 Proof. I haven't had it, but what more would one need to know to expect greatness? Longrow, check. 10 years old, check. 100 proof, check!

On IBs: Binny's does have enough weird ones to warrant some caution, but something like CS Caol Ila is sure to be great. Binny's has a few of these.

They also have the cask strength Big Peat Christmas 2014. $75 and well-reviewed here by our own @Fiberfar: connosr.com/reviews/douglas-laing/…

If you can't get Balcones near you, that's an interesting one too. I wasn't a fan of the Brimstone, but lots of smokeheads totally love that stuff.

And there's another Connosr thread going on right now about age-stated Japanese whiskies getting scarce. Binny's has about dozen Japenese whiskies, most of them with age statements: www13.binnys.com/all/whisky/…

OK, I'm done now. Sorry to unload on this thread, but the quesion is bringing back all the excitement I had when I first discovered that Binny's existed and could shop all this awesome stuff to my house.

(ship)

@OlJas no need to apologize I appreciate the help. I know exactly how you feel, when I looked at Binny's site I quickly wanted 10 bottles and had questions about 10 times that.

I thank you All for help.

Benny's rock!

Thank you for all of your great suggestions and to those that sent messages directly! I can't believe the number distillers and expressions I have yet to taste. My wish list has expanded thank to everyone and Binny's.

I've made my choice. I can't wait to sample what I expect to be an amazing experience.

Amrut Intermediate Sherry Matured Indian Whisky

@Benancio I'm very confident you won't be disappointed.

Amrut Intermediate Sherry B No. 05 Feb 2012, just made it to my house. I took my friend to dinner for picking up the bottle for me. He went straight from the airport to the brewpub where we blew the froth off a couple.

We will be tasting it tonight, my son is in town should be fun.

Tasting note will follow.

Thx guys!

@Benancio to appreciate it best make it the first dram of the night. Anything else with Sherry or peat will likely make it less amazing.

@Benancio

Interesting, I just checked and my bottle is Batch 5 May 2011. I wonder why such a large difference...

@Nozinan @Victor this is one of the very best Sherried scotches I've ever had. Thank yo so very much and to you all that recommended it. And to everyone that added to my wish list, I will purchase them, thank you.

My son came into town for the Memorial Holiday Weekend. God Bless those that sacrificed their life for my freedom!

Earlier this year I found 3 bottles of Black Bottle 10y, amazing stuff.
Tonight we started with Black Bottle original as a primer, second was Black Bottle 10y extremely good.
As a primer for the Amrut I poured Tomatin 12y, a mildly Sherried scotch. Finally I poured the guest of honor "Amrut Intermediate Sherry".

I can honestly say, it not only held its own, it definitely was the star of the evening! Spicy in all kinds of ways, the sherry reminds me of Old bottles of macallan cask strength, maybe better. For a first tasting I'm extremely happy that I bought this. The spices are there in spades! If you have the chance buy a bottle.

Note that the Longrow 10/100 that PeatyZealot reviewed was the European 57% version. In the US (including at Binny's). we get the 50% version. Different ABVs, but still "100 proof" depending on your location's definition of proof.