RAT-A-TAT RYE
A Steal Even Al Capone Would Appreciate.

       "Prohibition Era Recipe" ... "The Good Stuff" ... No matter what you call it, Templeton Rye is a Chicago favorite. Maybe it's this iconic small batch rye's bright, spicy flavor. Maybe it's the prohibition-era mystique and connection to infamous gangster Al Capone. Maybe it's Templeton's price - low, at least in the world of rye. Through Sunday the 9th, that price is even lower.
        We're cutting more than 20% off the price of Templeton Rye through Sunday the 9th. That means you can grab a bottle of the good stuff for $29.99. Or a few. You can get more with a nice word and a bottle of rye than you can with a nice word alone.

Save the date for the
BIGGEST SPIRITS EVENT OF THE YEAR!
Binny's World of Whiskies
Thursday, April 25th 5-8 pm
at Binny's Lincoln Park
More details soon.

From the great Brophstradamus.

       If the world somehow doesn't come to an end this month, as some more... ahem... amateur prophets suggested, well, then here are my predictions for whiskey trends in 2013. Meticulously translated from quatrains into Ariel sans-serif 14 point.

• Bourbon, Double Barrel
       Angel's Envy started it with their delicious port pipe aged bourbon. Expect to see more extra finishing from producers large and small, as it fills yet another niche in the American whiskey market.
  
  

• Lucky Charms
       Watch for a expansion of single pot distilled Irish whiskies making their way to the shores of the new land. If recent releases such as the stunning Midleton Barry Crockett and the entire Redbreast lineup are any indication, the future is bright.
  
  

• Rising Sun
       If the world doesn't reach its final dusk this December, then the sun will continue to rise in the east, bringing with it more Japanese whisky. Watch for Nikka and more. !
  
  

• Vale of Tranquility
       French handbag and perfume conglomerates will continue to discontinue their best whiskies, all in favor of stuff twice the price and maybe half as good. Who knows until the new stuff is released? Wait, I do. Because I am the great Brophstradamus.
  
  

• 

  Congregation of Beards.
       More casks will find their way to and from the society of sleeve tattoos and unkempt beards, otherwise known as the American craft brewing scene. For example, check out New Holland's Beer Barrel Bourbon. Plus about a million beers.
  
  

• With our Hands
       Going out on a limb here, people. Binny's will continue to offer the best values and greatest expressions of whiskey out there with our Handpicked program. Bank on it.
  
  

• Black Label to White Dog
       The dark tide will turn. The recent trend of adding "Black" to brands will brighten as big producers release younger and fresher (meaning cheaper and rougher) offerings.
  
  

       Don't miss about Binny's Top 10 of 2012. We asked our specialists from Chicago to Champaign for all their favorites. Can you guess our number one spirit?

• Our very own Brett Pontoni now keeps the Quaich. Which is a totally honorable position in the Scotch industry and we aren't allowed to joke about it.
  
  

• Big Bottom Whiskey is coming soon. Varieties include a zin barrel finished bourbon, a port cask finished bourbon, and a straight bourbon. Big Bottom? Talk about mud flaps, this whiskey's got 'em.
  
  

• Look! Another vodka on The Whiskey Hotline! But Next Star Vodka is from Chicago, so we have to give them love. Tastings.com seems to like it. Sounds good to us.
  
  

• The latest Master's Collection from Woodford is a bourbon aged in white oak, then finished in maple and wine barrels. Here now, but not for long.
  
  

• A global classic is finally available in the states. Bol's Barrel Aged Genever comes in a stylish 1-liter ceramic bottle full of uniquely fat, oily and botanical experience.
  
  

• Another chance to age your own whiskey, this time from Wisconsin distillery Yahara Bay.
  
  

• Want some old G&M Glen Grant bottlings? And we mean old, with ages ranging in the 40's to late 50's. Also ranging in price from expensive to very expensive. You know who to call.
  
  

• Also got a couple Rhone barrel finishes from outstanding distilleries, expertly bottled by our friends at Gordon & Macphail. Like this. And this.
  
  

• Know somebody celebrating a major anniversary or birthday in 2013? We have you covered with Maison Gelas, awesome Armagnac with vintages including 1983, 73, 63 and 53.
  
  

• We're finally seeing a wider variety from indie bottler Provenance. If you're looking for independents for good value, check out their Bowmore, Highland Park, Macallan and Inchower.
  
  

• Miss out on the last round of Balvenie Tun 1401? The new Batch 6 is here and going quickly.
  
  

• Speaking of reappearances from long lost independent bottlers, there are new Hart Bros on our shelves, with affordable selections from Caol Ila, Highland Park, Springbank and more.
  
  

• Concannon Irish Whiskey
  One of our most requested Irish whiskies from ... a winery? In California? Anyway, the juice is as Irish as it gets and inexpensive to boot. Slainte!
  
  

• Cody Road Rye
  Our neighbors to the west, Mississippi River Distilling Company, followed up their bourbon and excellent seasonal spirits with this outstanding young rye. Also, we started a rumor that we might Handpick our own barrel of this stuff.
  
  

• MacGavin's Single Malts
  You like quality, young single malts for a great price? New to Binny's is the MacGavin's line, which includes Highland, Islay, Speyside and Lowland bottlings for just twenty bucks each. Always good to have on hand.
  
  

• New from Bruichladdich
  Your favorite Hebridean distillery is back in the news. First up, more single-farm, Islay-grown barley in the form of the 2006 Dunlossit. And if that doesn't float your boat, Port Charlotte The Peat Project is a multivintage vatting of Port Charlottes bottled at 92 proof. Peaty! And the newest Links Series release is out too. K Club is the new 14 year old, and the price has dipped since the last release. And the Laddie 16 will be here any day.
  
  

• Compass Box
  Compass Box Great King Street New York Blend is a one-off edition of Great King Street that was made for some tasting in New York. Think smokier, richer and fuller than the original Great King Street. Binny's is one of the few retailers West of the Hudson to get some. It's rare enough that you won't find it on our website. Wink wink.
  
  

• Clear Creek Bierschnaps
  Here's how it went down. Our friends from Clear Creek came to visit and they brought an extra bottle of something special. About twenty years ago, they distilled a local microbrew, then put it in a barrel and forgot about it until just recently. We loved it, so we had 'em bottle it, and we bought it all. Awesome stuff.
  
  

• Pierde Almas
  More designer Mezcal. Pierde Almas has a wide offering of varietal bottlings, plus seasonal rarities. Also pechuga and conejo, which are distilled with wild turkeys and rabbits respectively. Because when you respect wildlife like we do, you want to drink it.
  
  

• Buffalo Trace White Dog
  Here come the long-awaited White Dogs of Buffalo Trace's rye and wheated mashbills. Remember tasting their first mash a couple years ago? See if you can use these white whiskies with your Age Your Own Whiskey Kit to clone your own hard-to-find BT classics.
  
  

• Distiller's Editions
  We finally have an official Royal Lochnagar bottling. In related news, we also have a Glenkinchie Distiller's Edition, and a Clynelish, and a Dalwhinnie 25 year Limited Release. It's almost as though Diageo were throwing a yard sale.

       The Binny's Handpicked program has always had three pillars: quality, price and natural strength whenever possible. In 2012, we added a fourth: breadth of selection. We started with just a handful of indie Scotch bottlers and one or two American distillers. The program has grown. From up-and-coming micros to iconic greats, and even some crazy stuff, 2012 has seen an explosion of variety in Binny's Handpicked releases:

• Angel's Envy
       Our Handpicked Angel's Envy vatting is here, in Binny's stores, right now. Our custom blend of this innovative new bourbon takes what you like about Angel's Envy and amps it up, with huge caramel and cherry fruit. We're one batch in, and this is already one of our favorites.
  
  

• Single Malts
       Our 2012 Handpicked Scotch Selections are in. Yes, Signatory too! You'll love our 18 year old Bladnoch, 14 year Laphroaig, and our 21 year Mortlach.
  
  

• Buffalo Trace
       This legendary distiller is a cornerstone of our Handpicked program. 2012 saw more exclusive bottlings of Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Blanton's, E.H. Taylor ... did we forget anything? There's another Buffalo Trace batch slated for early 2013.
  
  

• Willett
       Our Handpicked Willetts are already running low. We have a broad range of ages, all at cask strength. 4 year, 5 year, 6 year, 7 year, 8 year (wheated), 9 year, 10 year, and three different 21 year olds. All are insanely affordable for their rarity. Our tasting notes. Yeah, we're kind of a big deal.
  
  

• High West
       Our two High West picks are here and are cooking. You can never have enough rye, and these are amazing. Our Double Rye saw age in barreled Manhattan barrels (how cool is that?).
  
  

• And More
       What else did we do this year? Ocho Anejo Cask Strength single barrel was cool. And our own Jack Daniel's Single Barrel. We have some Cognac and French brandy picks on the way. We have our own 1792 Ridgemont Reserve coming soon, too.
       Rumors for 2013? We're looking at some interesting Caperdonich, some old vintages of Balblair, Dufftown. And we're teaming up with Mississippi River Distilling for our own Cody Road Bourbon & Rye. Plus something to do with beer. And Burnside....