Black Friday Bourbon County Locations

Proprietor's is super exclusive and only released to stores in the same ZIP as the Fulton St facility. I believe it's 60612.

 

Is there a lot of stores in that ZIP? The last batch of Prop was something around 12k-15k bottles, so that's a shit ton to only release in a specific area.

 

He is messing with you.

Everyone has a different strategy, they will get posted here. You can go to Binny's and have a nice time waiting in line for 4-6 hours in the cold - many folks, myself included, will swear this is stupid and it is the last year they're doing it, and we'll all say the same thing next year. If you know shops that will get it in, some will be honest with you about what they're getting, some won't and are holding it for regulars. I am not sure about the Chicago vs. Chicagoland thing for Proprietors, unfortunately.

Honestly the best strategy on Black Friday is to remember it is just beer and that regular BCBS is plentiful and so delicious. You'll run across Prop and the other variants, most likely, at some point just before or after that day, so if you're attitude is, "Hey, I'd like to try 'em" you will most likely get a chance to do so. The only real need to go crazy is if you want amass several bottles/packs of each variant. If you're into the hustle/truck chase, call as many places as you can stomach and then build a route for that morning that does or does not include hanging out at Castle Vav. Good luck!

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...sightings-already-midwest-or-anywhere.131870/

 

Prop was available in the suburbs.

 

Originally i heard that Prop was only going to be limited to Cook County. However, Lake County received it as well. So, it's pretty widespread throughout the Chicagoland area...

 

One thing I learned last year is that I found tons of BCS just sitting at shit hole liquor stores...the types of places that people would rather spend $25 on two 30 packs of Natty Ice rather than a 4 pack of BCS.

 

Here are the basics

Every Binnys gets it. They all open at the same time. Pick one and get there early.

After that every liquor store is different. But for the most part it's about building relationships, so stick to the places you normally shop at. Go in and ask what their plan is. but for the most part they are locally owned and these stores will be more willing to help their regular customers. Not the guy that stops in 3 times a year for kbs, parabola and BCS.

 

Pretty much go to Binny's and wait in line is the easiest way to get some.

Prop is distributed to the entire Chicagoland area. So no worries there. Most liquor stores will release Black Friday, but some will not get stuff until later in the week, or just hold on to it and release it later. A few small mom & pops will break the date and sell stuff the week before, but scavengers will pick these places clean as soon as they are found. Binny's are pretty much guaranteed to release on BF, typically they will open at 9am or at noon and start selling. Each Binny's will be a bit different though. I have seen some sell at 5pm for example.

If you follow Facebook/Twitter of local stores you can find more information on when they are releasing, but if you are not from the area, this is more difficult.

Last year I went to a 9am release at a Binny's and then found a store releasing at noon, and another at 2pm.

 

One thing to note if you plan to go to a Binny's is that each Binny's has a different way they do it. South loop released theirs at noon, Skokie released theirs on that Saturday and Lakeview released theirs the following week. They also have different allotments.

 

@TboneRN

 

Binnys Lincoln Park which is next to goose island is the best place to go.

 

Seems like there should just be a forum topic somewhere that breaks down the best spots to go in most major cities instead of these piecemeal requests. And no this is not me volunteering to make one.

 

Good idea. Get on it.

 

As noted at the end of my post "not me volunteering to make one"

 

All stores get bourbon county, but Binny's Lincoln Park gets A LOT. You can wait in line at Binny's Lincoln Park and be pretty much guaranteed to get some (unless half the city shows up). You can wait at other liquor stores (even other Binnys) and be shut out if you are 70th in line. It's really a crap shoot, but 2 things are important regardless of your plan.

1. Show up early

2. Don't be a dick