Chicago Rum Festival

[Edward Hamilton]

Chicago is a mecca for spirits lovers with some of the best selections in the country.

The Ministry of Rum invites rum lovers, and those who just want to learn more about sugar cane spirits, to come to the windy city to meet the people who make some of the best rums in the world - while enjoying these wonderful spirits.

I'll be publishing more details in the coming weeks.

[RobertBurr]

It just so happens I'm driving three thousand head of cattle across the prairies to the Chicago stockyards in June and I plan to be kinda thirsty when I arrive. I might take you up on that offer.

Cowboy Bob

[Dood]

Depending on the dates....why not? How can I say "No" to rum?

[JMac]

Originally Posted by Dood

Depending on the dates....why not? How can I say "No" to rum?

I can't either but the other half can!

[mcmachete]

I'll be in Chi-town mid-May...

Any idea when this will be?

[primate77]

Unlike Robert, who plans on "riding herd" from so far away, I'll be fortunate enough to only have to make a 2-1/2 hour drive.

Please keep us posted, if my schedule is open, I'd love to be there, and hope you are still tinkering with the idea of some sort of tasting or event in Central Illinois

[Edward Hamilton]

Friday June 27 and 28, 2008 are the dates for the Chicago Rum Festival. Here's a link to the latest information.

[primate77]

Ed - I am in distress... you picked dates when I will be at Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri!!!

I am in Chicagoland right now in fact, and will be visiting a Binny's outlet or two on this trip.

Ed mentions Chicago is a great place for spirits and I assume specifically rum, if Ed is talking about it.

You can't swing a dead cat in the Chicago area without hitting a liquor store.

So - outside of the two biggie outlets in Chicagoland - Binny's and Sam's Wine and Spirits, anyone have a good suggestion where I might find a few nuggets of gold, a great deal or at the very least, an awesome selection?

I live in the wide open prairies about 2-1/2 hours south of the big city, so I don't get up here all the time - I'm as you would say, on that cattle path on the way that Robert Burr will be driving his cattle through!

[Edward Hamilton]

Both Sams and Binnys have several stores so don't expect to find everything in every store, the newest Sams at 50 E. Roosevelt Rd. and the store at 1720 North Marcey Street, just off North Ave and Sheffield have the widest selections but the other stores are also well stocked.

Binnys on North Clark St and their newest store at 1132 S. Jefferson Street have the best selections of the Binnys stores, if you only have the chance to visit one or two stores in Chicago. But having said that there are other Binnys stores where you might find something which has been overlooked such as a bottle of Demerara rum bottled by Bristol Spirits that is no longer being bottled.

There are a couple of boutique stores on Wells south of North Ave that have stocked some hard to find rums in the past.

[primate77]

I'll have to check out those two Binny's in the city next time I venture into the forest of tall buildings downtown Chicago.

I did stop in the Binny's out in Glen Ellyn today, and was a bit disappointed. The store seems most concentrated on wines, rum was one fairly short aisle. I found Party Source in Louisville to have a much larger, in depth selection that this outlet, which kind of surprised me.

I "think" they had the bottle of demerara by Bristol you were talking about; one on the shelf marked for $134. Sound about right?