One thing Costco is exceptional for is their private label liquor- their scotch and their vodka in particular.

I find the Costco Wine Blog useful.

@D4V3...you're actually well within the law of transportation of an opened bottle of wine IF you have it in a "sealed bag" with your original receipt attached to the bag so it's visible from the exterior. This is the answer I received from the Illinois Liquor Commission when seeking how to allow our customer who for whatever reason, may not finish a whole bottle of wine with their meal, to transport it home legally.

As in all things....I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV...

btw, "sealed bag" to the Commission simply meant top folded over and taped, stapled, or even tied in a knot.

D.G.Sullivan wrote:@D4V3...you're actually well within the law of transportation of an opened bottle of wine IF you have it in a "sealed bag" with your original receipt attached to the bag so it's visible from the exterior. This is the answer I received from the Illinois Liquor Commission when seeking how to allow our customer who for whatever reason, may not finish a whole bottle of wine with their meal, to transport it home legally.

As in all things....I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV...

btw, "sealed bag" to the Commission simply meant top folded over and taped, stapled, or even tied in a knot.

Hm. How does this work for taking open wine home from (or to, for that matter) a BYO place? I'm certain I don't have my receipts from 2006 purchases...

Aren't open containers in violation only if accessible? So just placing in boot (without long straws into vehicle) should mass muster?

sazerac wrote:Aren't open containers in violation only if accessible? So just placing in boot (without long straws into vehicle) should mass muster?

This is my understanding also.

Darren72 wrote:I find the Costco Wine Blog useful.

This is a handy tip; thanks.

My comment about a sealed bag with receipt I think was also to cover those walking home, walking to a car etc.. Open bottles even on foot could lead to trouble for the license holder if pushed to absurdity.

The Kirkland Brand silver tequila is very good. I had a big Cinco de Mayo party this year and grabbed some different handles of bottom shelf 100% blue agave handles from Binny's. When a bigger turnout developed I went to Costco to grab some more and got some of their house brand stuff. Sampled all three - their silver blew away the El Jimador and I forget what else the other brand was. I like my silver tequilas neat, and I'd rank it up there with El Tesoro which is one of my favorites.

Forget the price per bottle, but it's an excellent value.

Fast Eddie wrote:The Kirkland Brand silver tequila is very good. I had a big Cinco de Mayo party this year and grabbed some different handles of bottom shelf 100% blue agave handles from Binny's. When a bigger turnout developed I went to Costco to grab some more and got some of their house brand stuff. Sampled all three - their silver blew away the El Jimador and I forget what else the other brand was. I like my silver tequilas neat, and I'd rank it up there with El Tesoro which is one of my favorites.

Forget the price per bottle, but it's an excellent value.

I heartily concur. What's more, my-snooty-a-hole-thinks-that-he's-the-first-and-last-word-on-all-things-tequila friend just discovered it and says buying any other silver tequila is now a waste of money.

I usually buy a 6 pack of this and another 6 pack of that. I expect to pay $8.99 or $9.99 at Binny's and get the fun of shopping for 1/2 an hour looking for Pale Ales I have tasted in a while. Costco has nothing like the selection. I've also found that for the el cheapo wine I drink, Binny's 1 1/2 liter is at least a dollar cheaper on an $11 bottle.

sazerac wrote:Aren't open containers in violation only if accessible? So just placing in boot (without long straws into vehicle) should mass muster?

When I was a much younger man, I had a VW beetle with the trunk in the front. The glove-box had an opening the size of the width of a beer can. The only time I had to use it, the cop laughed so hard at me trying to feed a 12 pack through the hole one beer at a time, he let me slide for being stupid. But, this is Chicago. I would never expect CPD to behave in a rational way. For instance, a friend's 75 year old father recently received a $200 fine for carrying an unopened six-pack in a bag of groceries through a public park. Another friend was forced to pour out a six pack of non-alcoholic beer in a public park. The cop said it was for the sake of appearances. I say he should have gotten life in prison for drinking non-alcoholic beer in the first place.

spinynorman99 wrote:

Fast Eddie wrote:The Kirkland Brand silver tequila is very good. I had a big Cinco de Mayo party this year and grabbed some different handles of bottom shelf 100% blue agave handles from Binny's. When a bigger turnout developed I went to Costco to grab some more and got some of their house brand stuff. Sampled all three - their silver blew away the El Jimador and I forget what else the other brand was. I like my silver tequilas neat, and I'd rank it up there with El Tesoro which is one of my favorites.

Forget the price per bottle, but it's an excellent value.

I heartily concur. What's more, my-snooty-a-hole-thinks-that-he's-the-first-and-last-word-on-all-things-tequila friend just discovered it and says buying any other silver tequila is now a waste of money.

Per the upthread rec I bought a bottle of the Kirkland vodka. I don't drink much vodka, but my wife insists on Grey Goose. IMO opinion it's silly to spend that kind of premium on something that has a platonic ideal of no flavor, but I did a side by side and I can't tell much difference between the two. I believe I shall be decanting the Kirkland's into her Goose bottle from now on, she'll never know the difference.

ALSO - has anyone seen the InBev German Weiss beers stocked at Costco in Chicago? I'm in Indy, and they always had it the past 4 summers but nary a drop to be seen this year. Those were great values, it was $21 a case or so for Hacker Pschorr or Hofbrau or whichever one it was they carried in the past. I hope they don't pull the Hofbrau Oktoberfest off the shelves this fall, that's also an excellent value.

I agree that a lot of the Kirkland liquors are good for mixing, we've been happy with the vodka and have used the bourbon to make Mint Julips for Derby parties. I usually get one or two cases of beer at Costco to keep as our main beer stock. They almost always have Sierra Nevada and one or two other good beers at a solid price. I augment that with six packs and bombers from Marianos, Binny's, or Vas Foremost. I usually hit Binny's to get harder to find liquors like Punt E Mes and just get some beer while I'm there. Wine Discount Center has been my go to place for wine for awhile now.

The Lincoln Park Costco started getting their Oktoberfest beers in last week. I got a case of Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen for $23 - that works out to $5.75 a 6-pack, much cheaper than I've seen it anywhere else.

I have a Costco membership, but I like Binny's more. Mainly because I have eclectic tastes in what I want. Plus I am not buying in bigger quantities.

PSA--Costco has Rittenhouse 100 Rye for 20.99/btl--on line price at Binny's is $24.99.

Culinaria wrote:I have a Costco membership, but I like Binny's more. Mainly because I have eclectic tastes in what I want. Plus I am not buying in bigger quantities.

Costco sells one bottle at a time...

Tim wrote:

Culinaria wrote:I have a Costco membership, but I like Binny's more. Mainly because I have eclectic tastes in what I want. Plus I am not buying in bigger quantities.

Costco sells one bottle at a time...

And in typical sizes...

Costco is good for the old standbys insofar as wine, especially if you know what you like. Prices are easily $5-7 less there for middle-road choices and even more for high end. House brands like the Kirkland Tequila Blanco and the French Vodka are excellent, especially if you're having a party. To me, it's worth the membership. Occasionally they will get a shipment of Napa Cabs that are a really good value, but you can never depend on what's in stock. Binny's is great if you want to try new things. I'm a cab drinker, but I've really been enjoying Binny's selection of Spanish and Argentinian wines and they are a good value compared to the Californias. If I like something at Costco that I rarely see there otherwise, I stock up. Having said that, I did stock up on the Seven Deadly Zins and after opening one bottle and finding it very different from what I usually bought for twice the price elsewhere, I returned the rest. It may have been the vintage or just this one bottle, but the wine was nearly undrinkable. Fortunately, Costco has a great return policy. It's among my favorite places and they treat their employees fairly; I just wish they would be responsible seafood purveyors.

hazel12 wrote:To me, it's worth the membership.

You don't need to be a member to purchase alcohol (or prescriptions) at Costco in Illinois (and some other states).

boudreaulicious wrote:PSA--Costco has Rittenhouse 100 Rye for 20.99/btl--on line price at Binny's is $24.99.

Great! IIRC the online Binny's price is the same at the store. Now if Costco could just start carrying Old Overholt...

I've been picking up a bottle or 2 of Templeton monthly since discovering it there in November (or thereabouts) so I absolutely know that this is a new addition. And, yes, I'm pretty psyched too since I think, for the money, you'd be hard pressed to find a better mixing Rye than the Rittenhouse.

I've never found a decent beer selection at Costco, at least at the one in Niles near me, but I've been happy with some of the liquors. Recently bought the anejo tequila, I think a liter was $19.99. It's been fine as a base for margaritas.

Costco in Indy has the Paulaner Oktoberfest in stock woohoo. Grabbed 2 cases, $22 each - nice.

Costco (Clybourn location) has been cycling through some beers I had not seen there before, for those interested. Some are seasonal -- Sierra Nevada Celebration ($23.99 per case), Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale (somewhere between $25-30 per case), some winter variety packs from Sam and maybe Goose. [For what it's worth, the Rogue may be gone -- I saw it in early late November and passed, but did not see it this past weekend (although did not go out of my way to look for it).]

This weekend I saw for the first time Stone IPA and grabbed a case -- at $30/case, significantly cheaper on a per-six basis than what you find at retail elsewhere (usually somewhere north of $10/six pack). Costco has had some lots of other California beers that have come and gone over a fairly short period this past year (Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Lagunitas IPA) and not reappeared regularly, so this may be a one-off, grab-some-now type of thing.

Also, for what it's worth, did not see Rittenhouse Rye the past couple of visits.

Does anyone know if you get a case discount at Binny's when you buy their featured wines from the emails (that always have a special price)? I added a case to my cart online it gave me a case discount, but then when I signed in, it only showed my 'Binny's Savings' from my member card and it was the cost of a bottle X 12. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this and hoping that when you pick up the case and they charge you, they apply the case discount.

jeffs wrote:

Darren72 wrote:

lifeperunit wrote:Darren, that's what I told them! However, I'm trying to find documentation of this law online and can't. Do you have the info? Simply for curiosity's sake.

I don't have the law handy. But I understood this to be the case and simply called Costco to verify this with a manager before posting.

http://www.state.il.us/lcc/LiquorAct.asp The PDF has a reference to accommodation (5/6-17) which is apparently construed to prohibit discrimination not sanctioned by law. IANAL. I googled a bit to find that public accommodation seems to be the operative language. I'll have to give the local costco a ring when I get a chance.

I recently stood in line at a Costco membership desk to ask about buying liquor without a membership. I was told "they changed that" and it was no longer possible. Not having more time to pursue it, I headed to Binny's. Curious if anyone knows anything further.

Another reason to suck it up and get a membership: Today at Costco I was surprised to come across an entire display, 4 sides of their regular wine displays, of craft beer and cider. Even more surprisingly is that someone who know's their stuff must be stocking it, because there was some really good stuff. Most stuff was at least $2 cheaper per bottle than at binny's. There were maybe a dozen different 750's and bombers available. I grabbed a few Lolita's, and a handful of Jolly pumpkin Oro de Calabaza and a few Belgians. It's easy to stock up on beer to throw in the cellar for ageing when you know you're getting it at a decent discount. Also, probably of interest to some of you, there were 2 of the virtue ciders, the Sidra, and Mitten.

Which Costco is that?

mhill95149 wrote:Which Costco is that?

It was the one at Damen and Clybourn.