LIQUOR COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Consider Tasting deVine’s request to amend to the Class S1 liquor license to allow the sale of tequila
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DEPARTMENT: Legal Department
SUBMITTED BY: Jennifer Bonner, Senior Assistant City Attorney
BACKGROUND:
The Class S1 - Specialty Food and Liquor Shop liquor license authorizes off-premises sales of alcoholic beverages, including wine bearing the establishment’s private label, beer, and craft distilled or small-batch whiskey. The license also permits limited on-premises consumption, restricted to 3 ounces of craft or small-batch whiskey, 18 ounces of wine, or 32 ounces of craft beer per person per day.
Tasting deVine, which is changing its name to Barrel & Heritage, is seeking a text amendment to permit the service and package sale of specialty tequila, subject to the same on-premises consumption limits and conditions applicable to craft distilled whiskey and small-batch whiskey. Attached are the proposed tequila offerings.
Below is historical information regarding this liquor license.
On March 4, 2021, representatives from Tasting deVine petitioned the Liquor Commission for authorization to sell craft and small-batch whiskey in its original packaging. They also requested permission to offer craft beer, craft whiskey, and small-batch whiskey for on-premises consumption. At the time, Tasting deVine held a Class S - Specialty Wine Shop license and sought an expansion of the privileges associated with that classification.
The Liquor Commission reviewed the request and determined that modifying the Class S1 license, rather than altering the Class S license, would avoid unintended impacts on the four existing Class S license holders. The recent closure of Vom Fass-the sole holder of the Class S1 license-made the single available S1 license an appropriate vehicle for the requested privileges.
At its meeting on April 8, 2021, the Liquor Commission voted unanimously to recommend the proposed amendments to the City Council. On May 18, 2021, the City Council approved the ordinance modifying the Class S1 license.
On April 4, 2024, representatives from Tasting deVine petitioned the Liquor Commission to reduce the annual fee for the Class S1 liquor license. Following a review of the City’s liquor license fee structure, the Liquor Commission recommended reducing the annual Class S1 license fee from $3,600 to $1,650. On April 16, 2024, the City Council approved the ordinance modifying the Class S1 license.
On May 20, 2025, City Council approved a text amendment to increase the cap on the Class S1 license to two (2) and accompanying variance sought by Buttermilk, located at 1715 Freedom Dr, Naperville, IL 60563.