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Mixologists are this season's master chef. And as Chicago's cocktails get ever more creative, delicious and ingeniously garnished, bar-goers are being treated to a whole new level of hydration. Here, we've profiled some of the city's most innovative and sippable treasures.
Cloudgate Martini
Tavern at the Park
130 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL
60601
(312) 552-0070 http://www.tavernatthepark.com Hours: dinner daily
Invented by Peter de Castro, the Cloudgate Martini was inspired by a walk around Millennium Park. "My brother Donny and I came up with the cocktail walking through the park one day and looking at the Bean," he explains. Mixed up with Grey Goose La Poire, homemade sour mix and pineapple juice, the Chicago-lovin' cocktail is topped off with a dash of champagne. The drink's $199 price tag is certainly steep; but then, an Elsa Peretti bean necklace is a pretty fancy garnish.
Baconcello
Osteria Via Stato
620 N. State St.
Chicago, IL
60610
(312) 642-8450 http://www.osteriaviastato.com Hours: lunch Monday-Saturday; dinner daily
Adam Seger's Baconcello recipe fuses an unlikely mixture of ingredients: Skyy vodka (chilled for 72 hours), two green apples, thick-cut bacon, pancetta, lime and maple syrup all conspire to form one of the season's most inventive cocktails. Garnished with a bacon swizzle stick, the drink is what Seger calls "a perfectly balanced cocktail."
Frambroise
Pops for Champagne
601 N. State St.
Chicago, IL
60610
(312) 266-7677 http://www.popsforchampagne.com Hours: open daily through late-night
Pops for Champagne's Craig Cooper was experimenting with variations of the classic champagne cocktail when he stumbled upon Pasquet's Marie-Framboise. The expert mixologist describes the concoction as an "all-organic blend of grape must and fine cognac, which has been steeped with fresh raspberries. It has an intense, berry fruitiness that I thought would balance well with ... bitter orange." The final result of Cooper's fruity find is the Frambroise ($9), a sparkly blend of Jean-Luc Pasquet Marie-Frambroise, sugar cubes, orange bitters and sparkling wine, garnished with an orange twist.
Luxury El Corazon
Nacional 27
325 W. Huron St.
Chicago, IL
60610
(312) 664-2727 http://www.nacional27.net Hours: dinner Monday-Saturday
Nacional 27's signature libation, the El Corazon, has racked in awards for its palate-pleasing blend of Corzo Silver, passionfruit, and pomegranate. The drink's peppercorn-dusted rim adds to the medley of unexpected flavors. Adam Seger put a spin on the much-loved recipe with his "Luxury El Corazon," which lends a touch of seasonal fruit to the El Corazon. In the past, the ultra-fresh topper-offers have included everything from sour Michigan black cherries to blood oranges and local raspberries.
Suha
Crimson Lounge
333 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL
60610
(312)923-2473 http://www.crimsonchicago.com Hours: open till 2 a.m. daily
At Crimson Lounge, opulent decor is clouded in a fragrant waft of Suha, the bar's intoxicating signature scent. The scent's namesake cocktail, Suha ($13) is a heady mix of Mathilde Liqueur Grand XO, Chambord, peach schnapps, lemon juice, simple syrup and apple juice. Steven Greaves, GM of Crimson Lounge, describes the drink as having a taste that's "well-balanced and fruity; with a little bite, if prepared correctly." Greaves recommends pairing the cocktail with the lounge's shellfish skewers.
The American Beauty
Enclave
220 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
60610
(312) 654-0234 http://www.enclavechicago.com Hours: open till late-night Thursday-Saturday
Named after the Oscar-winning movie, the American Beauty Martini ($15) at Enclave is garnished with rose petals to evoke one of that film's classic scenes. The drink itself is a sweet, silky mixture of Grey Goose La Vanille, Grey Goose L'Orange, Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, Cointreau, Dekuyper White Creme de Cacao, cream and honey.
Kiva Cane
Red Kiva
1108 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL
60607
(312) 664-2727 http://www.redkiva.com Hours: open nightly through late-night
Mixologist Shannon Collins says she was inspired by "the change of season" when creating the Kiva Cane cocktail ($14). "It took a couple of weeks to come up with and four days to prepare," says Collins. She says her blend of vanilla-bean infused 10 Cane rum, fresh pineapple and cinnamon pairs beautifully with "something with a little spice."
Chi-Town Flip
the Violet Hour
1520 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
60622
(773) 252-1500 http://www.theviolethour.com Hours: open 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday-Friday; 8 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday
The Chi-Town Flip ($11), served at Wicker Park's infinitely stylish cocktail spot, is the invention of buzzed-about mixologist Toby Maloney. Made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Tawny Port, sugared heavy cream, Licor 43, simple syrup and one whole egg, the concoction is topped off with grated nutmeg and three drops of bourbon bitters. Described as a "riff on a pure Prohibition-Era cocktail," Maloney says the cocktail is "perfect for drinking as the wind brings a chill to the air."
Vodka on the Cobb
Between Boutique Cafe and Lounge
1324 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL
60622
(773)292-0585 http://www.betweenchicago.com Hours: open dinner through late-night Tuesday-Saturday and Sunday
Isto, a bartender at Wicker Park's romantic new restaurant, confesses to a love of improvisation. It was during such a come-what-may fest that he concocted the Vodka on the Cobb ($9). Stirred up with vanilla vodka, fresh African white honey, caramel liquor and orange liquor, the drink is poured over ice cubes made of frozen mint tea. Appropriately, the corn-y drink is garnished with bits of floating, white cheddar popcorn.
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Mixologists are this season's master chef. And as Chicago's cocktails get ever more creative, delicious and ingeniously garnished, bar-goers are being treated to a whole new level of hydration. Here, we've profiled some of the city's most innovative and sippable treasures.
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