Chicago is home to plenty of bars and these bars have perfect one-of-a-kind cocktails that are sure to delight.

Next time you find yourself in The Windy City, stop by one of these spots for a cocktail that’s as adventurous as you!

 

Lardon

Into the Pale Mist

Courtesy of Abe Vucekovich

This cocktail is like walking through a garden while descending a mountain as a pale mist slowly creeps by. The star of this drink is the Mizu ‘Green Tea’ Shochu, complemented by bright citrus from fresh lime, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto and Fever-Tree Yuzu Soda. Cucumber adds to the umami story and enhances the bold matcha taste from the Ureshino green tea leaves in the shochu, leaving you with an ethereal concoction.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Mizu Shochu Green Tea
• 3/4 oz Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
• 3/4 oz lime juice
• 1/4 oz cucumber syrup
• 2.0 Fever Tree Lime Yuzu

Preparation: Add Fever Tree to glass. Shake all other ingredients with ice. Add ice to glass and strain drink over ice and Fever Tree. Garnish with cucumber wheel.

 

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The Violet Hour

Friesling

This frozen cocktail blends Corazòn Blanco Tequila, Strega Italian liqueur, pineapple, and lemon with a fruit-forward Dr. Loosen Riesling base to create an herbaceous and nuanced sip.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Dr. Loosen Riesling (off-dry Mosel riesling)
• 1 oz Corazon Blanco Tequila
• 1/2 oz Strega Liqueur
• 1 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1 1/2 oz water

Preparation: Mix all ingredients together, pour into an ice cube tray, and allow to freeze. Once frozen, blend your cocktail cubes on high to “slushify”. Pour into a rocks glass and garnish with a fresh mint crown.

 

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Dove’s Luncheonette

Cajeta Float

Courtesy of One Off Hospitality

Combining daytime and dessert, this cocktail consists of cold brew coffee poured over cajeta ice cream (essentially a dulce de leche caramel flavor) to create a sweet precursor to breakfast or even a mid-day treat. There’s also an optional rum topper for those who want to take it to the next level!

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop cajeta ice cream
• 4 oz cold brew coffee
• 1 oz rum

Preparation: Place scoop of cajeta ice cream in glass, top with cold brew coffee then float the rum.

 

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The Grateful Ordinary

The Monarch

Courtesy of Matt Reeves

This eye catching, purple-hued cocktail gets its color from Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka infused with butterfly pea shoots. The Monarch is named after the king of butterflies and its prominent purple color. This summer favorite is topped with lime and soda for a refreshing finish.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz butterfly pea shoot infused Zubrowka vodka.
• 3/4 oz simple syrup
• 1 oz lime juice

Preparation: Shake with ice and strain into a highball glass. Top with fresh ice and a press (half ginger ale, half soda). Garnish with lime wheel and a fresh, locally sourced flower.

 

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Testaccio

Kykeon

Courtesy of Rachel Bires

Inspired by an ancient barley, herb, and goat cheese drink that caused LSD-esque experiences, Testaccio’s modernized version, City of London Dry Gin is combined with apricot liqueur, honey syrup, lemon juice and tangy Greek yogurt for a creamy taste of history.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz City of London Dry Gin
• 3/4 oz Rothman Apricot Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Greek yogurt
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 1/2 oz honey simple
• Vanilla Extract Spritz

Preparation: Shake with ice and strain into the double Old Fashioned glass. Top with a spritz of vanilla extract.

 

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Venteux

Matcha, Mon Amour

A perfect combination of sweet and earthy, this dazzling cocktail starts with a base of Bacardi Superior Rum combined with Dorda Coconut liqueur and matcha. It’s balanced out with Cointreau, freshly squeezed lemon juice and a tiny bit of simple syrup. It’s topped off with soda and served with a dehydrated lime wheel.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. white rum
• 1 oz. coconut liqueur
• 1/2 oz. orange liqueur
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• splash of demerara syrup
• barspoon of matcha powder
• soda water

Preparation: Shake all ingredients besides soda water together in a shaker tin with ice. Strain and pour over fresh ice in a Collins glass. Top with a lime wheel.

 

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Chateau Carbide

Pat Morita

Courtesy of Huge Galdones

Named after the Japanese American actor best known for his role in The Karate Kid, this Paloma-inspired cocktail is perfectly refreshing. Made with Patron Reposado, this drink creates floral notes because of the house made rose syrup. The sweetness is balanced out through a combo of freshly squeezed lime juice and pink grapefruit juice.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz reposado tequila
• 1/2 oz rose syrup
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• Fever Tree Pink Grapefruit Soda

Preparation: In a Collins glass, combine the tequila, rose syrup, and lime juice. Fill glass with ice and top with pink grapefruit soda. Stir with a straw to mix ingredients, then garnish with a bouquet of mint crowns.