Bars Get Crafty with Dice and Cards
Going out for a drink is a lot more interesting when dice and tarot cards are involved. New bar destinations in Chicago have upped the ante on the beverage ordering process with whimsical new menu offerings and formats.
One longstanding Avondale bar fixture recently underwent a thorough revamp, and emerged sleeker, tastier, and more fun. On the northern fringe of Logan Square’s ever-expanding bar scene, the Crown Liquors Taproom is a comfortable new drinking den accessed through a liquor store. The spacious bar sports an ample outdoor patio and a drink list that dovetails with the small-batch, locally minded wares found in the packaged goods portion. While Crown Liquors is most renowned for its beer program, the bar has been raised with more cocktails, spirits, and a whimsical addition called “Hot Dice.” This leaves your shot of choice up to chance, as patrons are able to roll a set of dice at the bar and have the resulting numbers determine their drink. Different numerical combinations correspond with different spirits behind the bar, running the gamut from tequila and Jameson to coffee liqueur and root beer schnapps.
Another quirky drinking option is The Drifter, the subterranean and wholly clandestine speakeasy tucked beneath The Green Door Tavern. In line with the dark, funky, gypsy vibes of the bar, accessed through an unmarked door that looks like a bookcase, is the presence of tarot cards. Instead of a typical beverage menu, The Drifter employs custom tarot cards as a makeshift drink list. Guests are presented a stack of tarots, each one depicting a different illustration and drink description. The selection changes on a regular basis, featuring options like the Spreeng Peepers with Plymouth Gin, St. George chile eau de vie, raspberry syrup, and lemon; and the Tiki Thief made with tequila, Giffard, hibiscus liqueur, and salted licorice Fernet.
Crown Liquors Taproom
2821 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
(773) 252-9741
Website
The Drifter
676 N. Orleans Street, Chicago
(312) 631-3887
Website