Spring Cocktails Make a Splash
As the weather warms up, cocktails cool down. Drink lists throughout Chicago are steadily shifting from hearty and comforting to refreshing and light. From bracing Italian Manhattans to tiki-style patio fodder, here’s a roundup of new quenchers in Chicago.
Italian-inspired potables take the stage at Tre Soldi, a slice of Rome in the heart of Streeterville. Spring for a few invigorated classics, like the Blush Negroni made with gin, Lillet Rose, and Aperol, or the Italian Manhattan lush with Old Overholt Rye, Contrato sweet vermouth, Amaro, Regan’s orange bitters, and Luxardo cherry. These are best consumed on Tre Soldi’s ambient patio, naturally.
A Mecca of simplicity and comfort in Ukrainian Village, The Winchester is an oasis of thoughtful, seasonal wares. The latest development from the adorable neighborhood haunt is the cocktail menu curated by acclaimed mixologist Peter Vestinos. His unique, imaginative libations include the Cold Stare, a mix of mezcal, cold-pressed coffee, Amaro, raspberry liqueur, and walnut bitters; the Summer Sangaree made with rhum agricol, rosé, lemon, cane syrup, and soda; and the Timepiece, featuring sake, amontillado sherry, Bianco vermouth, and orange bitters. There’s also a nifty option called The Soda Exchange, wherein imbibers select their choice of spirit to pair with a medley of seasonal fruit sodas.
The latest entrant to Logan Square’s erupting dining and drinking scene is Slippery Slope from the folks behind Scofflaw. Unlike Scofflaw, where the gin-heavy cocktail list has quite a bit of breadth, here the drink list is much more concise and casual. Along with beer and liquor, Slippery Slope serves up a rotating menu of bottled cocktails, featuring classics like the Slope Manhattan made with rye, Camparo Antica vermouth, Curacao, and angostura bitters.
When it comes to summery drinking, it doesn’t get any better than tiki-style cocktails. Adept mixologist Mike Ryan sets sail at Sable Kitchen & Bar with a tiki-themed pop-up bar on the patio. The new pop-up incentive is dubbed “Cocktails in Motion,” in line with the Hotel Palomar’s “Art in Motion” art theme, and the pop-up series will feature fresh new cocktail concepts from Ryan each weekend. He kicks off the series with an array of tiki drinks, some classics and some Ryan originals. For now, the drinks are available on the patio Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 pm until midnight. In the future, look for new drink themes, more days, and themed bites by chef Heather Terhune.
Tre Soldi
212 E. Ohio Street, Chicago
(312) 664-0212
Website
The Winchester
1001 N. Winchester Avenue, Chicago
(773) 698-8703
Website
Slippery Slope
2357 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
(773) 799-8504
Website
Sable Kitchen & Bar
505 N. State Street, Chicago
(312) 755-9704
Website
