Three Cheers for Cold-weather Cocktails

Like the coziest stew, the thickest slab of pie, and the burliest short rib, cocktails are a way Chicagoans off the winter blues. Why? Because cold-weather cocktails are often hearty and rich. Who needs a scarf! This year’s batch of standout cool-weather cocktails in Chicago includes drinks with spice, egg, cocoa, and lots more.

Let’s get right to business. You came here for the egg nog. Since egg nog is one of the chief redeeming factors about cold weather, make your way to La Sirena Clandestina. The new Nog-Off is a modern riff on the fireside staple, made with Rhum Agricole, Jamaican rum, spiced syrups, a whole egg, and nutmeg. Beverage director Derek Payne is also mixing up Ancho-Cola with ancho chili liqueur, Italian vermouth, lemon, orange bitters, and Chinotto soda.

From buttered rum to hot Toddies, warm cocktails are what cold weather is all about. Leave it to Punch House to impress and nourish with its new hot cocktail, the Charles Dickens Punch. This ravishing elixir contains Jamaican rum, French brandy, tea, sugar, lemon, and “fire,” all poured cutely into a tea cup.

If there was an award for most whimsically named cocktails, River Roast would win it handily. As evidenced by their new seasonal libations: That Monk is Hammered (Benedictine, Old Overholt Rye, Baska Snaps, Cappelletti), If Only Michael Keaton Were Here (Ed Hamilton’s Jamaican Pot Still Gold Rum, Luxardo Aperitivo, Bittermen’s Amèrre Nouvelle, Gotham City Syrup), and Drink Up and Be Somebody (Ed Hamilton’s Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum, Letherbee BËSK, Imperial Cinnamon, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, mint, lemon, and tiki mole bitters).

The bartender with the best name in town, Jeff Van Der Tuuk, is hard at work at SideDoor shaking things up for cold weather. His diligence includes a Cocoa Old Fashioned made with house-infused bacon whiskey, cocoa nib, and bitters; the Nuts & Berries featuring 10 Can & Goslings rum, Chambord, raspberries, lime, and walnut bitters; and a good ol’ Pumpkin Spice Cafe with Lavazza coffee, Baileys, Royal Comier, and pumpkin spices.

At Stella Barra, the seasonal cocktails are as invigorating as the oven-fresh pizzas. Case in point: the Bourbon Maple Fizz outfitted with high-proof bourbon, maple syrup, and absinthe; the Blood Orange Boogie brimming with gin, blood orange juice, and Canton ginger liqueur; and the Oh My Darlin’ made by muddling Hangar One orange blossom vodka with clementine and amaretto.

Smoked corn, coconut milk, and Kix cereal are part of the illustrious lineup of ingredients filling up the eclectic bar at Acadia this season. Under the direction of mixologist Arunas Bruzas, the new batch of cocktails include the A(maize) cocktail made with 123 Blanco tequila, smoked corn, achiote, Champagne vinegar, cilantro, popcorn syrup, and lime juice, all capped off with Kix cereal and coconut milk foam. The new Smashin’ cocktail contains crab apple-mint soda, Bar Hill gin, and Aperol, while the Right Way Boulevard features Osacalis Alambic brandy, Luxardo bitters, Byrrh Grand Quinquina, and Bitter Truth celery bitters.

Pumpkins and apples roll into cocktails at Old Town Pour House, where beverage director Ken Henricks is whipping up heady new libations. Try the Smashing Pumpkin made with Bacardi Gold, allspice liqueur, pumpkin syrup, and soda; or the Apple in the Rye with whiskey, apple cider, George Dickel Rye, and bitters, all topped off with more Vander Mills apple cider.

One of Chicago’s most venerable craft cocktail bars, Barrelhouse Flat never fails to dazzle with its seasonal, innovative wares. Currently taking center stage behind the bar is the Kiss Gamble, made by bartender Jessica Tessendorf with rum, Amaro Lucano, White Line VSOA, lime, falernum, and JK Scrumpy’s Winterruption.

La Sirena Clandestina
954 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
(312) 226-5300
Website

Punch House
1227 W. 18th Street, Chicago
(312) 526-3851
Website

River Roast
315 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago
(312) 822-0100
Website

SideDoor
100 E. Ontario Street, Chicago
(312) 787-6768
Website

Stella Barra
1954 N. Halsted Street, Chicago
(773) 634-4101
Website

Acadia
1639 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago
(312) 360-9500
Website
 

Old Town Pour House
1419 N. Wells Street, Chicago
(312) 477-2800
Website

Barrelhouse Flat
2624 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
(773) 857-0421
Website