The countdown for the Chicago Rum Festival 2023 has started, so we want you to enjoy the experience in the city to the maximum. For that, we’re going to list some of the top bars in Chicago to complement your rum tour while learning about the best spirits in the world. Here are the 7 bars you shouldn’t miss.
435 N Clark St.
Three Dots and a Dash is a tropical bar and craft cocktail destination listed in “The World’s 50 Best Bars” by Drinks International. It offers terrific cocktails using the freshest exotic fruits and spices, the finest rums, and elixirs that are cold-pressed and concocted in-house. The bartenders serve up individual and group drinks and a menu of Polynesian bar snacks.
The bar also has a space called The Bamboo Room, where they provide a guided experience through the world of rum. There, you can enjoy a focused menu of house daiquiris, renditions of iconic tropical classics, and progressive cocktails prepared with modern techniques.
12 W Elm St.
Sparrow is a sophisticated bar with Cuban flair serving rum cocktails housed in an art deco building constructed in 1927. Its lobby reflects the sophistication of the surrounding Gold Coast neighborhood. The alluring atmosphere and upscale cocktails elevate the place to destination status.
The beverage program focuses on Cuban classics and original concoctions inspired by the flavors of the Caribbean. A wide assortment of rum in the house means it’s an excellent option for any rum fan, regardless of your preferred region of origin. Also, the barkeeps here have been privy to intimate dialogue, essentially becoming the building’s concierge.
19 E Ohio St.
This cocktail bar is located in the heart of River North. At Broken Shaker, you may expect the perfect blend of ingredients and international flavors while exploring their diverse street-food-inspired menu. They offer innovative cocktails composed of elixirs, syrups, and infusions made from garden herbs and spices, fresh-pressed produce, and exotic ingredients worldwide.
2834 N River Rd., River Grove
Hala Kahiki is one of the original Tiki bars left over from the 1960s, having expanded not only in terms of size but with its furnishings as well. The festive place offers its clients a long list of tropical cocktails.
They serve some of the most potent tropical drinks you’ve ever tried. Some signature cocktails include Scorpion Bowl, Puffer Fish, and Lava Bowl.
The bar has a larger seating area, a tiki-accented patio garden, and a gift shop. What’s more, today, it’s home to one of the most impressive collections of tiki memorabilia in the US. They have one of the largest Witco collections in the country. Witco is the furniture brand featured in the most famous room in Graceland, the Jungle Room.
2354 N Milwaukee Ave.
Easy Does It is a bar and bottle shop with a sprawling back patio where you can enjoy a wide selection of cocktails, classic and locally-made beer, and a wide selection of natural wine.
The storefront is a casual, laid-back shop where folks can stock up on a wide variety of liquors. A virtual marketplace makes browsing a slew of drinks easy, each marked with fun, approachable tasting notes. When the temperatures drop, the drinking moves indoors to a second-floor bar with open seating and plenty of room for events like wine tastings and DJ sets.
955 W Fulton Market
The Aviary is a swanky cocktail lounge with intricate drinks in super creative presentations and clever small bites. The Aviary offers a chance to engage all the senses and is considered a destination cocktail establishment. You can taste delicious, beautiful cocktails made with their extensive collection of beverage cookbooks.
The Aviary is known as one of the world’s best bars. It takes the food world’s fine-dining approach into its bar program, with elements of molecular gastronomy, custom glassware, other service ware, and an evolving seasonal menu, all of which allow for unique drinks that have changed how drinks are presented worldwide.
2125 W Division St.
Queen Mary is a neighborhood cocktail tavern in Wicker Park whose history dates to the late 1940s. The time-capsule bar took its original inspiration from the British naval drinking tradition, serving fine maritime spirits, cocktails, and fortified wines with warm hospitality.
In general, drinks are superbly crafted from a massive selection of rum and gin, the preferred booze of British sailors and officers going back more than 300 years. The Queen Mary’s mixologists expertly blend fresh spices, herbs, and liqueurs that will lead your senses on a voyage.
To know more about the Chicago Rum Festival 2023 visit: www.chicagorumfest.com
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