Chicago Rum Guide: Distilleries and Bars You Can’t Miss
Your go-to city guide for exploring rum culture during Chicago Rum Fest
Every year, the Chicago Rum Festival draws rum aficionados from around the globe, offering a unique tasting experience and education on one of the world’s most storied spirits. But the festival is just the beginning. The city has quietly become a haven for craft spirits, cocktail innovation, and world-class bars that take rum seriously. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a local rediscovering the Windy City, this Chicago Rum Guide is your one-stop resource for navigating the best rum experiences in town.
About This Guide
Designed especially for attendees of Chicago Rum Fest, this guide blends local recommendations, city insights, and rum-focused venues to help you make the most of your stay. From distilleries producing small-batch rum to tiki bars reimagining classic cocktails, Chicago offers something for every palate and curiosity level. Whether you’re planning a pre-festival tasting or a post-event nightcap, this guide has you covered.
Craft Distilleries Worth Knowing
While Chicago might be more known for its breweries and deep-dish pizza, its craft distilling scene is thriving. Here are some local distilleries that either produce rum or have noteworthy rum-forward programs.
Chicago Cane Cooperative
One of the first worker-owned spirits producers in the world, Chicago Cane Cooperative is more than a distillery—it’s a bold statement about equity, sustainability, and reclaiming rum’s complex legacy. Founded by Daniel André Regueira Santos, a first-generation Cuban-American, this collective creates rum-based spirits with purpose and soul.
Their lineup—featuring a Solera Aged Gold Rum, Silver Rum, Founder’s Blend, and the approachable Dani’s Tavern Rum—blends global rum traditions with a strong sense of local identity. From the cultural storytelling behind every bottle to the radically transparent worker-owned model, CCC is redefining what it means to drink with conscience.
Whether you’re sipping thoughtfully or mixing freely, every pour supports collective action, artistic spirit, and a more just liquor industry.
Chicagoland Spirits
📍 45 Gordon Street, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007, United States
Chicagoland Spirits, home of the award-winning CelloVia liqueurs, is a family-run craft distillery known for its innovation, elegance, and heartfelt storytelling. Founded by mixologist and flavor visionary Chris Chickerneo, this distillery draws inspiration from the Amalfi Coast and infuses it into every bottle—starting with their celebrated lineup of cordials and expanding into rum, vodka, bourbon, and more.
Their Chicago Spirit Rum is a true standout: a sophisticated blend of column and pot still rums from the US Virgin Islands with French West Indies agricole, polished through a six-stage filtration process for clarity and depth. It’s a spirit that reflects both craftsmanship and a deep love for flavor.
Recognized by Wine Enthusiast with gold medals across their entire cordial line—and earning a Top 100 Spirits mention for their Coconut Lime Liqueur—Chicagoland Spirits proves that passion and precision can coexist in every sip.
Star Union Spirits
📍 300 5th Street, Suite 135, Peru, Illinois 61354
🌐https://starunionspirits.com/
📆 Tours: Saturdays at 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM and by appointment ($10 per person)
Star Union Spirits is rewriting the narrative of Midwestern craft spirits from the heart of Peru, Illinois—marking the return of distilling to the region after more than a century. Housed in the iconic Westclox factory, this visionary distillery blends artisan craftsmanship with industrial soul, offering hand-crafted spirits that channel the rich heritage and promise of the American heartland.
Founded by Bob Windy and Jeff Yosowitz, Star Union pays homage to local history while innovating boldly with spirits that include New American Brandy, agave expressions, absinthe, and a growing portfolio of experimental and award-winning creations.
Whether you’re sipping on their Navy Strength Dark Rum, their Rested Agave, or the elegant Single Barrel Apple Brandy, every bottle is a reflection of slow, thoughtful production—using Midwestern fruits and grains, West Coast and South American grapes, limestone water, and vintage tools that bring old-world charm to modern spirits.
Visitors are welcomed into a beautifully curated space filled with vintage flair (yes, you can even sign up for their email list on a restored 1927 Royal Typewriter). Take a tour, taste through their spirit collection, and enjoy cocktails Thursday through Saturday. Star Union isn’t just a distillery—it’s a love letter to community, craft, and the courage to flow free.
Rum Bars & Tiki Escapes in the City
No Chicago rum guide is complete without spotlighting the city’s best bars for a well-crafted Daiquiri or a smoky glass of agricole. These spots celebrate rum in all its diverse, global expressions.
Broken Shaker
📍19 East Ohio St.,Chicago, IL 60611
🌐 https://www.brokenshaker.com/
⌚Hours of Operation
- Monday – Thursday: 4pm – 1am
- Friday & Saturday: 4pm – 2am
- Sunday: 6pm – 12am
Broken Shaker is a staple for creative cocktails with global flair. Their ever-rotating menu always features innovative rum drinks, often using house infusions made from fresh herbs and spices. The tropical, laid-back ambiance makes it a favorite for locals and travelers alike.
Esmeralda’s Lounge
📍2539 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
In the heart of Humboldt Park, Esmeralda’s is a Latin-inspired cocktail bar known for its sophisticated rum-forward menu. The space is intimate and chic, with cocktails highlighting flavors like tamarind, coconut, and tropical fruit. Think elegance with a Caribbean soul — it’s perfect for a classy night out.
Three Dots and a Dash
📍 435 N Clark St (rear), Chicago, IL 60654
Arguably Chicago’s most famous tiki bar, this subterranean speakeasy transports you to a tropical paradise from the moment you walk in. Their rum collection is extensive—featuring over 200 varieties—and their cocktails are as theatrical as they are tasty. Don’t miss the namesake drink: the Three Dots and Dash cocktail, made with Aged Martinique Rhum Agricole, Aged Guyana Rum, spiced Falernum, citrus fruits, and allspice.
👉 Why Visit: It’s not just a bar—it’s a full-on rum experience. Perfect for pre- or post-festival festivities with friends.
The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash
📍 Inside Three Dots, by reservation only
🌐www.threedotschicago.com/the-bamboo-room
This intimate rum-tasting experience is located within Three Dots and focuses on rare and vintage rums. Bartenders offer guided tastings and craft cocktails using high-end rums you won’t find on most backbars. It’s a more contemplative, elevated way to experience the spirit—and ideal for serious rum lovers.
Hala Kahiki Lounge
📍 2834 N River Rd, River Grove, IL 60171
Established in the 1960s, Hala Kahiki is one of the oldest tiki lounges in the Midwest. With an extensive menu of over 130 craft and tropical cocktails and a massive rum selection, it’s a nostalgic yet authentic experience. While a little outside downtown, it’s a must-see for fans of vintage tiki culture.
Marina´s Bistro and Rum Bar
📍4554 North Magnolia Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640
🌐 www.marinasbistrochicago.com
A hidden gem in East Garfield Park, Marina’s Bistro and Rum Bar blends Puerto Rican flavors with Chicago flair. Their rum collection celebrates Afro-Caribbean roots, featuring standout cocktails like the “Tres Casas” — a chocolate and espresso concoction that brings together Don Q, Ron Barrilito, and Bacardi.
Pairing Rum with Chicago Vibes
While you’re in town, pair your rum adventures with some classic Chicago experiences:
- Take an architecture boat tour along the river with a rum flask (where permitted).
- Visit Navy Pier or Millennium Park to enjoy city views while sipping something tropical.
- Catch live jazz or blues at Green Mill or Kingston Mines with a rum cocktail as your companion.
Final Tips for Chicago Rum Fest Attendees
- Use this guide to plan your rum crawl—hit a distillery in the afternoon, enjoy dinner and a rum cocktail downtown, and wrap it all up at a tiki bar.
- Book reservations early, especially for Three Dots and the Bamboo Room.
- Take notes—you’ll want to remember your favorite brands and bottles to bring home or explore further.
Chicago’s rum scene offers a rich mix of tradition, innovation, and hospitality. Let this guide serve as your map to the city’s best distilleries, bars, and bottle shops as you dive deeper into the world of rum during the Chicago Rum Festival. Cheers to discovery; remember, the best rum experience is always the one you savor slowly.
✈️ If you’re looking for more information about how to enjoy Chicago, please visit https://www.enjoyillinois.com/
Source of information
The image of the article is courtesy of © Chait Goli via Canva.com
