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Public House's chocolate cake shake is made with beer.
Public House's chocolate cake shake is made with beer.
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Where To Drink Boozy, Adult Milkshakes in Chicago, 2016

Sweet dreams are blended from ice cream and alcohol

by Ashok Selvam
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Public House's chocolate cake shake is made with beer.
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by Ashok Selvam

Milkshakes were actually invented in Chicago in the early 1900s from an unlikely source. The drugstore giant Walgreens at one point had soda fountain counters at their stores, and much of the chain's popularity came from its chocolate malted milkshakes, something they invented in 1922.

But Chicagoans didn't rest on the laurels. They knew milkshakes could be improved by adding alcohol. These fountain creations aren't crass, as flavor profiles are carefully considered. Years ago boozy milkshakes were a novelty. Interested customers in the know had to ask their server, because the drinks didn't appear on menus. But things have changed. The boozy milkshake is no longer an afterthought, but a main attraction. Several of these following restaurants have menu sections entirely devoted to them.

Check out this updated list of where to find spiked milkshakes. Ice cream for the kid inside of you and a shot of alcohol for the adult that needs to relax. The list is presented alphabetically.

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Allium Restaurant and Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

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Known for their delicious upscale take on the Chicago-style hot dog, Allium has two adult milkshake configurations. Add a taste of Frangelico to a Nutella milkshake or Fantasia to their butterscotch miso milkshake.

120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 799-4900
(312) 799-4900
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BRGRBELLY

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The flavors rotate often, but this month they’ve got choices including a rum-based “poor Howard” with creme de menthe and a cherry vanilla “careless love.” You’ll also get a taste of their butter cookie. They even have a drink inspired by Devo, the New Wave band from the 1980s. Visit both locations.

5739 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL, 60634
(773) 283-7880
(773) 283-7880
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Bub City (Rosemont)

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For $10 each, Bub City can amp up any of their eight milkshakes. They recommend dark rum or bourbon in flavors including cookies n' cream (cream cheese frosting, Oreos rim), cold-brew coffee (caramel, chocolate-covered espresso beans rim) and salted caramel (caramel, pretzels and chocolate rim).Note, these shakes are only available at the suburban location, not in River North.

5441 Park Pl, Rosemont, IL 60018
(847) 261-0399
(847) 261-0399
Anjali Pinto

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DMK Burger Bar

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They may not be on the menu, but DMK will add the alcohol of your choice to any milkshake. They always have vanilla, chocolate, espresso, or peanut butter shakes, and usually a rotating flavor as well.

2954 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 360-8686
(773) 360-8686
Marc Much

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Frances' Deli

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This long-time Lincoln Park deli is a perfect spot if you need a bit of a treat in the middle of the day. Their Maker's Mark spiked milkshake is a great pick me up.

2552 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-4580
(773) 248-4580
Facebook

Griddle 24- An Urban Diner

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Griddle 24, the new River North diner, is taking its spiked milkshake selections seriously. There's 10 to pick from including the Cinnashake (Fireball, chocolate ice cream) and an Irish Car Bomb (Bailey's cream, Jameson, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream).

Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 943-2424
(312) 943-2424
Facebook

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Hamburger Mary's

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A staple in Andersonville, Hamburger Mary's has three alcoholic milkshakes on the menu at all times. Choose from an “orange dream,” the “german chocolate,” and a “sham-wow.”

5400 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 784-6969
(773) 784-6969
Facebook

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Pick Me Up Café

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The popular Wrigleyville hangout changes up their alcoholic milkshake of the month, but feel free to add alcohol to your favorite classic flavors like Oreo and strawberry.

3408 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 248-6613
(773) 248-6613
Facebook

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Public House

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Public House's Vanilla Cake and Chocolate Cake Shakes sport quite a garnish with a slabs of cake. The chocolate version is made with Boulder Shake Chocolate Porter, while the vanilla is powered by JP's Casper White Stout.

400 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 265-1240
(312) 265-1240
Facebook

Also featured in:

RJ Grunts

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The original LEYE restaurant’s hand-dipped milkshakes become “big kid shakes” if you ask. Think "orange dreamsicle," chocolate with Bailey's, and any inventive combination you can create.

2056 N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 929-5363
(773) 929-5363
LEYE

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Rudy's Bar & Grille

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Rudy’s Bar & Grille calls themselves the home of the martini milkshake, so you’ll feel more like you’re an adult getting a fancy cocktail than like a kid getting an extra special treat. They use Homer’s ice cream to concoct flavors like double chocolate, pumpkin, and dreamsicle.

69 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 332-8111
(312) 332-8111
Facebook

Tortoise Club

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Fittingly, the 1950s Chicago-inspired Tortoise Club has an adult milkshake on the menu. Currently it's "The Hummer", made with espresso liqueur, rum, and vanilla ice cream.

350 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 755-1700
(312) 755-1700

25 Degrees Restaurant

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If there’s an expert in the alcoholic milkshake realm, it’s 25 Degrees. Don’t leave without trying the “salty caramel” with Maker’s Mark, butterscotch, vanilla ice cream, and Hawaiian red sea salt.

736 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 943-9700
(312) 943-9700
25 Degrees

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Allium Restaurant and Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611

Known for their delicious upscale take on the Chicago-style hot dog, Allium has two adult milkshake configurations. Add a taste of Frangelico to a Nutella milkshake or Fantasia to their butterscotch miso milkshake.

120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 799-4900
(312) 799-4900
Facebook

BRGRBELLY

5739 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL, 60634

The flavors rotate often, but this month they’ve got choices including a rum-based “poor Howard” with creme de menthe and a cherry vanilla “careless love.” You’ll also get a taste of their butter cookie. They even have a drink inspired by Devo, the New Wave band from the 1980s. Visit both locations.

5739 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL, 60634
(773) 283-7880
(773) 283-7880
Facebook

Bub City (Rosemont)

5441 Park Pl, Rosemont, IL 60018

For $10 each, Bub City can amp up any of their eight milkshakes. They recommend dark rum or bourbon in flavors including cookies n' cream (cream cheese frosting, Oreos rim), cold-brew coffee (caramel, chocolate-covered espresso beans rim) and salted caramel (caramel, pretzels and chocolate rim).Note, these shakes are only available at the suburban location, not in River North.

5441 Park Pl, Rosemont, IL 60018
(847) 261-0399
(847) 261-0399
Anjali Pinto

DMK Burger Bar

2954 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

They may not be on the menu, but DMK will add the alcohol of your choice to any milkshake. They always have vanilla, chocolate, espresso, or peanut butter shakes, and usually a rotating flavor as well.

2954 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 360-8686
(773) 360-8686
Marc Much

Frances' Deli

2552 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

This long-time Lincoln Park deli is a perfect spot if you need a bit of a treat in the middle of the day. Their Maker's Mark spiked milkshake is a great pick me up.

2552 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-4580
(773) 248-4580
Facebook

Griddle 24- An Urban Diner

Chicago, IL 60654

Griddle 24, the new River North diner, is taking its spiked milkshake selections seriously. There's 10 to pick from including the Cinnashake (Fireball, chocolate ice cream) and an Irish Car Bomb (Bailey's cream, Jameson, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream).

Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 943-2424
(312) 943-2424
Facebook

Hamburger Mary's

5400 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

A staple in Andersonville, Hamburger Mary's has three alcoholic milkshakes on the menu at all times. Choose from an “orange dream,” the “german chocolate,” and a “sham-wow.”

5400 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 784-6969
(773) 784-6969
Facebook

Pick Me Up Café

3408 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

The popular Wrigleyville hangout changes up their alcoholic milkshake of the month, but feel free to add alcohol to your favorite classic flavors like Oreo and strawberry.

3408 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 248-6613
(773) 248-6613
Facebook

Public House

400 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654

Public House's Vanilla Cake and Chocolate Cake Shakes sport quite a garnish with a slabs of cake. The chocolate version is made with Boulder Shake Chocolate Porter, while the vanilla is powered by JP's Casper White Stout.

400 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 265-1240
(312) 265-1240
Facebook

RJ Grunts

2056 N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614

The original LEYE restaurant’s hand-dipped milkshakes become “big kid shakes” if you ask. Think "orange dreamsicle," chocolate with Bailey's, and any inventive combination you can create.

2056 N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 929-5363
(773) 929-5363
LEYE

Rudy's Bar & Grille

69 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603

Rudy’s Bar & Grille calls themselves the home of the martini milkshake, so you’ll feel more like you’re an adult getting a fancy cocktail than like a kid getting an extra special treat. They use Homer’s ice cream to concoct flavors like double chocolate, pumpkin, and dreamsicle.

69 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 332-8111
(312) 332-8111
Facebook

Tortoise Club

350 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654

Fittingly, the 1950s Chicago-inspired Tortoise Club has an adult milkshake on the menu. Currently it's "The Hummer", made with espresso liqueur, rum, and vanilla ice cream.

350 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 755-1700
(312) 755-1700

25 Degrees Restaurant

736 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610

If there’s an expert in the alcoholic milkshake realm, it’s 25 Degrees. Don’t leave without trying the “salty caramel” with Maker’s Mark, butterscotch, vanilla ice cream, and Hawaiian red sea salt.

736 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 943-9700
(312) 943-9700
25 Degrees

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