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In the Rocks, Mario's Italian Lemonade, Green River Float, Jeppson's Malort, Bourbon Brand County Stout
In the Rocks, Mario's Italian Lemonade, Green River Float, Jeppson's Malort, Bourbon Brand County Stout
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Wetting Your Whistle: The 15 Most Iconic Drinks in Chicago

The City of Broad Shoulders possesses a variety of ways to tip a couple back.

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In the Rocks, Mario's Italian Lemonade, Green River Float, Jeppson's Malort, Bourbon Brand County Stout
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A good meal always requires a tasty beverage as a complement, but Chicago isn't a city to stick to the shadows. Here's a list of iconic drinks that demand attention. From a pre-dinner drink to something sweet as a dessert, this list offers something for everyone. Even straight-edge kids.

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Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

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Cosmo: For years, Chicago's steakhouses have poured patrons stiff drinks before and after their meals. Gibson's martinis are a city staple.

Goose Island Brewery

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Bourbon Brand County Stout: The granddaddy of all bourbon-aged beers, if you find this on tap past Christmas you're a chump if you don't order it. Any of the varietals apply.

Intelligentsia Coffee

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Coffee: Intelligentsia dominates Chicago's coffee house culture, and if a restaurant uses its beans, you can rest assured they aren't messing around.

Oatmeal Shake: The oatmeal shake at this Costa Rican gem could qualify for a meal in itself.

Mario's Italian Lemonade

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All flavors: Call it frozen lemonade or Italian ice — but venture to Taylor Street for a taste of genuine Chicago.

Matchbox

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Sidecar: The city's tiniest bar makes one of the city's mightiest drinks. This brandy, Cointreau and lemon juice concoction will make you happy. And don't forget the powdered-sugar rim.

Nisei Lounge

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Jeppson's Malort: Did you really think this list could escape Malort? Nothing escapes Malort, and the folks at Nisei lounge have surrendered to that fact, happily pouring the original (Jeppson's) and watching what happens.

Parts and Labor

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Green River Float: Green River is a classic Chicago soda, and the folks at Parts and Labor took that magical reminder of childhood in a dessert.

Portillo's Hot Dogs

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Chocolate Cake Shake: It's basic math. Take Portillo's famous chocolate cake and add it to a milkshake and the sum is deliciousness.

Sable Kitchen & Bar

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War of the Roses: This drink hasn't been around for long, but has been widely praised. It's made of Pimm's, Chase elderflower, gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, bitters and mint.

Simon's Tavern

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Glogg: The cookies that accompany Simon's holiday hot mulled wine make this an Andersonville tradition.

The Aviary

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In the Rocks: A signature at The Aviary, this drink has gone through a couple different iterations, but the shell remains.

The Violet Hour

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Juliet and Romeo: Just in time for Valentine's Day, enjoy this Shakespeare-inspired cocktail, The Violet Hour's most-popular drink.

Wrigley Field

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Old Style Beer: It's a humid summer day in Chicago. The grass is green at Wrigley. You've got the day off and you've got an Old Style in your hand. And you're not paying attention to the game. It's a Chicago tradition.

Aztec Hot Chocolate: The menu at Rick Bayless' Xoco brags about its bean-to-chocolate drinks. But this one, with chile and all spice is worth remembering.

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

Cosmo: For years, Chicago's steakhouses have poured patrons stiff drinks before and after their meals. Gibson's martinis are a city staple.

Goose Island Brewery

Bourbon Brand County Stout: The granddaddy of all bourbon-aged beers, if you find this on tap past Christmas you're a chump if you don't order it. Any of the varietals apply.

Intelligentsia Coffee

Coffee: Intelligentsia dominates Chicago's coffee house culture, and if a restaurant uses its beans, you can rest assured they aren't messing around.

Irazu

Oatmeal Shake: The oatmeal shake at this Costa Rican gem could qualify for a meal in itself.

Mario's Italian Lemonade

All flavors: Call it frozen lemonade or Italian ice — but venture to Taylor Street for a taste of genuine Chicago.

Matchbox

Sidecar: The city's tiniest bar makes one of the city's mightiest drinks. This brandy, Cointreau and lemon juice concoction will make you happy. And don't forget the powdered-sugar rim.

Nisei Lounge

Jeppson's Malort: Did you really think this list could escape Malort? Nothing escapes Malort, and the folks at Nisei lounge have surrendered to that fact, happily pouring the original (Jeppson's) and watching what happens.

Parts and Labor

Green River Float: Green River is a classic Chicago soda, and the folks at Parts and Labor took that magical reminder of childhood in a dessert.

Portillo's Hot Dogs

Chocolate Cake Shake: It's basic math. Take Portillo's famous chocolate cake and add it to a milkshake and the sum is deliciousness.

Sable Kitchen & Bar

War of the Roses: This drink hasn't been around for long, but has been widely praised. It's made of Pimm's, Chase elderflower, gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, bitters and mint.

Simon's Tavern

Glogg: The cookies that accompany Simon's holiday hot mulled wine make this an Andersonville tradition.

The Aviary

In the Rocks: A signature at The Aviary, this drink has gone through a couple different iterations, but the shell remains.

The Violet Hour

Juliet and Romeo: Just in time for Valentine's Day, enjoy this Shakespeare-inspired cocktail, The Violet Hour's most-popular drink.

Wrigley Field

Old Style Beer: It's a humid summer day in Chicago. The grass is green at Wrigley. You've got the day off and you've got an Old Style in your hand. And you're not paying attention to the game. It's a Chicago tradition.

XOCO

Aztec Hot Chocolate: The menu at Rick Bayless' Xoco brags about its bean-to-chocolate drinks. But this one, with chile and all spice is worth remembering.

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