Summertime in Chicago is good until the last drop. To help you get started, we rounded up 20 summer-ready cocktails featured at bars and restaurants around the city.
Roof Deck · Old Town Triangle · 73 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Life on Mars ($13) We’re not sure if there’s life on Mars, but the Lincoln Park rooftop bar’s stone fruit twist on a manhattan will give you life.
Shannon Jeropke: Drinky McDrinkerson ($12) A seamless blend of blanco tequila, lime juice and ginger-habanero snow made with liquid nitrogen will have you feeling Drunky McDrunk in no time.
1612 W Division St (at N Ashland Ave), Chicago, IL
New American Restaurant · Wicker Park · 81 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Smoking Gun ($11) If you're looking for something tall, dark and smoky, the Wicker Park bar's has the cure: rosemary-infused mezcal, creme de cassis, egg white, lemon juice and grapefruit bitters.
Mexican Restaurant · Logan Square · 21 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Hibiscus punch ($10) with blanco tequila, lime juice, hibiscus tea and pineapple shrub garnished with a pineapple wedge, lime wheel and fresh mint leaves.
Shannon Jeropke: Thriller ($13) No ones going to save you from the beast that is mezcal, velvet falernum, a tiki drink staple, apple juice and bitter lemon soda garnished with a torched lemon peel, rosemary and thyme.
Cocktail Bar · Fulton River District · 38 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Pink squirrel ($10.75) A sweet and snazzy sip —thanks to creme de noyaux almond-flavored liqueur, creme de cacao chocolate liqueur and a dash of cream—you’ll squirrel it away for a rainy day.
Theme Restaurant · Near North Side · 11 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Lob #3 ($13) There’s a subliminal message in the River North pingpong bar’s bottled blend of gin, peach-blackberry-mint-Fresno chili puree, pistachio liqueur and CO2: “I’m the ping to your pong.”
New American Restaurant · Near North Side · 65 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Lemon Gin Push Pop ($10) Layers of extra tangy gin-lemon ice and smooth housemade blueberry-lavender jam are topped with a pipette of prosecco and St. Germaine.
2410 N Milwaukee Ave (at W Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL
Ramen Restaurant · Logan Square · 15 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Worst Behavior ($8) You’ll be sipping this slushy concoction of pisco, gin, orange liqueur, matcha green tea syrup and a blend of yuzu and lemon juices so furiously.
435 N Clark St (btwn Illinois & Hubbard St), Chicago, IL
Tiki Bar · Near North Side · 223 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Surf Report ($14) No board required to ride this party wave of gin, fresh cucumber juice, anise-flavored liqueur and mint, but you’re bound to suck it dry.
Seafood Restaurant · North Side · 32 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: She Sells Sea Shells ($10) The name isn’t the only tongue-twisting quality about this boozy drink with gin, yellow chartreuse, apricot liqueur, basil, lemon juice and sparkling rosé.
Cocktail Bar · Ukrainian Village · 20 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Soft Shock ($36 for 2–4 people) with white rhum agricole, lemon juice, vermouth, passion fruit-ginger syrup, passion fruit green tea, Angostura bitters and Ceylon cinnamon tincture.
New American Restaurant · Near North Side · 20 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Punch ($12) Aged rum, mango puree, lychee-infused black tea and lemon juice make for a smooth summer sipper that pairs perfectly with oysters.
New American Restaurant · Near North Side · 196 tips and reviews
Shannon Jeropke: Garden Grove ($14) Koval rye is mixed with caraway-cumin-fennel liqueur, arugula syrup, lemon juice and egg white with a tonic topper.
Shannon Jeropke: The Flemming ($10) Get acquainted with Calvados apple brandy in the North Center cider bar’s cocktail with gin and Cocchi Americano garnished with lemon zest. It’s sure to be the apple of your eye.
Shannon Jeropke: Basil & Gold ($12) combining vodka and black garlic-infused caraway vodka, orgeat almond syrup, green chartreuse, lemon juice, basil and black pepper.
Shannon Jeropke: Behave Yourself ($12) Oh, behave? How could you with this summery sip of vodka, peach liqueur, lemon juice, Suze gentian liqueur, lemon-berry syrup and grapefruit bitters?
Shannon Jeropke: The Mission ($12) The cocktail: vodka, sherry, lemon juice, simple syrup, Gran Classico bitters, agua fresca (pineapple, red bell pepper, ginger and mint) and orange-saffron bitters.