The sushi here is a great "hidden gem" within a distillery. Server and chef took the time to explain everything and give recommendations. CH Distillery makes Malort, which is very much an acquired taste but a "right of passage" when you visit Chicago and this distillery. Although the paring with sushi is not the best, you definitely need to try once. read more

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I love it here. So amazing. CH is our go to for sushi. We have literally never been disappointed here. The service is impeccable. It's such a clean and modern aesthetic in the back you walk by some of the fish and it feels almost like a speakeasy. I never walk away feeling hungry. The portions are large and AMAZING quality. They did amazing for a private event we threw with them. Truly an amazing gem. If you are looking for quality all around this is a place you will never be disappointed by. read more

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Drink Review Only! I've wanted to check out CH Distillery for a while now but haven't been in the area when it's been open. I love that it's one of the most known distilleries in Chicagoland and makes the ever famous Malort. What I didn't know is that the inside pairs with Jinsei Motto for a full sushi menu! The interior bar area had a very cool and modern vibe. Staff were extremely friendly and checked in on us at appropriate times. The cocktails come at a premium but that is understandable for being local distillery quality. We ordered the Punch Drunk Peach which was more of a martini format and very spirit forward. The fruity note was subtle but was still delicious. We also ordered the All Dat Spice which had a fall apple note. I loved the "ch" branded ice cube to elevate the presentation. It was perfectly frothy and easy to drink. I would definitely come back to try other drinks and do a distillery tour when in the area! read more

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I was a mission to find a rare Malort type (anti-hero) due to me moving this fall and went Reddit to help my search and was directed to CH. At first I didn't unsure if info was true and called and was informed that they had it in stock. I decided to take trip there to pick-up my unicorns I have been searching for. I walked into thinking it was more of a bottle shop and immediately froze up because it was a very nice restaurant bar. That's on me for not doing my homework. The host picked up I looked lost and said "you're the guy who called about the anti hero?" And broke the ice. She handed me off to the manager (Antonio) to discuss what I was looking for. He told me they had it and some other fun stuff and he needed to round up. While waiting the bartender and host chatted me up on the history of restaurant and CH. Antonio came back with herd of Malort unicorns.He showed me each and let me sample a few to help with my decisions. I ended up getting six different types of Malort. I was only there 25 minutes but I was shocked on how great everyone I interacted with (host, bartender, Antonio) They really created a great experience out of something that I thought was gonna be an in and out transaction. If you are a Malort fan I would highly recommend checking this location out to beef up your collection. read more

CH Distillery - Anti-Malort - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We discovered CH Distillery when we were exploring the Fulton Market area one November afternoon. We decided to try a few different place during happy hour. I'm so glad that we dropped in to CH Distillery, and know that our thirty minute visit was not enough time to spend here. They have a lovely happy hour menu with a selection of hand rolls, sake and cocktails. I enjoyed a sake and my husband had a lovely gin gimlet craft cocktail. Our take away is that we need to explore their full menu and their unique cocktails further in the near future. For happy our the prices were very reasonable. You will spend much more for a full dinner and cocktail experience. read more

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Saw that they had a HH so stopped in for what I thought would be a quick drink but ended up meeting Tony (manager) and Meek (bartender) and had a blast. Started off with their HH sake which wasn't bad at all. Heard tony and team debating what to call a celery based drink and they made one for me - front runners were "let's stalk about it" or "call me on my celery" so watch for it to be on the cocktail menu soon. Also got to try their jeppeson 7 year in a cocktail which was phenomenal and got me tipsy. We also ordered all of the hand rolls they have for HH and they were all pretty tasty. Tony showed us the omakase restaurant and fish in the back so we'll definitely be back to try out their omakase menu. Really cool decor and vibes back there. Great service and cocktails! read more

CH Distillery - Let's stalk about it - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was in the office and had a taste for some happy hour sushi. I googled sushi spots near me and this spot was the closest to my office. Plus factor they had a happy hour that was from 4-6pm. Got here at 5pm and it was empty. Sat at the bar which is really cute. It's lit up with sexy white lighting. Ordered off their happy hour menu the shrimp tempura and spicy tuna hand roll. They were Ok personally favoring the tempura out of the two. I was a little disappointed the rolls didn't come already cut and maki style. They serve the happy hour rolls as one large roll. I requested they cut and they glady did. I also ordered the chicken karage, which are crispy chicken bites served with a side of spicy mayo sauce and they were pretty good, but they did not appear freshly cooked. Looked like they possibly just warmed them up but very crispy. The star of the show was for sure the sake drink. I was asking a lot of questions about their sake so the bar tender was very kind and allowed me to taste of couple sakes. She gave me like a little mini sake flight and I appreciated that. It was very kind of her and helped me make the best saki decision, and boy was it good and potent. Overall experience was good. Its cool they're a distillery and have their own alcohol, like vodka and gin. I hear they do tours as well. May have to check that out, but I will be back for sure for their sake if nothing else. read more

CH Distillery - Chicken karage - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ambiance is kind of hipster chic and the service was great. Our waitress checked on us often. The cocktails sound very creative but were a little odd. The place also closed at 10pm on the weekend, which was also a little weird. We didn't order any food, but did have some cheesecake which was standard. Nothing special. Overall, I probably wouldn't be back. read more

CH Distillery - Cheesecake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here specifically to learn about Malort. As out-of-towners, we were curious about what seems to be a uniquely Chicago thing. Had such great time tasting and learning about the history of this strange brew! Justin, the bartender, was one of the most bad- ass people I've met in Chicago so far. Dude is a hospitality pro. We really enjoyed the few snacks we had, also. Cheers, Justin! read more

We stopped by for drinks after having dinner nearby. We tried Baby Sharks, My Jinji, and Cease & Desist - they were all amazingly delicious and unique. Highly recommend trying My Jinji if you are into Japanese tea - it's smooth, refreshing, slightly earthy from the tea, and subtly spicy from the shiso bitters. The sushi rolls were made with fresh ingredients and were very delicious. The restaurant was spacious and modern with bar seating, tables, and high tops. Our server was very nice and attentive. Such a pleasant experience! read more

CH Distillery - The big tuna - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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it's so random to me that malort is served in such a pretty establishment ! i loved it. i visited by myself and sat at the bar. the bartender elliot was super nice and knowledgeable about the products. the restaurant is very pretty and the sushi was amazing. very reasonably priced. read more

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Is it a restaurant? Is it a distillery? Is it a restaurant distillery? Still not sure. We happened upon CH on a walkabout, they had a happy hour sign out so we popped in. When we told the host we were there for happy hour, they escorted us to "the back room." Which was a little disconcerting because we left all the other people in the front room, walked past fish hanging in a display booth and went to an empty room. We were the only ones there besides the bar tender. To make it even more ominous, we were sitting in the middle of what is/was? the distillery? Very Hangar 18 vibe. No worries though, both the happy hour food and drink were stellar; and as it turns out, CH flies there fish in from Japan and age it. There are multi course dining experiences available (see menu pic $$$$) but based upon our experience, I'm sure they have to be amazing. Apparently that is what is going down in the front room, mystery solved! Also if CH sounds familiar, that is because it should be ala Jepson's Malort! Also, pro tip, if you have not tried Jepson's bourbon yet, you should. We will be back for a deeper dive. read more

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My fiancé and I came here after work to grab few appetizers and a cocktail in the bar area. Our server, Nick, took our drink order and after my fiancé said he was good with just water (he doesn't drink), he seemed annoyed. It then took over 20 minutes for my glass of wine to arrive (barely anyone seated in the bar on a Tuesday). When we place our order, he was again annoyed that we ordered 4 items and said "that's it?"....he continued to be impolite, never asking if we needed anything, how things were tasting, etc. We asked for the check so he pulled up the Toast tablet, we tipped him 20%, he took it back and walked away. Never said "thank you" or "have a nice night". Overall, he was incredibly rude and made our experience negative at CH Distillery. There's so many incredible options for dining in that area and we will not be coming back. read more

I've now been here three times, and I'm honestly not sure why I haven't rated here yet. Probably because every time I come here (mostly for birthday celebrations) we have the best experience. I'm pretty sure the GM greets all of his guests to ENSURE we have a perfect experience, which is also a reason for my 5 star rating. The sushi here is amazing (I'd argue to say maybe one of the best in Chicago). It's newer so if you haven't been here yet, that's probably why... Come here soon before reservations become harder to get. You won't be disappointed! Also, I used to think I hated Malort before here... if you're reading this, this is your sign to try it again! Next time I come back I promised myself I'd do the full Distillery Tour....yes their drinks here are THAT good. - Cheers! read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I remember visiting CH Distillery for a tour when they first opened. This was a few years ago before they even offered food. Since then, I've been quite a few times for work events. The cocktails have improved significantly and the food options have gradually expanded. Tonight we had brisket sliders, bacon wrapped dates, meatballs and charcuterie plates. They even made a delicious BBQ sauce from scratch after I requested. I suggest they add that concoction to the menu permanently. It was that good. Service has consistently been friendly and attentive. Perfect place to pregame before a night out or after work libations. read more

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$6 wine glasses 4-6pm M-F!! The cocktails all looked really good so I will definitely be back to try them!

Great drinks. Delicious, well-balanced and not weak. They also serve some delicious food like sushi from Jinsei Motto, probably some of the freshest sushi in the city. They also serve their own food, which is very delicious as well. The fries did not disappoint. The Baby Sharks drink was my favorite. Mildly sweet from the strawberry, slightly spicy from the serrano and well-balanced thanks to the cucumber and lime. I could drink several of these. I'd happily come back for a drink and bite. Service was great as well. read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've always wanted to come to CH and happened to be down the street so I decided to call and see if a walk in was possible or if a res. was needed. Online they do charge a deposit per person to make a res., luckily we were able to just walk in and be seated immediately. The place has a cool vide and the bar areas back wall is all glass and backs to the distilling area. Since we just left lunch with friends we decided on "Baby Sharks" and I believe it was "sweet blossom". Baby Sharks had a nice bite to it - just enough red pepper taste to make it interesting and refreshing. The Sweet Blossom reminded me as if a piña colada and a rum punch had a baby.m and it wasn't overly sweet which was nice. The service was great and overall we had a nice time! read more

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My friend and I were walking after eating nearby, and found this place. It looked cool from outside, so we decided to come in. In spite of being weekend evening, it was not crowded and we were given seats right away. The ambiance is really nice with high-ceilings and modern/clean decor. I was thinking as if I were somewhere in Manhattan/NY... The service was good/solid and the menu had some interesting drinks. We decided to stick around for a while. It was great to find such a cool place by accident! read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Two of us went on a Thursday night with a reservation. The drinks were great but what I was most surprised about was how good the food was! I couldn't resist the grilled cheese with bacon and truffle fries- 10/10 for both! The drinks were priced on par with city pricing ~$12 or so but the food was cheap and huge portions. At the time of our visits CH was partnering with a sushi chef and my friend really enjoyed that as well. Not sure if that's a permanent thing but it was cool to have the option between bar food and sushi. CH has a great atmosphere for a meet up with friends or date night with your SO! read more

What in the actual f*%#? I want to take a poll before I continue my review and ask "has anyone ever got buzzed here?" Came here with a girlfriend for a quick drink before trying bridesmaid dresses on around the corner. We figured we would catch up and the alcohol might make the purchase slightly easier. The menu pricing seemed fair. Emphasis on the word seemed. We ordered an $8-$10 piña colada (I can't remember the exact price). When it came out, it was in a wine glass...the size of a shot glass. I have never seen anything like it in my life. There was also a garnish that must've taken the space they could've just filled with more piña colada, but nope! My friend also ordered the Brie. The Brie that has four slices and baguette (I believe). This is not to be shared and is definitely something you must order more of, along with many other items. Let's just say your bill quickly adds up after two drinks and a few slices of cheese. If they sell their alcohol in store, I might just pick up a bottle of gin and make my own stuff. That way i might be happier. read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been here twice already and it's definitely a good spot for pre/post-dinner drinks if you're in the area. We've managed to score a table both times without reservations due to no shows. The ambiance of the place is cool & sleek. You can see the distillery through the glass while grabbing a drink at the bar. I really liked their endless summer drink, which has gin & vodka, grapefruit, and kombucha! It's very light and tasty. read more

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Unexpected greatness! After a great cocktail making virtual event I thought - I want to give this place a go as they clearly really care about quality and flavor. And am so glad I did. Went with husband and two friends and the dirty vodka martini was perfect, the other cocktails delicious and likewise w the food. Recommend booking if you go on Friday or sat as it gets busy. Good spot for date or with friends. read more

CH Distillery - Sushi - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here for a Yelp Elite drink pick up. I had the Cease and Desist, very delicious and strong cocktail, I wish I would have ordered another one. The place was very empty, very clean and they were playing very nice music. Social distancing was very much enforced here. I will definitely be back. read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I recently visited CH Distillery while vacationing in Chicago. We wanted some early evening cocktails and this was the PERFECT location. Upon arriving we were shown a table in the back area of the bar. Our server, Rose, welcomed us, and after asking for recommendations, she was able to help us choose wonderful cocktails to suit our tastes. Throughout our time there, she was extremely friendly and helpful. My first cocktail was the Jesse's Girl. The gin, strawberry, mint, and celery all combined for a perfect summer cocktail, with a smooth, refreshing flavor. We also tried the mixed nuts, which were seasoned and more flavorful than traditional mixed nuts. My second cocktail was the Martinique, which was equally delicious. The service we received was so great, we felt welcomed and comfortable in the classy environment of the bar. A tip if you want a more behind the scenes look, they give tours on Tuesday and Saturday evenings. The next time I'm back in Chicago this is definitely something I would be interested in looking into! read more

CH Distillery - Jesse's Girl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just a quick review for the Bacon Grilled Cheese, which is the best grilled cheese sandwich I've ever tasted. I bought a drink kit through a Yelp! Elite event, and added on a couple sandwiches and a bottle of bourbon to our carry-out order. We haven't made the drinks yet, but the sandwiches alone were well worth the trip downtown. My husband said his burger was "pretty good." My grilled cheese was absolutely outstanding. It was crusty and oozing cheese, just like I like it, and some of the oozing cheese was also grilled to a crisp, which made it even better. It was also larger than the typical grilled cheese, and cut on the diagonal just like my mom used to do. And when I bit into the crispy cheese, it had a strong taste of fresh parmesan -- yum! A compliment also on the quick pickup. I sent my husband in while I parked at the curb, and he was in and back out in maybe two or three minutes. I'm looking forward to trying the drinks, and also making a Manhattan or two with the bourbon. I'll report back in once I've tried everything! read more

Really liked this place and the bartender (Stas?) was very personable. I ordered a Jesse's Girl and it was a unique drink. The bartender gave us samples of their frozen Hurricane drink later too. I saw they offered brewery tours too, we didn't get to go on it but a few people in our group did. I'd definitely come back here next time I'm in town, they had tasty drinks and good service. read more

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Great happy hour! We were there on a Saturday and happy hour went until 6. We sat at the bar and the staff were very welcoming and helpful. I highly recommend the hibiscus gin and tonic and the spicy scallop handroll. read more

This is just for the tour.....The tour is a joke and waste of time and money ($35/pp). The tour guide didn't put much effort into her presentation or tasting. I've been on other distillery tours in Chicago that cost half as much (ie Koval) and they were more informative and had a guide that was genuinely trying to engage with their visitors, not phoning it in. I get that their on-site distilling is small but if you promote the tour as 45mins long but don't actually have 45mins of "material" then maybe don't offer a tour. Save your money! read more

This place is a Gem!!!! It's a whole vibe and a great way to either start or end your night. read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good drinks, good food. Try the tuna hand-roll. Specialty drinks change throughout the year.

**My 100th Yelp Review** We didn't have any plans for Valentine's Day, however, after scoring tickets to see Love Never Dies on opening night, we needed a quick bite to eat before the musical. I searched for restaurants near the Cadillac Palace Theater. After seeing the positive reviews and photos, we decided to give CH Distillery a try on 2/14/18. The space is a narrow rectangle so be forewarned this might get tight for large groups. There is a long bar counter with plenty of seats as well as small tables and high boys along the wall and front window area. Our server was attentive and very accommodating. She immediately brought us a complimentary shot - which was a nice touch. We also got to try 3 or 4 additional shots of their house made gin, bourbon and vodka. Wow! I can't wait to go back and purchase a few bottles to mix cocktails at home or even just to drink on the rocks. I was disappointed that a few of the entrée photos I saw online were seasonal menu items (lamb chop, poutine, duck tacos). The menu consists of a handful of apps, larger plates and charcuterie. We shared a few items and it was plenty. The chicken liver mousse comes with sliced baguette to spread the mousse. I thought this was OK. The CH Burger was delicious - I'm sure due to the caramelized onions and house made angus beef patty. We also tried the Stagberry charcuterie. I never had Elk Salame before, but this was pretty good! We tried the Old Fashioned and Cease & Desist. The Old Fashioned was strong; the C&D had an interesting flavor due to the Lapsang Shouchong tea, but, I couldn't get enough of it. It was a perfect union of flavors. Pretty much all the cocktails and shots we had were delicious. I can't wait to go back and try the rest. read more

CH Distillery - Menu 2/14/18 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I first found out about this place through the cocktail kit Yelp Elites got and I decided to make a dinner reservation and I'm so glad I did! Cocktails: so good! I got "Baby Sharks" which has vodka, red bell pepper, strawberry, Serrano pepper, and lime juice - it's my new favorite cocktail! It's sweet, savory, and a little spicy. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their drinks too. The burger: very delicious! The chicken Philly cheesesteak - you get all the perks of a delicious cheesesteak minus the layer of grease left in your mouth for yours. Fries - so good and I looovvved the garlic aioli that came with the fries! Sushi - They brought one piece for each of us to try and it was simple, fresh, and flavorful. I didn't order any other sushi but the friends who did said it was really good. The overall vibe of this place is great. It's clean, cool, and the bar lights are really pretty. Can't wait to go back! read more

CH Distillery - "Baby Sharks" aka an amazing cocktail you should order - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in for a few drinks. All the staff were fantastic. Got a nice patio seat and loved the location.

We came here for drinks and the distillery tour. To drink I told the bartender I wanted something fruity and to surprise me. He did not disappoint! My drink was made perfectly to my liking. The bartenders are very friendly and great at making suggestions. There are a lot of interesting cocktails on their menu. Most cocktails are $12. The tour was good, the place is definitely very small and the tour was a little crowded but I still enjoyed it. What really made the tour enjoyable was the tour guide/comedian. He was great at making jokes and kept the material interesting. I also enjoyed the vodka shot with pickles and bread as well as the cherry bourbon shot (I think it was bourbon?). My only complaint: We got a deal on Gilt City for $39 it included a distillery tour for two and $30 to spend on drinks/food. The deal was very misleading. When we paid we were charged tax and a 18% gratuity not only on our drinks (which was expected) but also on the $15 tour price. So instead of $39 we really paid $51 for two drinks, and two tours. I just thought it was very misleading. Someone did apologize to us but it was kind of a shitty apology. read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I toured CH Distillery yesterday and we really enjoyed it! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We got to taste many interesting spirits that CH makes and learned about a variety of collaborations with other Chicago companies. We're now forever CH supporters! read more

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We ended up at CH Distillery for their Cocktails & Humor Saturday evening. My sister purchased our tickets online one week prior to the event. We arrived 15 minutes prior to the start of the show & enjoyed a drink at the bar. I loved that the entire bar top had a light underneath. The entire feel & decor inside was perfect. We were welcomed with glasses of water & a complimentary shot. The shot we were given was grapefruit gin & bitters... booze forward but good! We ordered an Old Fashioned, Baby Sharks, & Martinique. Our first round of drinks were delicious. Baby Sharks was the perfect mix of sweet & heat. I loved that my Martinique was served in a cute little coupe glass. The bartender goofed on the first Old Fashioned & had to remake. Sadly our second round of the same drinks did not taste the same. For the comedy event they advertised "sip on signature drinks, enjoy elegant New American small plates, and watch Chicago-style comedy." The comedy space is in the back of the distillery by the tanks. There only lines of chairs & no tables. I find it hard to enjoy a small plate during the show without tables? The comedians were great & we really enjoyed the show. Unfortunately they only have two bathrooms here, which lead to a very long line when the comedy show let out. read more

CH Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall 2.5 stars. Pretty disappointing overall considering the high ratings. Is it just us!?? Went on a Saturday night with rez for party of 4. Service was friendly but the food and drinks took a really long time to come out. However, it was the actual food and drinks that is making me give this place such a low review. I'm not sure if it was this particular menu or what, but everything we got did not meet expectations. I didn't see any risotto or pasta dishes on the menu that looked delicious in the Yelp photos! :( FOOD: nothing was even good, much less a standout. - duck tacos: I couldn't tell you what kind of meat this was. It was salty and unflavorful on cold tortillas. - poutine: really small portion (we each got a spoonful). They used cubed potatoes instead of fries, ok fine, but the cheese curds were really sparse and the gravy was just thick and again not flavorful! - burger: for $12... we all thought it would be better described as a slider. And it came by itself with no sides. For being on Randolph, you better up the burger game, this simply isn't acceptable. Dry and unmemorable. - tuna stack: the tortilla chips were the grocery store type (also too thick of a cut for this type of dish), and the tuna was again... not dressed, just bland small cubes of tuna on tomato and avocado. Tasted rubbery and not fresh. DRINKS: We ordered 6 different types of cocktails. None of which were very good. My first cocktail was the Cease & Desist. Yes the server warned me that it would be smoky.. due to the Lapsong Suchong, but it was spicy! Is smoky supposed to equal spicy!? My 2nd cocktail was the Jungle Feather... sounded fruity with lime, strawberry, cucumber and a grapefruit infused spirit. It didn't taste sweet at all... but rather... muddy? I tried the other cocktails my friends had and none of us were happy with them! What is going on?! Overall, with a $171 bill and this quality of food/drink, we won't be back. read more

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Came with a free welcome shot. We were given a grapefruit vodka which was amazing. I liked how it tasted natural and not artificial. All the drinks we ordered were all Amazing! Fresh ingredients, not artificially and overly sweet, good amount of alcohol and unique drinks. Servers were very knowledgeable and helpful. They even said that if we didn't like a drink we ordered, they'll switch it out for us. We ended up liking everything we ordered. Even gave us a sample shot to help us decide what bottle to bring back. Definitely a place to visit in Chicago. If you're not a regular, I'd recommend one of the classic drinks, but they do have seasonal cocktails. The botanist drink was my favorite. Can't go wrong with anything you choose tho. read more

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Was there for short 15 min after dining at Bellemore but looked like a fun place to hang with friends. It's a distillery so the drinks could be a bit strong, but who's complaining! Was a busy night on a Friday night. I would go back! read more

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