Whether it’s a gorgeous skyline, the world’s best pizza, the city’s fascinating (if a little violent) history, lovely lakeside beaches, or unbeatable live music, it’s hard not to be impressed by everything Chicago has to offer.
Here’s another fun fact, though. Chicago is undergoing through a spectacular whisky boom (I’ll use the term ‘whisky’ to describe both Scotch whisky and American/Irish whiskey from now on). It is home to award-winning distilleries, and many, many whisky bars. When you see articles online, presenting the ‘top 10′ or ‘top 5′ whisky bars in Chicago, I can guarantee that they are leaving a lot out.
In my last visit there, I did my best to cover as many bars as possible, but there was no way that I was able to visit every single one. Fortunately, I know someone who has come close.
Martin ‘Marty’ Duffy, a Chicago native, is one of the movers and shakers of Chicago’s whisky scene. In addition to his responsibility as a brand ambassador to Glencairn glasses, he is a co-producer of the Chicago Independent Spirits Expo. Everyone I talked to mentioned his name as someone who knows what’s going on with whisky in the Windy City, and he’s enjoyed a front row seat observing Chicago’s rise:
“Having been in the whisky biz for over 21 years (with some 12 years additional of bartending overlapping that), it is amazing to see how much whisky has become such a huge part of Chicago’s drink culture.”
He kindly provided me with a list of his recommended whisky haunts that you can discover and enjoy for yourself.
So this list serves as an insider’s primer to Chicago’s whisky bars, celebrating the establishments in the city that take the water of life quite seriously.
Here they are, in alphabetical order:
Bangers & Lace - American - Loads of craft beer on offer, as well as sausages.
Bar on Buena - American/Scotch – Over 300 whiskies, 23 beers on draft, and over 90 in bottles and cans. Nice.
Ballydoyle - Irish – Irish pub with a healthy selection of Irish whiskey.
Berkshire Room - Scotch/American – Known for excellent cocktails, but also has a great selection of whiskies.
Chief O’Neill’s - Scotch/Irish – Not only are there Irish whiskey cocktails here, but also Irish music concerts.
Clark Street Ale House - Scotch/American – Over 300 whiskies, a large selection of beer, and a huge beer garden.
Delilah’s - World – A Chicago institution, and one of the first bars in the city to take whisky seriously. Over 800 whiskies from 15 countries are available here.
Drumbar -World – A classy establishment that also serves whisky from the superb Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Duke of Perth - Scotch – Founded in 1989, one of the first establishments that served single malt Scotch in the city.
Fountainhead - American/Scotch – A selection of 400+ whiskies, featuring their own whisky casks they sourced themselves as well as Scotch Malt Whisky Society whiskies.
Franklin Room - American/Scotch – Classy basement establishment with a huge selection.
The Gage - Scotch/American/Irish – The Gage also has a great wine selection and a restaurant that has earned a lot of plaudits.
Gingerman Tavern - Scotch/American – An alternative to the Wrigley Field sports bars that puts on live music.
The Grafton - Scotch/Irish – Hosts regular live music nights.
Jerry’s in Lincoln Square - American – Enjoy a whisky to accompany one of the 100+ sandwiches that you can choose from.
Kuma’s - American – Top notch burgers that you can enjoy to a metal soundtrack.
The Lady Gregory - Scotch/Irish – Irish pub using local ingredients for its food, also features a 300+ selection of whiskies,
Longman & Eagle - American – These guys specialize in single cask whiskies.
The Map Room - American – Also serious about beer, and even hosts a beer school.
Maria’s Community Bar - American – Craft spirits, a house brewery, and possibly the only Polish/Korean fusion restaurant that I’ve ever heard of.
Monkey’s Paw - Scotch/American – Farm-to-table restaurant that also does flights.
Owen & Engine - American – Enjoy your spirit of choice next to a cosy fireplace.
Pitchfork Food & Saloon - American – Sports bar with a good selection of bourbons.
The Queen Mary Tavern - Scotch – Classy little tavern with nice cocktails and a surprising number of fortified wines.
The Red Lion Pub - Scotch/American – Superb selection of whiskies in a supposedly haunted establishment.
Sable Kitchen & Bar - World – In addition to an impressive cocktail list, the website claims that Sable has ‘one of the most diverse whiskey selections in the country.’ You should find out if that’s true.
Sedgwick Stop - American – A cosy restaurant
South Branch Tavern – Scotch/American – Boasts a lovely riverside patio.
Twisted Spoke - World – Phenomenal selection with some really unusual choices.
Untitled Supper Club - American – Over 500+ whiskies in a Prohibition themed establishment featuring live music and cabaret entertainment.
WeeGee’s Lounge - Scotch/American – Retro themed lounge with a black and white photo booth.
If there’s a few that I’ve left out, please do get in touch with me and I can update the list!
