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Delilah's
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Delilah's disparate denizens have little in common night to night, as this cavernous tavern plays host to a wildly varying crowd on a permanent basis. What they do have in common: Bourbon, of which Delilah's easily has more than 60 varieties on a given night. Witness staples like the Elijah Craig Single Barrel 18-Year-Old or the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the deep-ranging vanilla, mint and molasses taste of which has its stock growing steadily. But what really sells is Maker's Mark, albeit with a dash of punk/surf/ rock/garage band flair.
- Jody Robbins
Delilah's, 2771 North Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL; 773-472-2771
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Duke of Perth
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Happening upon the stellar single-malt whiskey collection at the Duke of Perth, you'll find everything as it should be in a Scottish pub: Viewed through a smoky lens, there's a tight little bar area, a small dining room and an open-air patio out back. Everywhere there are antique Scottish details imported from Perth (co-owner Colin Cameron hails from Broughty Ferry, a town 20 miles away from Perth). But what really catches the eye is the selection of around 80 single malts, including hard-to-find goodies like the Aberlour a'bunadh, a cask-strength selection registering 120-proof (most single malts hover around 80), with a profoundly long finish.
- Jody Robbins
Duke of Perth, 2913 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL; 773-477-1741
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Moda
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Moda draws a fashionable crowd to trendy River North, where waiters, bartenders and customers alike sport Gucci, Prada or Dolce & Gabbana. Dom Pérignon, Cristal and La Grande Dame are in proper supply here, but fashionistas may prefer The ModaMosa, a mix of Ketel One, mango liqueur, fresh fruit juices and a splash of Champagne. A catwalk in the middle of the room is used only occasionally, but downstairs in the Couture Room a pair of plasma monitors glow with the season's shows from around the world.
- Chris Rubin
Moda, 25 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL; 312-670-2200
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Pierrot Gourmet
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Pierrot Gourmet café-bakery and wine bar offers a rustic European setting for sipping in the stylish, urban Peninsula Chicago hotel. The affordable array of 63 wines starts at $26, with limited but interesting by-the-glass choices, which start at $7. Selections from 15 regions are intended to "entice people away from classical choices like chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon," says the Peninsula's Eric Faivre, and toward, say, a '98 Bott-Geyl Pinot Blanc or '99 Marques de Murrieta Coleccion 2100 Rioja. Wines may be paired with house specialties of crusty sourdough tartines, Alsatian flammekuchen, fresh baked goods and artisanal cheeses. Extroverts can mingle at a communal table for 20; a retail area alongside the bar offers many of the same wines to take out.
- Alice Van Housen
Pierrot Gourmet, The Peninsula Chicago, 109 E. Superior St., Chicago, IL; 312-337-2888
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PJ Clarke's
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PJ Clarke's isn't nearly as elderly as its 121-year-old brother bar in New York, but that hasn't stopped it from picking up some old-school traditions: Bartenders in crisp white shirts and aprons work behind a mahogany bar and, as long as you behave, still refer to you as "sir." But they're particular when it comes to the 57-bottle selection of Scotch. Whether it's the Lagavulin 16 Year Old or the Macallan 25, they prefer to pour it neat. And though they're proud of the bar's signature mini-burgers, they recommend you finish your shot before you dig in.
-David Tamarkin
PJ Clarke's, 302 E. Illinois St, Chicago, IL; 312-670-7500
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Salud
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Many of us have had a psyche-wounding Tequila experience and, for years after, recoiled at the very thought of drinking Tequila outside of a margarita. Then, cautiously, we take our first hesitant sips of 100-percent agave Tequila and, voila: "You can see the surprise on their faces when they taste it," says cocktail expert Tony Abou-Ganim.
Serving notice that the pure agave Tequila movement is gaining steam is the recent opening of Salud, a contemporary Tequila lounge, in Chicago. Partner Matt Lindner credits a visit to Tommy's Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco and its owner Julio Bermejo as his inspiration. "Tommy's attracts people from all walks of life, all wanting to experience some of these Tequilas," says Lindner. "My partners and I agreed the cocktail aspect of what they were doing would fly in Chicago and geared the design of Salud specifically to tasting Tequila." The concept seems to be working as Salud's first Tequila tasting sold out in less than a day.
The future of Tequila as a high-end spirit (six percent of all imported Tequila is 100-percent agave) the way Ed Brown, the president of Patrón Spirits, sees it, goes something like this: "People are realizing there's more to Tequila than margaritas. The agave has such a unique taste that I believe we're going to see more of the super ultra-premium Tequilas, which run north of $150 a bottle."
- Jody Robbins
Salud, 1471 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL; 773-486-0686
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Single Malt Redux
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Happening upon the stellar single-malt whiskey collection at the Duke of Perth, you'll find everything as it should be in a Scottish pub: Viewed through a smoky lens, there's a tight little bar area, a small dining room and an open-air patio out back. Everywhere there are antique Scottish details imported from Perth (co-owner Colin Cameron hails from Broughty Ferry, a town 20 miles away from Perth). But what really catches the eye is the selection of around 80 single malts, including hard-to-find goodies like the Aberlour a'bunadh, a cask-strength selection registering 120-proof (most single malts hover around 80), with a profoundly long finish.
- Jody Robbins
2913 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL; 773-477-1741
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Sonotheque
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Sonotheque lives up to its tunes-foremost concept, scripted by local designer Suhail (Mod, Sugar), whose décor incorporates the technology of a recording studio with artfully used acoustic materials. Drink offerings are high-end yet affordable. Ketel One on the rocks? $5. Tanqueray 10 with tonic? $7. Sipping spirits don't cost much more, with a beautiful amber Pyrat Rum XO Reserve at a swallowable $7, and a hard-to-find Springbank 15-year-old single malt for only $14.
- Jody Robbins
Sonotheque, 1444 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL; 312-226-7600
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Sweet & Savories'
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Sweet & Savories' chef David Richards claims that if he never saw a so-called martini again, he'd die a happy man. So, on his latest cocktail list you'll find proper cocktails-like gin martinis-and savory treats like his Pomegranate Negroni. It's got the bitter bite of the Negronis he used to sip in dark New York City jazz clubs, but with Pama Pomegranate Liqueur in place of sweet vermouth, it's a cocktail that even a martini purist could love. -David Tamarkin
1534 W. Fullerton St., Chicago;
773-281-6778
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The Palm Court
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The Palm Court is a comforting room all year round, but during Chicago's notoriously harsh winters, its luxuries take on a practical edge. The Executive Cocktail menu features four-ounce libations-which means that an Executive Rob Roy has double the Scotch you'd get in a normal Rob Roy. Served in a brandy snifter (it's too big for a cocktail glass), it promises to warm you up in half the time.
- David Tamarkin
The Palm Court at The Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton Pl., Chicago, IL; 312-787-2200
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Twisted Spoke
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At the Twisted Spoke's new Wrigleyville location, Chicago's Harley enthusiasts, baseball fans and off-duty chefs all gather to check out a list of over 60 different Bourbons, including gems like Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year, Black Maple Hill, and (for the truly hard-core) Old Ancient and Jim Beam on tap. Try the Twisted Spoke private label, custom made by Julian Van Winkle, with the "contemporary eclectic bar cuisine" for lunch, dinner, or the Bodacious Biker Brunch. Owner Mitch Einhorn, inspired by the cult movie "Shakes the Clown," continues to pack the place with advertising for specials like Unwed Mother's Day, half-price Whiskey Wednesdays, and cameos by Jimmy Russell and other Bourbon legends.
- Christine Blumer
Twisted Spoke, 3369 N. Clark St.,
Chicago, IL, 773-525-5300;
501 N. Ogden, Chicago, IL, 312-666-1500; twistedspoke.com
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Violet Hour
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Violet Hour was supposed to be a secret: Owner-mixologist Toby Malone, a veteran of New
York's cocktail scene, wanted to keep the room as comfortable (read: uncrowded) as possible. But
the bar has turned out to be too lovely to keep under wraps. Now Chicagoans are toppling over each
other to get a seat in the sophisticated, blue-toned room and put back drinks like Malone's
brandy-fortified Iron Cross. The building is still unmarked on the outside, but don't worry: The
crowd waiting to get in makes the location pretty obvious.
- David Tamarkin
1520 N. Damen Ave.; 773-770-0184 (reviewed W&S 2/08)
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