Chicago’s ‘It’ drinks

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
February 28, 2003

It’s a cocktail jungle out there. Drink menus are increasingly becoming so large, they sometimes rival a restaurant’s actual food menu. With a resurgence of the fashionable Cocktail Hour at area lounges, clubs and hotel bars, it can be quite daunting to decide which fabulous libation (or two) you simply must have. What’s in? What’s passe? What is the latest ‘It’ drink? And just hou much does it coset to be cocktail cool?

Our staff fanned out across the city to some of the swankiest places in the area to sample and select their favorites for Chicago’s “sexiest cocktail.” In some instances, we selected two from the same establishment (hey, it’s really hard to choose sometimes). Selections were based, in part, on color, presentation, popularity, originality, uniqueness and taste.

What we soon discovered was that these “cute cocktails” come at a steep price, they’re generally in the martini family, and they’re pretty much the domaine of female patrons.

While we’re not saying there aren’t other viable candidates out there, we offer this as our inaugural list of sexy cocktails. Now, if we can talk our editor into “sexy cocktails part deux” …

Cocktail: Femme Fatale
Yow Bar at Le Passage, 937 N. Rush, (312) 255-0022
Price: $9
History: Created by bar manager Richard Bates (Yow Low was his mentor)
Ingredients: Stoli peach vodka, Malibu rum, passion fruit juice, pineapple juice, splash of grenadine; cherry garnish
Color: Peachy-pink
Taste: Sweet, slightly tart and fruity, this Femme has a clean, island taste that’s deceptively potent. As bar manager Richard Bates says, “It’s the perfect drink for femmes when they’re feeling fierce.” But boys will like it, too–if they’re brave enough to get past the pastel color.
Preferred by: Females, and guys buying it for them
Popularity: Definitely one of their most popular drinks; they’ll go through about 500 on a weekend night
Virgin alternative: Yes

Cocktail: Nordic Nectar
Four Seasons Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware (312) 649-2358
Price: $12.50
History: Created by head bartender Paul Murphy
Ingredients: Fresh pineapple slices soaked throughout Finlandia vodka; pineapple slice garnish
Color: Clear, although the bartender can add a splash of Chambord if you’d prefer a more colorful pink drink–then the Nordic Nectar morphs into the Seasons’ French Martini
Taste: Smooth and mild, the Nectar slides down your throat
Preferred by: Females
Popularity: They sell about 20 every night of the week
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Rum Keg
Yow Bar at Le Passage, 937 N. Rush, (312) 255-0022
Price: $15 (serves 2 to 4)
History: Yow Low created the Rum Keg when he was at Trader Vic’s; Yow Bar is named for him
Ingredients: Meyers rum, Bacardi Light, apricot brandy, passion fruit juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice; splash of Rock Candy syrup and flash blended; served in ceramic bowl; (the centerpiece is filled with 151 rum, which is set afire for effect–do not drink!)
Color: Light pineapple
Taste: Lush tropical flavor
Preferred by: Anyone wanting to share a drink with that special someone
Popularity: They sell about 60 per Friday or Saturday (and remember, the drink serves 2 to 4)
Virgin alternative: Yes

Cocktail: Coco Copa (debuts in April)
Wave, W Hotel, 644 N. Lake Shore, (312) 255-4460
Price: $10
History: Wave’s own mixologist, Jodi Smith, says she drew inspiration for her drink from the hotel’s proximity to Lake Michigan and her desire to create a cocktail in the old school tropical drink tradition.
Ingredients: Bacardi coconut rum, splashes of banana nectar, pineapple juice, Godiva white liqueur, and grenadine; served on ice with orange slice garnish, cherry and flower pick
Color: Soft pink
Taste: Tart pineapple and sweet coconut
Geared toward: It’s definitely a girl drink, though the bartender said men would enjoy it if they could bring themselves to order, carry around and drink a pink cocktail
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Valentini
Gioco, 1312 S. Wabash, (312) 939-3870
Price: $8.50
History: Named by bartender Jeff F. Stevenson; the restaurant was once a speakeasy and the drink was named after Valentine’s Day (and the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre)
Ingredients: Stoli Raspberry Vodka, sour mix, a splash each of Chambord and cherry juice or grenadine–shaken with ice; cherry garnish
Color: Deep red
Taste: You know you’re not in the corner saloon when you order this huge sweet-and-sour cocktail. This cherry-based drink is reminiscent of Caribbean vacation drinks. Great pre-dinner or desert cocktail; too rich to be the drink of choice for a night of partying.
Preferred by: Twenty- to fortysomething men and women
Popularity: One of their best sellers
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Mia Porto
Nine, 440 W. Randolph (312) 575-9900
Price: $8
History: Created in honor of the restaurant’s former Ruby Port distributor named Mia
Ingredients: Ruby Port, soda, fresh orange juice and sugar
Color: Burgundy
Taste: Sweet and foamy; served chilled
Preferred by: Twenty- and thirtysomething women
Popularity: Fairly popular on the weekends
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Silky Sunset
Domaine, 1045 N. Rush, (312) 397-1045
Price: $10
History: Bartender Nikki Friar concocted this drink for sophisticated sippers
Ingredients: Amaretto DiSaronno liqueur, vanilla-flavored Bacardi on the rocks
Color: Golden
Taste: Smooth and sweet; served chilled, over ice
Preferred by: Twenty-, thirty-, fortysomething men
Popularity: Too new on the menu to tell
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Saxy Blue
KazBar, House of Blues Hotel, 333 N. Dearborn, (312) 245-0333
Price: $10
History: Created by bartender/manager Tim Mokrey
Ingredients: Absolut mandarin, blue Caracao, orange slice garnish
Color: Brilliant blue
Taste: Moderately sweet, smooth
Preferred by: Females
Popularity: Moderate; people mostly order it because of its color
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Ghost
Nine, 440 W. Randolph, (312) 575-9900
Price: $9.99
History: Created in honor of the restaurant’s famous Ghost Bar
Ingredients: Champagne and Midori
Color: Clear, lime green with a cherry garnish inside; served chilled
Taste: Bubbly but dry
Preferred by: Twenty- and thirtysomething women
Popularity: Fairly popular on the weekend nights
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Tryst
Sugar, 108 W. Kinzie, (312) 822-9999
Price: $10
History: Created by club’s co-owner Jerry Suqui
Ingredients: Alize gold (passion fruit and cognac), vanilla Stoli, splash of orange juice, garnish of candied orange peel
Color: Light yellow-gold
Taste: Slightly bitter, with subtle, fruity kick
Preferred by: Thirtysomething females
Popularity: It’s among their top five martinis
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Asian Ambrosia
Opera, 1301 S. Wabash, (312) 461-0161
Price: $8.50
History: Restaurant owner Jerry Kleiner visited Asia and attended an opera that featured food and libations, making for an ambrosial experience
Ingredients: Bacardi rum, lychee juice, tiny dash of almond cream–shaken with ice; star fruit and cherry garnish
Color: Silky white
Taste: Although the only thing “Asian” about this showy cocktail is the lychee juice and star fruit garnish, the rum-fueled cocktail is a winner, although somewhat rich and a little too tart to order more than two in a row.
Preferred by: Twenty-, fortysomething females
Popularity: One of their best sellers
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: C’est la Vie
Le Bar, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut, (312) 324-4000
Price: $12
History: Created at Le Bar (many of the specialty drinks have French names because the Sofitel is a French hotel company)
Ingredients: Frangelico, Absolut vanilla, Godiva white chocolate liqueur and butterscotch Schnapps
Color: creamy white on top, chocolate brown on bottom
Taste: Very tasty–lots of flavors, though no one flavor overwhelms the next; not too heavy or rich, either
Preferred by: Younger crowd
Popularity: Moderate
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Shady Lady
Minx Cafe & Lounge, 111 W. Hubbard, (312) 828-9000
Price: $9
History: Named by bartender Joy Jara; nearly all the drinks at Minx are named for women; the definition of “minx” is a woman with sassy attitude
Ingredients: Bacardi orange rum, Malibu rum, Meyers rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, splash of cranberry juice; garnished with orange slice and cherry; served with ice
Color: Deep orange-red
Taste: Rum, rum and more rum
Preferred by: Women
Popularity: Hugely popular with the ladies
Virgin alternative: No.

Cocktail: Kool Kiss
Domaine, 1045 N. Rush, (312) 397-1045
Price: $10
History: Bartender Nikki Friar created this drink made to be shared by two
Ingredients: Coconut Bacardi, Godiva white chocolate liqueur and creme de menthe; chocolate-coated rim
Color: Mint green and chocolate swirls with a chocolate-coated rim; served in a chilled martini glass
Taste: Heavenly and cool; leaves you with a warm, tingly feeling inside
Preferred by: Any man or woman ready to woo their significant other
Popularity: Too new to tell
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Bellini Tini
Butterfield 8, 713 N. Wells, (312) 327-0940
Price: $11
History: This is a martini-influenced drink that began in New York City and is slowly invading the Midwest
Ingredients: Toast the cocktail king Harry Cipriani with Bacardi O, peach nectar, splash of orange juice, a splash of champagne and a rim dipped in strawberry juice
Color: Pinkish red (it’s the one to have if you want a cocktail to complement your bright spring attire)
Taste: Fruity and sweet (a great brunch accompaniment); the kick from the champagne and tart taste from the peach nectar will definitely wake you up; served at room temperature but with a slight chill from the OJ and champagne
Preferred by: Females
Popularity: On an average Friday or Saturday night, between 100 and 150 Bellini Tinis pass through the lips of this urban chic crowd
Virgin alternative: No

Cocktail: Menage a trois (non-alcoholic)
Le Bar, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut, (312) 324-4000
Price: $6
History: Created at Le Bar
Ingredients: Raspberry puree, tangerine juice, orange juice and club soda–served on ice with a cherry and orange slice garnish
Color: Muticolored–yellow, orange, red
Taste: Tart, slightly sweet; very refreshing
Preferred by: Non-drinkers
Alcohol-added alternative: Add Absolut vanilla instead of club soda, shake it up and you get L’orgie ($12), which is a red grapefruit color and is served in a martini glass

Cocktail: Chocolate Kiss
KazBar, House of Blues Hotel, 333 N. Dearborn, (312) 245-0333
Price: $10
Ingredients: Stoli vanilla, white Godiva liqueur, dark Godiva liqueur, chocolate syrup on rim, cherry on top (whipped cream upon request)
Color: Creamy white with swirls of chocolate
Taste: Heavenly rich, chocolate flavor, the vodka almost concealed; but don’t be fooled
Preferred by: Twentysomething females
Popularity: Hugely popular; among their top sellers
Virgin alternative: Yes