Cheers! Top Whiskey Bars in Chicago, IL
Made from fermented grain mash, whiskey is made from different varieties of grains, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Broken up by region or type – rye, bourbon, scotch, etc. – whiskey also takes front-and-center and a number of bars across Chicago that focus on the spirit, whether served neat, on the rocks, or in a hand-crafted cocktail. For those looking for a great spot to grab a drink amongst a wide varietal of selections, stop by one of the following, among the best bars in Chicago, IL, and top drinking spots around the Windy City.
Opened in 1993 and every day since, Delilah’s Chicago has been a mainstay on the corner of Lincoln Ave and Racine Ave. It currently stocks 1152 spirits, featuring over 900 whiskies, along with beer and other spirit options. The venue’s stock is updated daily with the Old Mock 18yr Bourbon, which was distilled in 1916 at the A. Ph. Stitzel distillery in Louisville, being their most rare. Stop by for a whiskey, bourbon or scotch and enjoy a regular line up of special events including all types of music, art openings, film screenings and beer tastings – there’s always something happening here.
The Berkshire Room is a craft cocktail lounge located in the Acme Hotel that features sleek and refined surroundings for hotel guests and urban adventurers to enjoy. The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group opened The Berkshire Room in 2013 and specializes in “Dealer’s Choice,” barrel-finished, and house cocktails, typically offering around 250 different whiskies which rotate regularly. You’ll also find 500 unique bottles to pick from including a special rare Very Old Fitzgerald from the old Stitzel-Weller Distillery that was distilled in 1951 and bottled in 1959.
At Fountainhead, the ownership team of Aaron Zacharias, Scott Morgan, and Dave & Darby Putman wanted guests to enjoy good food and drink straight from the source. Striving to make this point, they are proud to know and research the brewers, the distillers, and the farmers whose wares are featured here and in their local community. With more than 900 drinking options to pick from available in the restaurant, including 500 single malts, you’ll also find several dozen vintages hiding in their cellars which house up to 200 bottles. With bottles purchased year-round and a list of drinking options that’s updated every two to three weeks, one example of a rare offering available here is the 1973 Glenlivet, one of 853 ever produced.
Twisted Spoke is a neighborhood biker bar/restaurant that’s situated between West Town and River West which serves burgers, pub food, beers, spirits and the signature Hangover Hospital brunch weekends 9AM-3PM. It currently offers 630 bottles of whiskey to pick from including Canadian, Irish, bourbon, scotch, corn, rye, and other options. With rare bottles on the menu like the Twisted Spoke 16-year-old and Cragganmore 29-year-old, a new whiskey is added every week. Stop by the bi-level biker bar and enjoy one of their big fat burgers or other promising pub menu items along with a large selection of whiskies to choose from.
Untitled Supper Club is a restaurant and lounge with a speakeasy vibe located in River North just a block north of the Chicago River. A recipient of the Michelin Bib Gourmand, the upscale dining establishment is a contemporary revival of a classic Prohibition-era Chicago supper club mixing craft cocktails and serving up live music and vintage cabaret entertainment – a destination like no other in the city where guests can enjoy a combined dinner and entertainment experience. With more than 500 bottles of whiskey available in the restaurant, they also have several dozen in their cellars (which can warehouse up to 550 bottles), housing the largest collection of American whiskey in the United States. With bottles purchased year-round and a list of options that’s updated every week, one example of a rare offering is the Russell's Reserve 2002 barrel proof.
With locations in Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Andersonville, Replay is a bar that offers vintage arcade games, craft beer, and a solid whiskey selection. The location in Boystown in Lakeview is run by Niko Drake who updates the whiskey selection monthly. With a selection of 65 bottles of whiskey to pick from including modern small-batch bourbons and the rare Blanton’s Single Barrel, Replay distinguishes itself from other watering holes in the area.
Found in Chicago’s Logan Square, Longman & Eagle is known for its farm-to-table fare and nose-to-tail eats, but also features a great whiskey selection. It is a place where the city’s old-history social scene is seen through a contemporary lens through its design aesthetic, cuisine and drinks. On the first floor which includes a large public space and backroom (also used for hosting private events), delight in one of 300 bottles of whiskey on offer. With a weekly rotating menu featuring everything from ryes to scotch, bourbons, and more, rare pours can be had ere as well.
With a menu that focuses on Southern heirloom cooking, Big Jones features items and recipes on its menu that date back generations. Inspired by the people, places, and history of the American South, chef/owner Paul Fehribach invites all for brunch, lunch or dinner with specials like the Cajun Boudin Balls, Catfish and Grits, and Chicken and Dumplings, circa 1920. Alongside the Southern menu, the Andersonville mainstay offers anywhere between 75 and 90 bourbons seasonally including the hard-to-fine collection. Whiskey lovers can join their Big Jones Bourbon Society, which allows members a free pour of the Whiskey of the Month and early access to special bourbon dinners.
With locations in Wrigleyville and Wicker Park, Big Star serves tacos alongside a selection of about 130 bourbons, including rare releases and small-batch bottlings. The honky-tonk taqueria from Executive Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Julie Warpinski is housed in a defunct 1940s gas station with classic country and rock & roll music on loop. The knowledgeable bar staff can guide guests through their extensive house-selected single barrel bourbon program to choose a beverage of their liking.