Ah, the good old, bad old days of Al Capone's Chicago, when the bootleg could blind you and drown your sorrows all at once. Here in Chicago, booze has come a long way since then, and adding creative ingredients to bathtub gin to mask its unappealing flavor is no longer a necessity. Rather, mixology has become an art, less about hiding flavors and more about creating new ones, accentuating the nuances of fine liquor and spirits.
Speaking of fine spirits, a new gin joint by that name has recently opened in Andersonville. In Fine Spirits, one part retail, one part cocktail lounge, is a pleasing blend of the old and the new. Just in time for the cocktail fest that is summer, this place has brushed the dust of an old building and some old drink recipes, and made everything old new again.
What used to be the local animal hospital on Clark Street is a now a relaxing location to sip on a drink and enjoy a (pricey) nosh. The building got an overhaul that exposed the original tile flooring and tin ceilings, and added light wood and fresh paint in earthy, Mediterranean tones. The staff is friendly, and confident enough in their mixing abilities that they'll offer to make you a different drink should what you ordered not be to your liking. A recent visit to the bar for a Vesper and a Caipirinha left myself and a friend buzzed and impressed. The Vesper, a drink James Bond invented in Casino Royale, was a surprisingly smooth blend of Chicago Distillers Gin and Vodka evened out with a hit of Lillet. My friend, who married a Brazilian and has spent enough time in his native land to become intimately acquainted with the national cocktail, pronounced the Caipirinha to be authentic, if slightly more refined (ie. fewer chunks of lime) than the homemade version.
Head next door for the retail half, and get some recommendations on a new summer wine or beer to sample.
In Fine Spirits
5418 N. Clark
773.506.9463
http://www.infinespirits.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment