Looking to drink in some holiday cheer? You can get into the spirit of the season with some actual spirits by heading to one of these 19 spots serving hot cocktails and festive flavors that will keep you feeling jolly despite the winter chill.
Broken Shaker
19 E. Ohio St., 312-940-3699
Combining winter and tropical flavors, the Take Off Your Cool Hot Toddy ($13) blends cider with an herbal tea featuring ginger, lemongrass and black peppercorn, amaro, falernum, passion fruit and Rujero Singani, which is a Bolivian cousin of pisco. A mace tincture gives the drink a spicy scent.
Country Club
3462 N. Clark St., 773-975-2010
The Wrigleyville bar has dubbed itself Christmas Club for the season and is serving up a full menu of festive drinks including a martini made with candy cane-infused vodka, grenadine and a cava float, and the Blanco Navidad, a blend of coconut milk, tequila, lime juice and triple sec (both $12).
The Delta
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1745 W. North Ave., 773-360-1793
The coquito, which translates as little coconut, is a Puerto Rican Christmas tradition, but you just need to head to Wicker Park to try it. Made with rum, vanilla, coconut milk, condensed milk and egg yolks, the $8 cocktail is also available in coffee, pumpkin and cranberry versions.
Drumbar
201 E. Delaware Place, 312-933-4805
Warm up at the Streeterville bar’s fireplace while sipping the Tea Time in Chile, a winter spin on a French 75 made with pisco, masala chai, pear cider and lemon ($16).
Fisk & Co.
225 N. Wabash Ave., 312-236-9300
Visit the Christkindlmarket near the Loop restaurant and bring your souvenir mug for a $5 pour of Gluhwein, a mulled wine made with port, cinnamon, allspice and clove. If you don’t bring your own glass, you can still get the drink for $13 or opt for the Dr. Douglas Powers, eggnog made with bourbon, sherry, banana liqueur, maple syrup, allspice and nutmeg ($14).
The Gage
24 S. Michigan Ave., 312-372-4243
Get the flavors of gingerbread in cocktail form with the Loop spot’s Minus the Frosting, a mix of cognac, spiced pear liqueur and chai syrup topped with hot gingerbread rooibos tea ($12).
Haven Lounge
1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-697-3830
Catch one of the two comedic holiday shows running at Wicker Park’s The Den Theater and stop by its cafe and bar before or after for a mug of hot Honeycrisp apple cider spiked with whiskey or rum and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg ($9).
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar
2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577
Asian flavors infuse the Humboldt Park restaurant’s caramelized apple cider, which is made with Korean chile, toasted miso, star anise, clove, orange peel and rum and garnished with house-made brandy cherries ($13).
Kaiser Tiger
1415 W. Randolph St., 312-243-3100
Test your skills at the West Loop bar’s outdoor curling lanes and then warm up with Hot Whiskey, a blend of bourbon, Cointreau and honey ($10) or Gluhwein, warm red wine infused with cinnamon, cloves, lemon and a dash of sugar.
Lowcountry
1132 S. Wabash Ave. and 3343 N. Clark St., 888-883-8375
Whether you go to the South Loop or Lakeview location you can enjoy the Holiday Spice, Everything Nice Sangria, which is made with cabernet sauvignon, port, raspberry liqueur, dark rum, cherry cider, and diced apples, pears and strawberries ($10).
Punch Bowl Social
310 N. Green St., 312-809-9551
Sip some Christmas flavors in the Fulton Market bar’s Naughty or Spice?, which features bourbon, spiced orange syrup, allspice, cloves, lemon juice and bitters, or get your New Year’s bubbly fix in early with the L’Annee Rose, made with grapefruit liqueur, sparkling wine, cherry brandy, nutmeg and honey (both are $10).
Slurping Turtle
116 W. Hubbard St., 312-464-0466
Celebrate the made up “Seinfeld” holiday Festivus at the River North ramen shop by ordering the Feats of Strength, hot apple cider spiked with whiskey ($9).
The Publican
837 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9555
The Fulton Market beer hall has baked up the Bourbon Cream, a rich blend of bourbon, allspice liqueur, house-made vanilla syrup, sweet cream and a dash of half and half.
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The Promontory
5311 S. Lake Park Ave., 312-801-2100
Scotch brings a peaty flavor to the Hyde Park spot’s Winter-Thyme Hot Toddy, which also features house-smoked maple syrup, lemon juice and lemon bitters with a thyme and lemon twist garnish ($10).
Tied House
3157 N. Southport Ave., 312-697-4632
A sprig of sugar-dusted evergreen garnishes the Lakeview restaurant’s Butter Green Chartreuse cocktail, which combines the signature spirit with savory compound butter ($12).
Tinker to Evers
3473 N. Clark St., 224-322-0100
Apple ginger and cranberry pie inspired the Harvest Moon cocktail at the new Wrigleyville bar, which is made with apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, honey, ginger liqueur and cranberry bitters and garnished with a cinnamon stick. The drink can be served hot if you’re just coming in or cool if you’ve already gotten toasty.
Tuco and Blondie
3358 N. Southport Ave., 773-327-8226
The Lakeview cantina serves Rompope, a traditional Mexican eggnog made with almonds, on the rocks ($9) or as a shot of added to coffee ($3). You can also try a Mexican spin on hot cider made with mezcal, butterscotch schnapps and agave ($8).
The Up Room
2018 W. North Ave., 872-315-3082
Unwrap The Gift That Keeps on Giving at the Wicker Park rooftop lounge. The drink is a blend of rye, cocoa liqueur, creme de menthe and chocolate bitters served with chocolate mints and pretzels tied up with a bow ($16).
ZED451
739 N. Clark St., 312-266-6691
The River North Brazilian steakhouse partnered with Koval distillery to roll out a new drink menu including Fireside Sangria made with cranberry gin, shiraz, brandy and cranberry bitters, and the Winter Warmer made with bourbon and pomegranate and elderflower liqueurs (both $10).
Samantha Nelson is a RedEye freelancer.