Spirits of the Second City: 6 Iconic Chicago Liquors & Distilleries

Chicago has a famously deeply rooted, historically complex relationship with alcohol. From the roaring 1920s when Al Capone’s bootlegging empire ran the streets, to the gritty corner taverns that have anchored working-class neighborhoods for generations, this city knows how to drink. But beyond the historic bars and modern mixology lounges, a massive craft distilling renaissance has been quietly taking over the Windy City. After decades of relying on imported spirits, Chicago is once again producing some of the most innovative, award-winning, and sometimes downright notorious liquors in the country.

As your dedicated Urbany Folk guide, I am taking you past the taprooms and diving straight into the hard stuff. We scoured local Reddit forums, talked to neighborhood bartenders, and braved a few hangovers to bring you the definitive guide to Chicago’s local liquor scene. Whether you are looking to brace yourself with the infamous Malört, sip on organic oat whiskey, or discover small-batch botanical gins, these six essential Chicago spirits and distilleries deserve a spot on your bar cart.

🌿 Jeppson’s Malört

It is legally impossible to write about Chicago liquor without leading with Jeppson’s Malört. This intensely bitter, wormwood-based botanical liqueur was created in the 1930s by Swedish immigrant Carl Jeppson. For decades, it existed as a hyper-niche product consumed almost exclusively by old-school Chicago tavern regulars. The flavor profile is notoriously abrasive—often described by locals on Reddit as tasting like “grapefruit mixed with a tire fire” or “the distilled essence of a harsh Chicago winter.”

Despite (or perhaps entirely because of) its aggressive taste, doing a shot of Malört has become the ultimate Chicago rite of passage. You will routinely see locals treating out-of-town guests to a “Chicago Handshake”—a shot of Malört paired with a tall boy of Old Style beer. It is a badge of honor, a prank, and a genuine point of local pride all rolled into one bracing, face-contorting sip.

For many years, Malört was actually outsourced and distilled in Florida, much to the chagrin of local purists. However, in 2018, Chicago’s own CH Distillery acquired the brand and triumphantly brought production back to the city limits in the Pilsen neighborhood. You can now visit their bar to try Malört fresh from the source, alongside their premium vodkas and gins.

Best for: Bachelor parties, testing your friendships, and authentic Chicago dive bar experiences.

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🥃 KOVAL Distillery

When KOVAL Distillery opened its doors in 2008, it made history as the very first legal distillery to operate in Chicago since the mid-1800s. Founded by a husband-and-wife team with academic backgrounds, KOVAL threw out the traditional distilling rulebook and started from scratch. They are deeply committed to a “grain-to-bottle” philosophy, ensuring that every step of the mashing, distilling, and aging process happens entirely in-house.

What sets KOVAL apart on the global stage is their fearless use of alternative, organic grains. Instead of relying solely on corn or standard rye, they produce award-winning spirits like their celebrated Oat Whiskey and their incredibly unique Millet Whiskey. Their dry gin, featuring a beautifully floral bouquet of woodland spices, has also earned a massive cult following among local mixologists. Furthermore, all of their products are certified organic and kosher.

Their massive, sleek tasting room in the Ravenswood neighborhood is a stunning place to spend an afternoon. They offer highly informative, unpretentious tours where you can learn about their custom-built copper pot stills, followed by a tasting flight. Grab a seat on their patio with a craft cocktail and enjoy the heart of Chicago’s modern distilling renaissance.

Best for: Whiskey aficionados, organic spirit lovers, and beautifully designed tasting room aesthetics.

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🥃 FEW Spirits

Just a stone’s throw north of the Chicago border lies Evanston, a city historically famous for being the global headquarters of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (the driving force behind Prohibition). Evanston was a dry city for over a century. That is exactly why the existence of FEW Spirits is so wonderfully rebellious. Overturning arcane local liquor laws, founder Paul Hletko opened this distillery in a literal hidden alleyway, playfully naming it using the initials of Frances E. Willard, the leader of the temperance movement.

The irony of their location is only matched by the spectacular quality of their spirits. FEW is globally recognized for their grain-to-glass Rye Whiskey and their immensely rich, spicy Bourbon. They utilize a specialized southern-style yeast that gives their dark spirits a distinct, bold character that holds up perfectly in a classic Old Fashioned. Their Breakfast Gin, infused with Earl Grey tea, is another wildly popular local staple.

Visiting their tasting room feels like discovering a secret speakeasy. Tucked down a narrow alley off a main street, you walk into an industrial space surrounded by wooden barrels and the sharp, sweet smell of fermenting mash. The tours here are intimate and deeply educational, making it a favorite recommendation on the Chicago-area food and drink subreddits.

Best for: Prohibition history buffs, bold rye whiskey, and speakeasy-style distillery tours.

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🍎 Rhine Hall Distillery

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Stepping entirely away from grains and grains-based spirits, Rhine Hall Distillery is a family-owned operation specializing in traditional European-style fruit brandies, also known as eau de vie or schnapps. Inspired by the father-daughter founders’ time spent living in Austria, this West Town gem brings a highly specialized, old-world distilling technique directly to the heart of the Midwest.

What makes Rhine Hall so remarkable is their dedication to pure ingredients. They do not use any flavor extracts or added sugars; instead, they mash, ferment, and distill literal tons of fresh fruit. Their flagship Apple Brandy requires roughly 25 pounds of locally sourced Michigan apples just to produce a single bottle. They also distill incredible expressions of plum, cherry, pear, and even coffee beans, resulting in crystal-clear spirits that capture the absolute essence of the raw ingredient.

Their tasting room in West Town is industrial yet incredibly cozy, featuring exposed brick and views of their beautiful copper still imported directly from Germany. The bartenders here are absolute wizards at substituting their fruit brandies into classic cocktail templates, making this an ideal stop if you want to expand your palate beyond standard whiskey and vodka.

Best for: Eau de vie enthusiasts, fruit-forward cocktails, and cozy weekend sipping.

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🍹 Apologue Spirited Liqueurs

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While most distilleries focus on the heavy-hitting base spirits, Apologue Spirited Liqueurs realized that the modifiers—the liqueurs that give cocktails their depth and character—were in desperate need of a craft upgrade. Born out of the Chicago bartending community, Apologue focuses on creating highly unique, palate-provoking liqueurs using entirely natural, non-GMO ingredients without the cloying, artificial sweetness found in commercial brands.

Their lineup reads like a menu from a Michelin-starred restaurant. The intensely savory Celery Root Liqueur has become a secret weapon for local bartenders making Bloody Marys and modern martinis. Their Persimmon Liqueur offers a beautiful, bittersweet citrus alternative to Campari, while their Aronia Berry liqueur highlights a native Midwest super-fruit. They are capturing regional flavors that simply don’t exist anywhere else on the market.

Beyond the fantastic liquids, Apologue is heavily praised in local circles for its deep commitment to social equity and community partnerships in Chicago. While they don’t operate a standalone public tasting room, their beautifully designed bottles are ubiquitous in local boutique liquor stores and are heavily featured on cocktail menus across the city’s finest dining establishments.

Best for: At-home mixologists, building a unique bar cart, and savory cocktail lovers.

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🗓 Best Time / Tips

✅ When to go

• Late Afternoons / Early Evenings: Tasting rooms like KOVAL and Rhine Hall are perfect for pre-dinner flights. They close relatively early (around 10 PM), so treat them as a happy hour destination rather than a late-night bar.
• Chilly Winter Months: There is absolutely nothing better than warming up with a spicy rye whiskey at FEW or a neat pour of apple brandy at Rhine Hall when the Chicago snow starts falling.

⚠️ Quick tips

• Take the CTA: Chicago’s public transit is excellent, and riding the L means you don’t have to worry about driving after a tasting flight. KOVAL is right off the Brown Line, and FEW is steps from the Purple Line.
• Ask about bottle limits: If you are buying directly from the distillery tasting rooms, be aware that some local laws limit the number of bottles a single person can purchase per day.
• Embrace the Handshake: If a local bartender offers you a shot of Malört, take it with a smile. It’s terrible, but it’s our terrible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ship these Chicago liquors to my home state?

This heavily depends on the liquor laws of the state you live in. Some distilleries, like KOVAL and FEW, have widespread national distribution, meaning you can likely order them online or find them at your local premium liquor store. Niche items like Letherbee or Apologue might require you to pack them safely in your checked luggage.

What exactly is a “Chicago Handshake”?

A Chicago Handshake is the city’s unofficial drink special. It consists of a shot of Jeppson’s Malört served alongside a pint or tallboy can of Old Style beer (a historic regional lager). It is cheap, highly effective, and deeply steeped in local working-class tavern culture.

Are distillery tours kid-friendly?

Unlike some breweries which have adapted into family-friendly restaurant spaces, working distilleries and their tasting rooms are generally strictly 21+ environments due to local licensing laws and the industrial nature of the production floors. Always check their websites before visiting, but plan to leave the kids at home for these excursions.