
On the rare occasion when Gentleman’s Quarterly mentions anything outside of New York, it’s usually in LA, or possibly Miami. But in the August issue they do a spread on the Nation’s best cocktails. And Chicago gets mentioned twice! On the downside, this means they find us roughly as cocktail-savvy as Brunswick, Maine, but who’s counting.
Unsurprisingly, The Violet Hour gets the first mention, although the Old Fashioned they do with Rittenhouse Rye is in my opinion superior to the Juliet and Romeo that earns them the spot. Adam Seger’s (Nacional 27) Strawberry, Rhubarb, Basil, Balsamic Mojito gets the second mention. It sounds like a salad to me. I think he's been drinking way too much charcuterie.
I can’t vouch for Nacional 27—I haven’t been in quite some time. But man am I a sucker for the Violet Hour. Before anyone thinks it—I know; you’ve all heard just about enough of the place. Whatever. I still say this guy makes the meanest drinks in town.