Mile High Cocktail Club isn't what it sounds like

September 9, 6:35 PMChicago Drinks ExaminerCharles Cowdery

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Svedka, the Swedish vodka with the sexy robot (why?), stretches a metaphor to breaking to promote its new “Mile High Cocktail Club.”

Instead of sex in an airplane, Svedka offers inexpensive vodka on rooftops. If you think that’s an acceptable substitute, read on.

Actually, a promotion that gives people access to cool rooftop bars is a great idea, you can decide whether or not this is the best way to communicate it, or whether Svedka actually delivers it.

This month, Svedka Vodka is launching three new specialty cocktails at Chicago’s C-View, Vertigo, and Twisted Spoke, as part of their “Mile High Cocktail Club.” Each rooftop will feature its own one-of-a-kind specialty cocktail featuring Svedka Clementine or regular vodka. Although Svedka is inexpensive (about $12) in a liquor store, these cocktails aren’t cheap. They range from $9 to $13.

C-View is located on the 29th floor of the Affinia Chicago Hotel (166 East Superior Street). Their “Future Ex” cocktail (pictured) features Svedka 80 proof vodka, fresh lemon juice, house-made raspberry and thyme syrup, and fresh raspberry garnish.

Vertigo, located on the 26th floor of The Dana Hotel (2 West Erie Street), created the “iVertico,” that includes Svedka Clementine, elderflower liquor, fresh muddled cucumbers and lemons, lemon juice, and soda water.

Twisted Spoke, (501 North Ogden Avenue) offers the “Clem_Bot,” which features Svedka Clementine, pear liquor, peach puree, curry powder, orange juice, a splash of soda, and a Clementine orange garnish. The Svedka press release doesn’t mention that Twisted Spoke’s rooftop is many thousands of feet short of a mile. Like, it’s one flight up.

Doesn’t this promotion seem to be missing something? They are calling it a club. Shouldn’t there be a token of some kind that you get for ordering each drink and if you collect them all, you get a T-shirt? Something? What’s the incentive? Merely the quest for the untasted cocktail?

What is the highest bar in Chicago? The Signature Lounge at the 96th, in the John Hancock Tower. For the record, a mile is 5,280 feet. The Hancock Tower tops out at 1,127 feet, about 1/5 of a mile.