Chicago Distilleries – The Ultimate Guide
A trip to Chicago Distilleries is a great way to spend your time in the Windy City, but you also need to check out the rest of what Chicago has to offer. From Cloud Gate to Michelin starred restaurants, there’s so much to enjoy here.
So although you’ll come for the Chicago distilleries, the ultimate guide we’ve put together will highlight what else you won’t want to miss out on.
All About Chicago
Chicago is a city of charming opposites. While it is a big, busy city with towering skyscrapers it also has miles of golden beaches. It’s the most populous city in the state of Illinois and the third largest in the United States, after New York and Los Angeles.
This city sits on the shores of Lake Michigan and is an international hub for commerce, industry, technology, transportation and finance. It has a diverse economy with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce.
Known as the Windy City, Chicago experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are hot with frequent heat waves, winters are cold and often snowy with snowfall often continuing into the spring. Fall and spring tend to be mild but short seasons with low humidity.
There is a lively entertainment scene with lots of music venues, theaters and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is recognized as one of the best in the world.
The city is also a sporting icon being the only city apart from Boston to continuously host major professional sports since 1871. Chicago is home to two major league baseball teams, the Chicago Bears NFL team and the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association.
Chicago’s Local Distilleries
Coming out from under the shadow of the city’s craft beer industry, Chicago’s distilleries are now carving out a name for themselves.
CH Distillery
Located in the West Loop, the ch Distillery took its name from the two fundamental compounds in alcohol, carbon and hydrogen. This distillery is right at home with its industrial chic lounge and organic vodka. It also produces gin, rum and other specialty spirits.
Chicago Distilling Company
The Chicago Distilling Company is a family affair with everything from distilling to packaging being done at their Logan Square premises. At their tasting room on Milwaukee Avenue you can sample their gin, vodka, single malt whiskey and absinthe.
KOVAL
Koval was the first distillery to open in Chicago since prohibition. Today they produce organic, single-barreled spirits in their Ravenswood facility. Koval offers whiskey workshops and cocktail classes for beginners up to advanced mixologists.
Rhine Hall Distillery
This small distillery in the West Loop focuses on fruit brandies, created by a father and daughter duo. The fruit is sourced from the Great Lakes area and each bottle contains around 25 pounds of fruit.
Apologue
Apologue produces liqueurs which are palate provoking and unique. Each of their liqueurs, persimmon, aronia, celery root and saffron are all made using non-GMO and locally sourced ingredients.
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
Maplewood is the ideal location for trying the best of Chicago’s beers, spirits and cocktails as it has all three under one roof. Enjoy them on the premises or take some home as a souvenir of your time in Chicago.
Letherbee Distillers
Leatherbee are not just a Chicago distillery, they export across the United States and Europe. You can’t visit this distillery in person, but you can try their spirits all over Chicago. They specialize in botanical spirits with a clean flavor.
FEW Spirits
Although it’s outside the city limits FEW Spirits is worth a trip to nearby Evanston. They produce handcrafted, small batch spirits made from the best grains which are aged to perfection. Learn how to whip up a cocktail in their groundbreaking tasting room.
Getting To Chicago
With all these wonderful distilleries just waiting for you to visit, you’ll want to know the best way to get to Chicago. Of course, it depends where you’re coming from, but you can get here by plane, train, bus or car.
Airports
Chicago has two international airports, O’Hare and Midway. There is also Gary/Chicago International Airport which is just 25 miles from downtown Chicago and is used for private aviation.
Transportation from the two international airports is via the Chicago Transit Authority L trains. You can also use taxis, Uber, Lyft or one of the Airport Express services. If you want to hire a car there are numerous car rental companies in both airports.
Train
Chicago’s Union Station serves both Amtrak and the city’s three commuter rail lines of Metra’s Union Pacific District. There are two Metra stations in the Loop, Millennium Station and Lasalle Street Station. These rail lines link outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago.
Bus
Greyhound Lines and Megabus operate services into Chicago from various cities with 20 express routes.
Things To See In Chicago
Once you get to Chicago you’ll be spoiled for choice with things to do, places to see and experiences to enjoy.
Millennium Park Campus
You could easily spend your entire visit in Millennium Park Campus as it offers so much to do and explore. In the warm weather you can splash in the Crown Fountain or dine at the outdoor Park
Grill
In the winter, there’s ice skating and the opportunity to visit the city’s most famous public artwork, Cloud Gate or as it is known ‘The Bean’.
Or check out the Art Institute of Chicago which has been ranked one of the best museums in the world by TripAdvisor users.
Navy Pier
Navy Pier offers endless opportunities for fun. From scenic boat rides on the lake, to a ride on the Centennial Wheel at Pier Park, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy a drink on the largest rooftop bar in the country, summer fireworks displays or some free outdoor music.
Chicago Riverwalk
Take your pick with what to do on the Chicago Riverwalk. Enjoy the sunshine with a glass of wine on a riverside patio or kayak the Riverwalk’s skyscraper canyon. Alternatively visit the largest video-projected artwork in the world.
Museum Campus
Sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan in three Beaux-Arts inspired buildings, Museum Campus is home to the oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, Adler Planetarium.
You’ll also find Shedd Aquarium with sharks, stingrays and sea otters.
Monuments & Statues In Chicago
The Picasso Statue is actually an unnamed monument by Pablo Picasso and was the first major public artwork in downtown Chicago. It is said to be inspired by the head of Picasso’s Afghan hound.
Lincoln’s Monument is a bronze statue of the 16th president standing in front of his state chair. It is considered the most important statue of Lincoln from the 19th century, and stands in the gardens which also bear the president’s name in the city.
Chicago Culture
A city’s culture is defined by its people and that is what makes Chicago a diverse city. The people are open and friendly, and proud of where they live. They like to engage in what is going on in Chicago, so you’ll find lots of sports and music fans here.
Embracing the jazz culture back in the 1900s set the trend for this being a music hotspot. The city hosts various music festivals all year round including the Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival and Lollapalooza which invites music of all genres.
The Food & Beverage Scene In Chicago
When you think of Chicago food perhaps the first image that comes to mind is deep pan pizza, but this city has much more to offer than that.
There are an impressive 23 Michelin starred restaurants in Chicago including four that have only recently acquired this prestigious honor. Alinea in Lincoln Park is a three-star Michelin restaurant while Ever, Moody Tongue, Smyth and Oriole all have two Michelin stars.
Of course there are plenty of restaurants offering classic Chicago cuisine, comfort food and restaurants you can take your kids to. There are also plenty of cool brunch spots in the city.
Chicago has some great craft beer breweries and there are plenty of beer festivals and events in the city all year round. You’ll also find some incredible taprooms here as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Largest Distillery In Illinois?
Kennay Farms Distilling is the largest distillery in Illinois and is located in Rochelle, west of Chicago. It was created from an historic theater and the tasting room overlooks a production floor that is 10,000 square feet where guests can see the spirits being made.
What Is The Difference Between A Distillery And A Brewery?
Distilling and brewery are two different processes which have various end products. Brewing involves the fermentation of grains and distilling involves separating alcohol from a fermented liquid like beer or wine to create a spirit which is higher proof.
