I read this because I like any topic relating to Chicago. I also enjoy cocktails, Mix the two togther? Chicago cocktails? Yes, please.

Some of these cocktails were interesting. However, for the average person this was too advanced. Also many of the ingredients are hard to find.

I feel any bartender or moxologist would enjoy this more.

Just ok for me. The pictures are great but there is no way I could recreate these drinks on my own.

Thanks to Netgalley, Nicole Schnitzler and Cider Mill Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 2/25/25

Chicago Cocktails was an interesting mix of informational history, interviews with bartenders, and cocktail recipes!

I was interested in picking this book up since a family member has recently opened a Liquor Store/Cocktail Class in the suburbs outside Chicago! I was hoping this would be a great book for her to read as inspiration or to stock in her store and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for her to read and look through herself. I think the history about Prohibition was fascinating and I learned a lot about that point in time as well as the way that Chicago bounced back from this.

Although a lot of the cocktails were interesting, I don't think I expected the kinds that were featured. I liked the short description/history provided for each but most of the cocktails contained interesting/complex one-off ingredients that didn't seem very feasible for making at home or stocking a home bar. I think a lot of the one-off ingredients make more sense in a restaurant/bar setting where a bartender can run through a full bottle of a certain liquor flavored with an extra ingredient compared to a home bar where that is less likely.

Ultimately I really did enjoy this and I liked adding a number of the bars & restaurants to a list to check out next time I'm in Chicago and can check out some of these places!

I think the title of the book is quite accurate and tells you everything that you need to know: “Chicago Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Windy City” by Nicole Schnitzler is exactly what is says.

This is a wonderful guide to the evolving craft cocktail scene in Chicago. Ms. Schnitzler divides the list up by neighborhood, from Wicker Park to Logan Square and beyond, focusing on several bars in each area along with interviews with some of the bartenders coming up with these fantastic drinks. And they truly are fantastic – looking at the gorgeous pictures, reading through the detailed recipes and extensive ingredient lists, mastering the different techniques, all of this makes one realize that this is a collection for people who take their cocktails quite seriously.

And that leads to the one biggest flaw of the guide – the unique and specialized ingredients that a lot of these drinks require means that the average home mixologist will probably not be able to make most of these drinks. There are a lot of very specific liquors called for throughout the book, bottles that will probably not be used frequently or for other cocktails. Many of these recipes call for infusing whole bottles of spirits with botanicals or peppers or other ingredients, then using two ounces or so for the actual drink. The “dash of bitters” is usually a specialized bitters, there are probably 10-20 different bitters called for in the guide. The different flavored simple syrups are probably the easiest to scale down, but you’re still making much more than you will probably use.

But none of this should take away from the beauty, the range, the depth of this guide. Keep it on your coffee table and enjoy the pictures. Use it for the next time you are visiting Chicago. Enjoy the cocktails that are relatively simple to make (I have 17 bookmarked!). And maybe go out and splurge on something exotic for your next party. Either way, this is one cocktail book that belongs on your shelf.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Cider Mill Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

Perfect for the cocktail connoisseur, but not necessarily for everybody. Lots of info on the origins of the cocktails, but some of the ingredients are not so easy to get hold of. A fun gift for mixologists.

This is a solid collection of innovative cocktails from some of the best bars in Chicago, including spots like Three Dots and a Dash and The Violet Hour. Arranged by neighborhood, the drinks range from doable mixed drinks for the home mixologist to daunting affairs that would take a decent amount of commitment, time, and money to achieve. Interspersed with the recipes are photos of Chicago spots and interviews with Chicago bartenders. I'm bookmarking several of these recipes to try later!

Even though we’ve all heard the saying don’t judge a book by its cover, I have to say, the cover of Chicago Cocktails is so beautiful that it makes you want to read it. It’s classy and stylish, making it a perfect addition to any coffee table or bar cart. But the contents? Even better!

I’m not someone with much experience making cocktails—I've always been more of a "pour it and hope for the best" kind of person—but this book has definitely sparked my interest in learning more. Cocktails are such a fun way to host people, whether it's for dinner parties, get-togethers with friends, or even casual events. Chicago Cocktails is a great guide to impressing your guests. It’s packed with over 100 cocktail recipes, each inspired by the city of Chicago and crafted by some of the best bartenders in the area. Even if you have never been to Chicago, you can still bring a bit of the city’s vibe into your own home! It's a perfect gift for those moving to Chicago, visiting the city or those from the city itself.

One of the coolest things about the book is how it’s organized. The recipes are divided by neighborhood, so you really get a sense of Chicago’s local culture and unique bar scene. Plus, there are interviews with bartenders, which make you feel like you're getting a behind-the-scenes peek at the people who make these drinks come to life. It’s more than just a recipe book; it’s an experience, a true homage to the city. The photographs throughout are gorgeous too, showing off the city’s stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere.

As for the cocktails themselves, I had so much fun trying them out. My favorite was the Andrés & Cooper. As a fan of Spanish chef José Andrés, I loved how this cocktail blended the flavors of Spain with the spirit of Chicago. It was so well-crafted and flavorful!

This book would make a fantastic gift—whether for someone who’s already a cocktail pro or a newbie like me who’s just starting to explore the world of drinks. It's beautifully put together, easy to follow, and makes cocktail making feel exciting and accessible. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to my friends. If you want to impress your guests with something new and special, Chicago Cocktails is the way to go!

When traveling, my husband and I love both historic walking tours and getting craft cocktails. This book felt like a written version of that experience. I loved the structure of the book. We learned a lot, both about Chicago and improving our cocktail making skills. I will find myself going back to these cocktail recipes as I really enjoyed them.

This is such a wonderful collection of cocktails inspired by Chicago and made by the best bartenders of Chicago. You feel the spirit and buzz of the city through these cocktails and if you're someone like me that loves cocktails then this book will be such a joy to read!

I can't wait to try some of the recipes from this book!

This is a love letter to Chicago.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cider Mill Press and Nicole Schnitzler for giving me an ARC of this cool book!

My husband is from Chicago and we enjoy cocktails so I was excited to review this book. I thought this had some interesting history into the Chicago cocktail scene and history to start the book. I enjoyed seeing the cocktails that the bartenders created featured in the book but I have to admit that I will never buy this book for use in my house. In general, I found many of the cocktails to use too many obscure ingredients that are just not common enough for my extensive home bar. Even for the best sounding cocktails, I would likely have been stuck with an ingredient that I don't know how to use up in my future cocktail adventures. Overall, this may be a great book for a bartender or someone very interested in Chicago history around cocktails and distilling, but I personally would not recommend for the lay person as a resource for cocktails at home.

I liked these chicago cocktail recipes!!! I think they were so unique and they all tasted so good! I think the photos were so nice and pretty, and the recipes were great and easy to follow. I liked it a lot!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

'Chicago Cocktails' has been a great companion for the Christmas period. My family and I will be using this as our menu for future drink parties, events, and holidays. I liked the formatting of the book, the cocktail recipes were well organised and easy to find, and easy to follow. I liked how the cocktails were organised by location, I think this made it very unique! The interviews with bartenders and the pictures throughout, it made it feel really well researched and well prepared. This made it more of an experience, not just another recipe book.

The list of tools and sub solutions were useful and definitely something I have needed.

My favourite was the Lavender Haze, for sure! I have lavender in my garden so this definitely felt like something for me. The ingredients for this recipe were easy to source and the cocktail was amazing.

I highly recommend this book!!

*Chicago Cocktails* has quickly become our go-to book for date night drinks! My husband and I recently decided to try a classic Chicago Old Fashioned from this gorgeous collection, and it was an instant favorite. The smooth, bold flavors had us both feeling like we were enjoying a drink in a swanky Chicago bar, even though we were on our couch in Florida.

The book is broken down by neighborhood, so it’s like taking a cocktail tour of the city from the comfort of your home. With over 100 recipes, there’s a little something for everyone—whether you're in the mood for a fruity julep or an elegant martini. The interviews with bartenders give you an inside look at Chicago’s cocktail scene, and the expert tips really help elevate our at-home bartending game. It's like having a bartender in your kitchen!

If you're a fan of cocktails and love exploring new drink recipes, this is a fun way to bring Chicago’s iconic bar scene straight to your glass. Plus, it’s perfect for mixing things up during date night!