River North kitchen and cocktail bar Bottlefork divides its abundance of drinks into categories — Fruit Forward + Fun, Dark + Boozy, Warm + Cozy and Smokey + Dried + Spiced — in addition to a handful of brunch cocktails and a Dessert in a Glass section that includes a maple-flavored, cold-brew coffee spiked with bourbon, sherry, salt and egg.
All very inviting. However, one stunner in the Fruit Forward + Fun group that should not be missed is the Look Out Below ($14), named for the submarine jargon that calls for seamen lookouts to descend from their topside stations in preparation for submersion. The tall and handsome beverage harbors two rums, the high-strength Wray & Nephew Overproof and the softer Clement, with spritzes of lime, passion fruit, pineapple, China-China Amer Liqueur and an unusual topping that makes falling below the surface taste a bit bittersweet.
“I think the most memorable part of it is the coconut Angostura foam,” says Bottlefork bartender and cocktail creator Adam Kamin of the fluffy garnish, which eddies a milky sweetness and a touch of spice down into the fruitier undercurrents of the glass when sipped through a straw.
More Top Picks Best Bath Lifts For Seniors With Mobility Issues
For an extra thrill, try pairing this cool libation with the contrast of one of Bottlefork’s signature hot and gooey cheesecakes; somehow, it works.
441 N. Clark St., 312-955-1900, www.bottlefork.com.
Leah Pickett is a freelance writer.