WE WANT CANDY!
LICORICE LIVENS UP THESE SWEET SIPPERS
The Shoestring, $9
This martini at quaint Lincoln Park bar Maeve should just be called liquid licorice. The bright pink drink mixes Sambuca with Absolut Vanil and a splash of cranberry juice for the most authentic-tasting licorice cocktail ever. The best part of this sipper is the garnish–a Twizzler. 1325 W. Wrightwood Ave. 773-388-3333.
F-N Plenty, $8
Need to recharge for a second round? Consider this drink at newly opened bar and grill West Barry. This velvety treat tastes like a pot of coffee brewed over the drink’s inspiration–Good & Plenty, that chewy licorice candy. A combination of chilled espresso and Effen black cherry vodka mixed with Romana Sambuca, this potent drink is sure to enhance your buzz. 3056 N. Oakley St. 773-477-0505.
Pastis, $8
If your palate is a tad more sophisticated than a box of licorice, then look no further than Avec. This trendy West Loop spot keeps a handful of anise liqueurs on hand, including two varieties of the elegant, sunny-yellow French aperitif as well as Absente, the legal version of absinthe. They’re both served on the rocks in a highball with a splash of water and a sugar cube. 615 W. Randolph St. 312-377-2002.
Level 7, $12
Galliano, a sweet, Italian herbal liqueur flavored with anise and vanilla, is the special ingredient in this pretty, golden-hued cocktail at NoMi. Mixed with vodka, pineapple and lemon juices and garnished with fresh shaved pineapple, this choice scores a 9.5 in our books for taste. At first sip, the drink seems light and fruity, but the combination of vodka and Galliano will warm you up. It costs a lot to be beautiful and, unfortunately, so does this cocktail. 800 N. Michigan Ave. 312-239-4030.
Tiny Licorice ‘tini, $8.50
Lakeview’s Tiny Lounge takes its anise-flavored liqueurs seriously: This cocktail features not one, but two licorice-infused liquors: Pernod, a French liqueur, and the Italian Galliano. The liqueurs are mixed with Chambord, Coke and a splash of lemon juice to make a lilac-hued drink garnished with a twist of orange. The effect is similar to sucking a Cherry Coke through a black licorice straw–mmm, tasty. 1814 W. Addison St. 773-296-9620.
