Cocktail bar
Unclaimed profileGolden Years
Chicago, IL · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Golden Years runs an eight-cocktail list split into Bubbly and Boozy sections, with a dedicated 22° Highball menu offering Toki Japanese Whisky, Lemon Shochu, and Strawberry Toki Whisky versions. The range covers rum, gin, whisky, vodka, cognac, bourbon, and amaro, from a Ginger Fizz with Swedish Punsch and turmeric to a Cassis Boulevardier V.2 that can be made as a spritz. Prices sit between $12 and $14.25, and daily specials include an $8 rotating punch and $8 whisky highball at happy hour.
- What should I order?
- Start with a 22° Highball — the Toki Japanese Whisky version is $12 and built with frozen Q Club Soda, carbonated spirit, and lemon oil. For a stirred, spirit-forward choice, the Cassis Boulevardier V.2 combines cognac, bourbon, red bitter, crème de cassis, and red and white vermouths. The Ginger Fizz brings white and black rum, ginger, Swedish Punsch, turmeric, and lime.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone who wants a compact, clearly organized cocktail list with a dedicated highball section and a mix of classic and modern builds. The daily specials, including Monday service-industry 50% off drinks and Thursday all highballs $10, make it useful for industry workers and highball fans.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour is the obvious window for the $8 rotating punch and $8 22° whisky highball. Thursday brings all highballs to $10, and Wednesday adds $1 fries with any menu cocktail, limit one per person.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktail menu prices range from $12 to $14.25. Happy hour drops the rotating punch and 22° whisky highball to $8 each, and Thursday makes all highballs $10.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The 22° Highball section sets the program apart, with three variations — Toki Japanese Whisky, Lemon Shochu, and Strawberry Toki Whisky — each built Kobe-style with frozen Q Club Soda, carbonated spirit, and lemon oil. The Cassis Boulevardier V.2 can also be ordered as a spritz for an extra dollar.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Eight cocktails across Bubbly and Boozy sections, anchored by a 22° Highball section with three variations. The list spans rum, gin, whisky, vodka, cognac, bourbon, and amaro, with prices from $12 to $14.25. Daily specials include an $8 rotating punch and $8 whisky highball at happy hour, Thursday $10 highballs, and Wednesday $1 fries with any menu cocktail.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated 22° Highball section with Toki Japanese Whisky, Lemon Shochu, and Strawberry Toki Whisky variations
- — Eight-cocktail list covering rum, gin, whisky, vodka, cognac, bourbon, and amaro across Bubbly and Boozy sections
- — Daily specials include $8 rotating punch and $8 whisky highball at happy hour, Thursday $10 highballs, and Monday service-industry 50% off drinks
Standout selections
- — 22° Highball — Toki Japanese Whisky: Kobe-style highball with frozen Q Club Soda, carbonated spirit, and lemon oil, $12
- — Cassis Boulevardier V.2: cognac, bourbon, red bitter, crème de cassis, red and white vermouths, $14.25; make it a spritz for $1 more
- — Merry Widower: Letherbee, vermouths, Benedictine, absinthe, salt, lemon oil, and olive, $13.50
- — Ginger Fizz: white and black rum, ginger, Swedish Punsch, turmeric, and lime, $13.75
Pricing: $12–$14.25; happy hour rotating punch and 22° whisky highball $8; Thursday all highballs $10; Monday service-industry 50% off drinks
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