Cocktail bar
Unclaimed profileMeadowlark
Chicago, IL · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Meadowlark's cocktail program debuts with Field Guide Vol. I: Birds of the Midwest, a rotating menu of bird-named drinks with vintage illustrations. The kitchen-style approach shows in housemade syrups, infusions, and bitters. Drinks like the Great Blue Heron and Pileated Woodpecker layer esoteric spirits. A $18 menu and $18 punch bottle are notable.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Great Blue Heron, which layers Zubrówka bison grass vodka with Pineau des Charentes, manzanilla sherry, and sparkling wine. For a rum-forward pour, the Pileated Woodpecker combines plantation rums, cognac, toasted coconut, and grilled pineapple.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail drinkers who appreciate ingredient-driven, creatively themed drinks will find much to explore. The bird-themed menu with ornithology illustrations adds a distinctive touch for those who enjoy narrative-driven drinking.
- What should I expect to spend?
- The Field Guide Vol. 1 menu is priced at $18. George's Punch is also $18 for a 750 ml bottle.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The inaugural menu, Field Guide Vol. I: Birds of the Midwest, ties each cocktail to a regional bird with vintage ornithology illustrations. The program emphasizes housemade syrups, liqueurs, infusions, and bitters, and uses globally sourced, esoteric spirits.
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
The cocktail program is rotating and creative, with Field Guide Vol. I featuring bird-named drinks. Recipes are ingredient-driven, using housemade syrups, liqueurs, infusions, and bitters. Named cocktails show specific spirit combinations and garnishes, indicating thoughtful construction.
Menu strengths
- — Rotating creative menu with a cohesive bird-themed concept and vintage illustrations.
- — Ingredient-driven approach with housemade syrups, liqueurs, infusions, and bitters.
- — Specific cocktails like the Great Blue Heron and Pileated Woodpecker show layered, esoteric ingredients.
Standout selections
- — Great Blue Heron: Zubrówka bison grass vodka, Pineau des Charentes, manzanilla sherry, sparkling wine.
- — Pileated Woodpecker: Plantation pineapple rum, Clarin commune, Plantation original dark rum, cognac, toasted coconut, grilled pineapple.
- — George's Punch: 75% alc. Vol., 750 ml, $18.
Pricing: Menu $18; George's Punch 750 ml $18
Spirits
The spirits selection is not offered as a standalone list but is integral to the cocktails, which use globally sourced, esoteric spirits. The menu includes gin, vodka, rum, tequila, and whiskey, providing a diverse base for the cocktail program.
Menu strengths
- — Global sourcing brings esoteric spirits into the cocktail program.
- — A range of spirit types—gin, vodka, rum, tequila, whiskey—supports diverse cocktails.
Standout selections
- — Menu includes spirits such as gin, vodka, rum, tequila, and whiskey.
- — Pileated Woodpecker showcases multiple rums including Plantation pineapple and original dark.
Community reviews
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