CH Distillery

This distillery has been right under my nose for a while and it has been unfortuante that I haven’t come over more often for a well crafted home grown cocktail!
I checked out the distellery tour on a saturday night with Pat and it was super casual and entertaining to say the least. With witty banter and a bit of fun facts it’s a fun time.
I have tried the Meet Your Matcha with CH Gin, Classic Favorite with the CH Vodka, The Miss Nemesis with CH Peppercorn Vodka, Dammit Patrice with CH Vodka bubbles and strawberry, Shroomin with CH Rum, Sage and Mushrooms, Spicy Persuassion with CH Whiskey, Happy Endings with CH Amaro, Vodka and Coffee.
I can’t say that anything was truly wrong with any of them but my favorites are the Dammit Patrice, Classic Favorite and Meet Your Matcha.
For food I have tried a few bites and the menu is constantly changing to pair with their cocktails.
If you fall in love with anything they make you can always purchase the liquor for yourself to add to your bar. The most fun part is once you are aware of all the libations that make with home made liquor to keep your eye out for colaborating restaurants in the area that use CH Distillery’s products.
I would highly recommend stopping by for a cocktail and a bite to eat if you are in the area.

I’m really confused by the amazing reviews. I went with my GF on a Monday night and found it to be the embodiment of all things hipster/​millennial. It started wonderful with attentive service and a free sample of the house vodka punch. Awesome drink, all 3 ounces! Since we walked from the loop I was craving something refreshing. Moscow mule is listed on the menu under the «Safe» heading. The Moscow Mule isn’t made with ginger beer but actual ginger and some house made syrup concoction. It’s spicy, ginger overload spicy, almost pungent. I couldn’t finish it. To top it off it was served in a glass not a copper mug. Not so safe after all.
The waiter, who was initially excellent, offered to make me another that I might like. I choose a vodka and tonic, safe and impossible to screw up right. Wrong again friends, the drink is light pink. I’m confused, almost embarrassed at this point but I’m trying to be a trooper for my GF who was loving her drink. I’m told the tonic is made in house as well. It has a lemongrass finish. The server tells me this with great pride. (How can you mess up TONIC?!) I can suffer through this one either, it’s properly terrible.
Our waiter returns with the house made vodka punch, which I quickly drain. In an over the top effort to be chic and edgy the house punch is served in a Pyrex griffin beaker. This is clearly someone’s idea of an experiment.
The server becomes lost in conversation with another table for 10 minutes while I place the empty glasses on the edge of the table with cash and wait. Finally, another employee notices and takes the money so we can leave. I burped ginger all night.

We were walking to a dinner reservation in West Loop when we happened upon this little gem, maybe around 5:30 — 6:00 on a Friday. We were only in Chicago for a wee bit, but had seen this booze around and had been meaning to ask about it (okay, try it). Popped inside and they were packed, but the rad girl working the host stand (Mayra) said, «it doesn’t look like we have any seats available at the bar, but let me check the distilling room».
Now, hopefully I’m not betraying her awesomeness by letting out a secret, but she took us back past the bar, past the kitchen, down a hallway, and out we come to this dimly lit room with café seating amongst the tanks, with a little makeshift bar set-​up and one lady running the show. In a very nice way, she told basically told us, I might get crazy so don’t be afraid to come up to the bar if I don’t get over to you (which was never a problem). I had a Cease and Desist which was wonderful and just the right amount of ginger, and my date had the Meet Your Matcha, which to our styles and tastes was one of the best GD drinks we’d ever had. Small bar or not, she crushed it.
We didn’t eat as we had the dinner reservation, and reluctantly left, knowing we’d be back later. Like later that evening, which we did for a nightcap.
This time we sat at the bar, got chatting with some of those bartenders as well as Mayra (whom we were completely in love with at this point… seriously, she’s awesome). One wonderful (and slightly dangerous) aspect to CH is that while they’re obviously a bar crafting some excellent cocktails, they are foremost a distillery, and the pride there is evident. If you’re genuinely interested in a certain kind of alcohol they make, they’ll likely give you a taste (if you’re being nice and not wasted). It really is one of the better meldings of tasting room and bar that I’ve experienced.
I think I’ve mentioned it at least 3 times here, but it can’t be said enough the staff here made us feel so welcome. In our 2 packed days in Chicago, we hit a lot of bars, met a lot nice people, and a lot of people that seemed to take themselves a little too seriously. While the atmosphere and décor at CH felt like a hip and classy cocktail bar, we couldn’t have been made to feel more comfortable. Thanks for a great night Mayra and CH! We’ll see you on our next Chicago visit for sure.

Great spot of after work drinks! Really enjoyed the complementary amuse-​bouche we were kindly served before our cocktails. The lounge area looks a bit unfinished but perhaps that’s the charm of a distillery. Though this didn’t distract much from the great drinks and service

I came here last night with a big group of co-​workers. Booked the reservation via SeatMe on Unilocal seamlessly. The ambiance at this place is so cool, you can see the distillery through the glass while you’re dining in. I ordered the Doctor’s Orders drink, made with carrot juice and whiskey and it was delicious! The group I was with ordered, what seemed like, everything on the menu! We tried the spicy peanuts, sweet cashews, pesto pasta, salad, risotto, cheese plate (s), duck tacos and more. The food was kind of hit/​miss with me– somethings I loved, others not as much but everything was prepared fresh and presented very nicely. It did seem like a lot of things had a citrus taste or tone to it and not being much of a citrus person, that may be what I didn’t like. Everyone’s different so please don’t take this as a negative review of the food. The service was great and my whole office loved it, we’ll definitely be back!

Stopped in while staying in the West Loop prior to the Iron Maiden show. The distillery produces vodka, gin, bourbon, rum and other liquors. They focus on all sorts of classic cocktails utilizing their own spirits. Many of the drinks are made using seasonal juices and their house made syrups. In addition, they do have a nice food menu, though I did not partake. The food menu consists of small plates, cheese, charcuterie, entrees, nuts… etc. The space here is rather expansive and quite modern.
The drink menu looks fantastic. They have several categories of drinks; signature drinks, classic cocktails and other categories. I was looking to try something new and unique so I opted for the «Toronto». This cocktail consisted of CH Whiskery, Fernet Dogma and Ancho Chili. It was pretty darn good, something nice to sip on a chilly rainy day. Not overpowering, but had a little kick. I really enjoyed my drink which left me wanting to try more. I wish I tried the sampler so I could have experienced more. Guess that just means another trip back.
The staff here is quite friendly and very knowledgable about the different spirits. This is definitely a place I would come back to again. There are many things I want to explore on the drink menu. The only negative for me was that I could only have one drink before having to depart.
Definitely give this place a try if you are looking to explore the vast world of cocktails made by a great distillery.

Amazing cocktails and service! Cannot wait to return for dinner!
Server had great recommendations — really enjoyed their appetizers as well.

My favorite new spot. Drinks are incredible and we all LOVED the décor/​vibe/​lighting/​all of that. We had a great time chatting with our server, Adam, who was incredibly attentive (ex. a friend’s laugh blew the candle out and he notices within about 2 minutes and re-​lit it immediately). He made great recommendations and put up with our annoying request to take photos (even complied with our request for him to get in the pic!). I love the Shaved Salad and my friend enjoyed her pesto pasta dish. I think the 18% gratuity is fantastic. Lots of people on here seem to be complaining about it, but it assures servers receive a good wage and I believe the service is all the better for that reason.
Good job, CH! Will be back another time for sure.

Really cool Chicago distillery slangin’ unique cocktail concoctions! I ended up here with some friends on St. Patty’s Day evening and did two rounds of drinks.
I first tried their Miss Nemesis which consisted of their Peppercorn Vodka that my friend was raving about mixed with their Aquavit, some Cilantro Rosemary, lime, and bitters. It was very good! Only thing that kind of weirded me out was that our server hit my drink with that cilantro rosemary in front of me which came out of what looked like a breath freshener spray bottle. I figure when my drink is done and served nothing else will go into it. Just personal preference though.
For a second round, I tried their Baron Takes Tea. This was my favorite between the two round here. Vodka, Earl Grey Tea, egg whites, with lemon simple syrup. Super smooth and easy to drink and quite enjoyable. Sweet but not too sweet!
My only gripe here was that 18% gratuity was included. Which was kind of odd in my opinion as we were only a party of 3. Other than that, I dig the modern and lounge-​y vibe they got going here. Definitely worth a stop!
‘Til next time, cheers!

I easily made a reservation for 8 on a friday night and we were seated very quickly after our entire party arrived. The space itself is awesome! Very modern! Everything they do is completely dedicated to their star — their liquor. They make ALL of their liquor in house, except their bourbon, which comes from kentucky (as it should). Our waitress explained it well: their main attraction are their cocktails — they just serve some food because. well… you need it with all that liquor!
We went for restaurant week, but no one actually ended up ordering from that menu. For drinks, I had a vodka martini and one of their specialty cocktails. I can’t remember the name, but it was wonderful. Both drinks were well made, strong, and the liquor used was pure and delicious. Out waitress brought out complimentary sample shots of their whiskey so we could try it. I’m not a whiskey person, so I passed mine along, but they care about their liquors so much that they want you to clearly try it, which is awesome. We had the mushroom risotto and the pesto pasta. The mushroom risotto was absolutely divine — so full of flavor! The pasta was good, too — a bit too oily and needed some salt and pepper — but overall decent. We also had the cheese board, which was pretty good.
Our waitress was wonderful– Absolutely hilarious! She was fast and efficient and still had time to interact well with us (and all of her tables from what we saw).
Overall, I can’t wait to come back to try some more of their cocktails!

We went in for the Cocktails Have Feelings Too Wednesday program at the bar but took one look at the menu and were sold on their drinks! What a great West Loop spot!
First, their CH brand is fantastic. I am very interested in making a trip back here for the distillery your. Our girls catch up session/​happy hour started with a sample of their punch of the day featuring their Key Gin… our server explain how it features more key lime notes than typical juniper. It was fantastic. Crisp and citrusy and a very easy drink!
The menu is full of tea infused drinks and features some spicy numbers too. My party didn’t dip into the tea drinks but had a pretty good sampling of the other drinks. Highlight of our choices was the Class Favorite, the cucumber infused CH Vodka with basil and pineapple. This one is light and refreshing with just the right hint of sweetness… the vodka was WAY better then other cucumber vodkas that shall remain nameless. Other highlights, Doctors Orders (ch whiskey, carrot, lemon, ancho chili, ginger) and the Daiquiri (ch rum, honey, lime… Hemingway style).
The food was also yummy. The nuts were a great snack. Focus is definitely the cocktails. We’ll be back!
Oh, also this was one of my first visits to a no gratuity spot in Chicago. They clearly state the no tipping policy on their menu and our amazing server reiterated it when the bill arrived. Cocktails were $ 12 tip included… reasonable in my opinion for what we got!

I don’t often give 5 stars to drinks places, but CH Distillery is doing everything right. Service is top-​notch from the moment you walk in the door… attentive, friendly and helpful. As a fun touch, similar to a fine restaurant, they serve a tiny Amuse-​Bouche-​type drink, to whet your palate. And I like their little touches like the cloth cocktail napkins, the beautiful drink presentation, the fact that the extra cocktail is poured in a chemistry beaker and left with you (adorable), the unusual metal bill holder to present your check, and the fact that gratuities are included (though I do like to throw in a scratcher lottery ticket or two, as a bonus). Finally, the place itself is an interesting concept. Since they are a distillery, they are really just a tasting room… though an upscale one… so they only serve their own distilled brand. So, don’t walk in here expecting Bombay Sapphire or Grey Goose… enjoy their spirits! Lastly… thanks to bartender John/​Jack for the great service… I’ll be back!

First «Bumble» date, first Unilocal review. How appropriate.
While only going for cocktails, I was definitely impressed. It was a good mixture between modern décor with a hipster cocktail list. I am a gin drinker so went with the «Cease and Desist.» I was interested by the combination of gin with lapsang souchong (and yes I had to look up what that was, its a tea). The bartender warned me it has a smokey aftertaste, which I don’t typically prefer, but felt it had a great, unique flavor!
It was packed. Granted, it was restaurant week, luckily Bumble Date #1 and I found a spot at the bar.
As mentioned, we didn’t eat, but I was absolutely salivating from the smell of the food coming out of the kitchen. Will definitely return for dinner.
Date #1 may have been a disappointment, CH Distillery however, was not.

So so glad I checked this place out! I am always a fan of local distilleries and breweries, and this place opened recently and not only do they have tasting tours which I definitely need to come back and try, but the décor in here is just so great! Dim lighting, cool light fixtures, and a great spot to watch awkward first dates too (if you are a people watcher like I am with my friends when we go out that is!)
But the cocktails here are just spot on and so much fun. Tons of different ingredients and one drink I ordered was even sprayed with some flavored mist that just made the drink seem so magical, and my tastebuds agreed that it was in fact magical! Both of my cocktails were so tasty and both included their own whiskey and vodka so I can’t wait to go back and try more! They also have food here but we only ordered some nuts to split, and the only thing I didn’t like was the automatic 18% tip which is to ensure good service and fair wages as they state on their menu, and these cocktails do take quite a fair amount of effort to craft, but I feel like just sitting at the bar with one other person and only getting drinks shouldn’t be the same tip level all the time… what if the service isn’t great? Just lots of factors…
That aside, the whole vibe here is so great, and the drinks were inventive, fun, and flirty and led toward great conversations also. I will definitely be back!

One of my restaurant week selections and so pleased with the choice!
First course — I had the clam chowder which was good but a little thinner that I prefer. Still tasty though.
Second course — My dinner companion and I shared both options, the pesto pasta and the mushroom risotto. The pesto pasta was very good, the pine nuts were a lovely compliment to and added a nice texture. The mushroom risotto was AMAZING. So creamy and the flavors were fantastic. I would recommend this as a must-​try dish if you like mushrooms!
Third course — duck tacos, also delicious, the duck was very tender and the tomatillo sauce was not overpowering and had a nice freshness to it.
Fourth course — Again, my dinner companion and I shared both dessert options. The sassafras float was way too strong for me. I am not a bourbon drinker and there was a healthy portion of it poured in. Having said that, if you are a bourbon drinker, this would likely knock your socks off. But, what a unique dessert to offer at a distillery! Very creative!
I really enjoyed the creativity of the cocktails. I had two of the «By Any Other Name.» Very refreshing, smooth, had a fresh citrus flavor, which I loved. And so pretty — the color and garnishes were very lovely! The other cocktail I tried was the Moscow Mule, also delicious. The vodka is very smooth.
I’d like to note how impressed we were at how friendly EVERYONE is. Our server was Adam and he was fantastic. At different points throughout our meal, different staff members came to quickly chat with us, including the manager (I wish I remembered her name so I could give her proper credit, whoever was on duty @ 6:30pm on ¹⁄₂₇), the chef and the host. I really appreciated the personal touch, and everyone seemed like they truly cared and took pride in this establishment.

My first taste of CH vodka was while dining at Fat Rice. I’m a vodka drinker, and really enjoyed my martini. CH vodka has the faintest touch of fruit at the finish, which was rather delicious. While it may not appeal to every vodka drinker, it rang my bell.
That prompted me to make a rez to take a tour of the distillery, and not unlike the vodka itself, the bar/​distillery was a wonderful experience. Physically, the bar is not very large, but has a wall of plate glass which looks directly into the distillery. The raw wood, exposed brick, and «less-​is more» interior is really hot. A selection of thoughtfully inspired cocktails and infused spirits combined with well thought out musical playlists, make for a trendy, laid back, yet edgy vibe. They also offer a few small plates to nibble on and an occasion «special dinner» (ask your server for the deets).
The tour of the distillery was very interesting and informative. Followed by a tasting of some of their products, what more could you ask for? Sweet

CH is this ultra-​modern looking bar/​restaurant that from the outside looks more like… a Tesla showroom than a bar. The main attraction here is the house-​made spirits, leading to a unique roster of cocktails wholly unavailable at other lounges. The environment is clean and the bar has a view of some of the stills used to create the house spirits.
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Drinks:
Overall I’d say that the drinks were quite excellent in taste, uniqueness, and presentation. As a bonus, all spirits are made in-​house, making for a somewhat unique taste and experience. I’d definitely come back for drinks, for which I give 4 stars.
What She’s Having — CH Bourbon, Ginger, Mint, Lemon
Delicious and would drink again. The ginger taste is quite strong and refreshing, making for a somewhat more raw bourbon mule. It’s a simple recipe, and I have no problem seeing why people would demand this be put back onto the menu. Don’t mind that it’s on the simpler portion of the drinks menu — it’s still worth it.
Clover Club — CH London Dry Gin, Raspberry Syrup, Egg White, Lemon
In a manner similar to latte art, a design is placed, sitting atop the egg white. I actually ordered it primarily because it included egg white as an ingredient, giving it that nice frothy texture when combined with alcohol or citrus. It also tends to make for a delicious drink as well, as it definitely did here.
Cease and Desist — Lapsang Couchong Infused London Dry Gin, Ginger, Honey, Lemon
Had too much of a tea and honey taste to be palatable to my tastes, though my friend did enjoy it. Tea and honey both make my tastebuds curl, so I’ll refrain from any further comment here. It just wouldn’t be fair.
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Food:
The food seems much more of a side thought, especially on the presentation end. This didn’t quite add up for me to be as worthwhile. Its combination of portioning, presentation, and price didn’t satisfy. Perhaps the food can make for a good single course to help with the alcohol, but I would in general advise you to dine elsewhere.
Whitefish Spread — Smoked Whitefish, Hard-​Boiled Eggs, Capers & Fine Herbs on Black Rye
Yes, try this! It’s delicious. It’s a bit like a gigantic deviled egg using smoked fish as a main ingredient. This all sits atop black rye bread rather than egg white, which is perfectly fine with me.
Corned Duck — Corned Duck Breast, Liverwurst, Lemon & Herbs on Black Rye
This one didn’t do it for me as much — slices of corned duck were the majority of the piece, with the lemon and herbs making a slight impression. Flavors just didn’t come together to impress.
Arugula Salad — Tomato, Pistachios, Cucumber, Orange Vinaigrette
Because they actually ran out of arugula, the chef offered to make something more like a caprese. This worked well enough I suppose.
CH Wrecking Ball Trio (CH Rum, Cocoa, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Wafers; CH Key Gin, Coconut, Lime, Graham Crackers; CH Bourbon, Pecans, Vanilla Wafers)
Three packed little balls of chocolate-​esque dessert. They each tasted interesting and unique enough, but seem more of a mignardise than a «wrecking ball trio». It was plated with three raspberries.
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My rating of 4-​stars really is representative of the drinks rather than the food. I wouldn’t mind coming back, but I think their expertise and value proposition lean much more in that direction.
And of course I should note — gratuity is automatically included in the bill (but not menu price), regardless of party size. You can call it whatever you want and say there are no «tips» at your restaurant, but it still amounts to the same thing.

I came here with some clients and unfortunately had some pretty picky and particular meal requests… Yes, I was that annoying guy who couldn’t eat anything on the menu. However, the staff was SUPER accommodating and ended making me exactly what I would have made at home, A+!
My dinner companions ordered a bunch of small plates off the menu and loved every one they tried — especially the gnocchi. Drinks were great too — you could definitely get drunk off of the samples they give you from the distillery… sheesh!
I’ll definitely be back to try the full menu once I’m off this ridiculous diet — thanks again CH!

I really like CH Distillery, I just wish it had more options.
I’ve now been to CH a few times and each time, there has been consistent, friendly service and a relaxing atmosphere. However, while there are a ton of options on the menu for cocktails, their ‘only made in house’ set up limits things in some ways. Not everyone likes cocktails, but that is your only option here. No wines or beers are available (and I believe that is due to their licensing…), which can put off some folks who do not want hard alcohol. I think you can get juices, house sodas, but it would be nice to have more options.
The prices are a bit high and while the food looks good, I haven’t been able to try any yet. I think that for me, it skews a bit expensive but without all of the options you’d have at similarly priced spots.
I’ve only been there early, so I’m not sure of the atmosphere at night, but seems like it would get trendy and a bit dark. They do have outdoor seating.
Overall, ok, but not a spot you’d visit weekly unless you really like liquors (theirs are quite good, though some are unique). They all start with vodka and go from there…

Ummm how come I’ve never been here before was the first question I asked myself after trying the Fernet Float. The float is strong, but absolutely sweet and delicious. How can you resist the Vanilla bean ice cream in the middle of your cocktail glass. :) Besides there super yummy drinks the food was amazing. We had the Arugula Salad. I’m not a salad person, but I found it to be delicious. Not too much dressing and the flavors were good. Besides that the gooey butter cake was awesome and so were the ginger almonds. I went for their two year anniversary party, so they were giving out free shots. We also got to tour the distillery. Great location, great food, and a really fun time.