Savor summer with fruity cocktails and seasonal brews
After months of snow and rain, summer warmth is finally here. Embrace the heat, then savor the season by cooling off with summer sippers at local bars and restaurants.
Bar Louie, 200 E. Rand Road, Mount Prospect, (847) 394-3456: The bar's draft list includes plenty of seasonal brews including Blue Moon Honey Moon Summer Ale, New Belgium Somersault and Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat. The craft beers are $6 to $6.50 normally, but you can get a 20-ounce glass for $5 Mondays in June.
Bistro One West, 1 W. Illinois St., St. Charles, (630) 444-0600: The restaurant offers lots of refreshing cocktails that you can sip on the deck. Selections include the $9 Acai Margarita, made with VeeV liquor, tequila and lime juice, the $8 summer sangria, which features sparkling wine, lime, lemon and raspberries, and the $8 summer peach tea, a blend of sweet tea, lemonade, peach liqueur and Smirnoff.
Carlucci Restaurant and Bar, 1801 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, (630) 512-0990: Carlucci's amazing patio is the perfect place to dine on a nice day. While you're there, try the Carlucci Harmonie, which blends Hpnotiq Harmonie, Yes Vodka and cranberry juice.
Fleming's, 960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, (847) 793-0333: Indulge without worrying about your weight by ordering the new $6 Mojita Bonita. The drink — a blend of Stoli Vanil, vanilla syrup, pineapple and lime juices, club soda and mint leaves — is only 99 calories.
John Barleycorn, 1100 American Lane, Schaumburg, (847) 619-5540: The bar offers a summer drinks menu featuring five $5 4 Rebels Dragonfruit Vodka cocktails. Highlights include the Dragon Palmer, a blend of vodka, lemonade and iced tea, and the Fruita Fresca, which includes muddled strawberry and basil blended with lemon-lime soda.
The Lucky Monk, 105 Hollywood Blvd., South Barrington, (847) 898-0500: The Lucky Monk's house-brewed Tritica Wheat Ale is a refreshing drink on its own, but bartender Brandon Bergemann also uses it as a mixer. His summery concoction, the Tritica Cooler, blends the beer with Absolut Citron, Amaretto, Bacardi Orange, sour mix and Sprite.
Morton's The Steakhouse, 1470 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg, (847) 413-8771: Looking to shed some pounds this summer? Check out the diet-friendly Spatini menu at Morton's. The $14 cocktails use TY KU Soju, a Japanese spirit with half the calories of vodka. Try it with agave nectar, mint, lime juice and soda in the Lean and Green or blended with Skyy blood orange vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice in the skinny blood orange cosmo.
Park Avenue Wine Bar, 205 Park Ave., Barrington, (847) 382-3900: The wine bar offers a selection of refreshing whites. For an extra summery treat, order a glass of $8 Japanese apricot wine poured over ice with an apricot as a garnish. You can also try an $8 tincha, a slightly sparking white or rose Argentinean wine served over ice with a slice of lemon or lime.
Taylor Brewing Company, 717 Butterfield Road, Lombard, (630) 990-8700: Taylor Brewing Company crafts new summer and winter brews each year and this year's summer selection is Emma's Ale, a Belgian-style Witbier named for owner Gary Taylor's third daughter. A blend of malted barley and wheat with touches of orange peel and coriander, the drink has become the brewery's second best seller, right behind their flagship Rusty Dog Amber. The brew will be available until Oktoberfest for $4.50 a pint or $7 for a 25-ounce mug.
Texas de Brazil, 5 Woodfield Shopping Center, Schaumburg, (847) 413-1600: June 12 was International Cachaca Day, but Texas de Brazil is celebrating the fermented sugarcane liquor all month long with a menu of Brazilian cocktails. Enjoy your booze blended with fresh fruit in the strawberry basil caipirinha or mango mint caipirinha.