Chicago Cocktail Classic: One Night, 20+ Legendary Bars
Your passport to cocktails across the globe, no flight required
On Sunday, June 15, more than 20 world-class bars from across the globe will come together in the Windy City for an exclusive, one-day-only event: The inaugural Chicago Cocktail Classic. This immersive cocktail tasting experience—hosted by River North’s iconic tropical cocktail haven Three Dots and a Dash, new tavern-style hotspot Gus’ Sip & Dip, and premier event space Salon 61—will give cocktail enthusiasts the chance to taste signature drinks from some of the most renowned bar programs in the world, right in the heart of downtown Chicago.
Each ticket to the Chicago Cocktail Classic ($89 per person, plus tax and service fee), includes 10 sample-size cocktails and access to all three venues during the event from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Let’s meet just a few of the mixology teams you’ll encounter during this one-of-a-kind event, including famed destinations from 50Best’s lists of North America’s 50 Best Bars and the World’s 50 Best Bars.
Purchase tickets to the Chicago Cocktail Classic.
Local Legends
Three Dots and a Dash
Cocktail lovers know there’s only one place to go for tropical cocktails in Chicago and it’s River North’s iconic Three Dots and a Dash. Find the speakeasy-style alleyway entrance to kick off your journey through the Chicago Cocktail Classic. Here, you can snag your drink tokens and a map to chart your path through the other two host venues, and maybe even start your tasting tour with Three Dots’ featured sip for the day.
Gus’ Sip & Dip
Gus’ Sip & Dip Partner and Beverage Director Kevin Beary and Beverage Director Scott Kitsmiller are the genius mixology minds behind the Chicago Cocktail Classic, leveraging their global cocktail industry relationships to curate the esteemed list of participants for this first-ever tasting tour of the world’s best bars. While host venue Gus’ Sip & Dip just opened this year, there’s already a line out the door daily of cocktail lovers vying for a taste of one of the 30 classic cocktails on the menu (all just $12 each, plus tax!), such as the White Russian, Clover Club, and the signature freezer-door Martini.
Bisous
Fulton Market’s chic, 1960s Paris-inspired cocktail bar Bisous just made its first appearance on North America’s 50 Best Bars list, making it a must-sip at Chicago Cocktail Classic. Bar veteran Peter Vestino’s team will be pouring a taste from the bar’s sophisticated menu of inventive martinis and French-inspired classics.
Truce
Truce, Bucktown’s award-winning cocktail lounge, is known for its welcoming, all-day vibe and imaginative drinks. With a menu that reimagines classics like the chai daiquiri and its signature Malört-based RBF, we highly recommend popping by Truce’s station at the Chicago Cocktail Classic for a fresh take on the city’s vibrant cocktail scene.
International Icons
Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
Named #1 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2024 and #1 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list for 2025, Handshake Speakeasy should probably also be a #1 choice to spend one of your drink tokens. If you were fortunate enough to experience Handshake’s collaboration with The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash in 2023, you’ve witnessed the bar’s irrepressible style firsthand. Known for using advanced culinary techniques to create cocktails that are at once both simple and complex, this one is a must-try at the Chicago Cocktail Classic.
BKK Social Club, Bangkok, Thailand
The legendary glamour of BKK Social Club at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok is coming to Chicago for one night only. Holding the #12 spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list, its blend of Latin-inspired bespoke cocktails and world-class hospitality has redefined global cocktail culture. Don’t miss a unique opportunity to sip one of BKK Social Club’s ultra sophisticated and extravagant signatures.
Panda & Sons, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Panda & Sons could easily be one of your most fun stops during the Chicago Cocktail Classic. The Edinburgh bar—whose vintage-y physical location is disguised as a panda-run barbershop— serves up playful energy and world-class creativity. With bartenders in panda aprons mixing up experimental drinks honed in its creative lab—aka the “Brain Melting Society”—this UK favorite (another one of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024) delivers serious innovation without ever taking itself too seriously.
Other international bars scheduled to appear at the Chicago Cocktail Classic include:
Cross-Country Classics
Sip & Guzzle, New York City
New York City’s celebrated dual-concept drinking experience Sip & Guzzle artfully combines American and Japanese cocktail techniques, styles and flavors, with a menu featuring standout creations like the Yuzu Mugirita and the Whiskey Nigiri. Discover whether you lean toward the lively Guzzle or the more refined Sip, at the Chicago Cocktail Classic!
Silver Lyan, Washington, D.C.
Straight out of a former bank vault in Washington, D.C., Silver Lyan, the acclaimed cocktail bar from renowned mixologist Ryan “Mr. Lyan” Chetiyawardana, creates globally inspired cocktails featuring unconventional ingredients. Just named to North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list, this is your chance to get a taste of one of the most talked-about cocktail spots in the U.S. capital.
Scotch Lodge, Portland, OR
Do you like Scotch? Then you don’t want to skip getting a taste of Scotch Lodge, Portland, Oregon’s acclaimed whisky-focused cocktail bar, which offers a selection of more than 300 rare and international whiskies, along with a modern Pacific Northwest-inspired menu from Chef Tim Artale.
Trick Dog, San Francisco
Acclaimed San Francisco cocktail bar Trick Dog will undoubtedly bring its characteristic theatrical flair to the Chicago Cocktail Classic. Celebrated for its biannual, creatively themed menus and award-winning mixology, any visit to Trick Dog promises an unforgettable experience that blends humor, artistry, and world-class cocktails. You’ll want to sit…and stay.
Additional U.S. bars scheduled to appear at the Chicago Cocktail Classic include:
Purchase tickets to the Chicago Cocktail Classic.
