People having cocktails at Gus' Sip and Dip

Chicago Cocktail Classic: One Night, 30+ Legendary Bars

Your passport to cocktails across the globe, no flight required

On Sunday, June 14, more than three dozen world-class bars from across the globe will come together in the Windy City for an exclusive, one-day-only event: The second annual Chicago Cocktail Classic. This immersive cocktail tasting experience—hosted by Gus’ Sip & Dip, No. 27 on North America’s 50 Best Bars, buzzy new luxury cocktail spot Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club, iconic River North tropical cocktail haven Three Dots and a Dash, and Southwest Airlines at premier West Loop event space 167 Events—will give cocktail enthusiasts the chance to taste signature drinks from some of the most renowned bar programs in the world, against the sparkling Chicago skyline.

Each ticket to the Chicago Cocktail Classic ($100 per person, plus tax and service fee), includes 10 sample-size cocktails and access to the 17th floor of 167 Green Street for the event from 6:00 PM – 10:00 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 50 Best’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

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 second annual tasting tour of the world’s best bars. This year, Gus’ Sip & Dip made a splash on the global scene, earning distinctions as No. 27 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list from World’s 50 Best and the coveted 1 PIN from The Pinnacle Guide, so you might want to reserve one of your 10 tasting tokens for a sip from their menu!

Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club

Legend-in-the-making Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club just opened in River North to wide acclaim, with a team of world-class bartenders manning cocktail trolleys and a -16-degree Fahrenheit freezer room that turns out impeccably crafted sips in an impossibly luxe space. You won’t want to miss whatever Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club is bringing to the Chicago Cocktail Classic. Whatever it is, it’s going to be beautiful, cold, and unlike anything else you’ve tasted!

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.

Bar Bambi

Another local legend-to-be, Bar Bambi has just pranced on to the cocktail scene as one of Chicago’s most talked-about new cocktail destinations. The debut project from acclaimed bartender Katie Renshaw, whose résumé includes some of the city’s most influential cocktail programs, the West Town bar has earned major accolades for playful, technically precise drinks that reinvent familiar classics, pairing serious cocktail craftsmanship with a vibrant, whimsical atmosphere. Save a sip for this one!

Bisous

Fulton Market’s chic, 1960s Paris-inspired cocktail bar Bisous will make its second appearance at the Chicago Cocktail Classic (after making its second consecutive appearance on North America’s 50 Best Bars list, this time at No. 30), making it another must-sip. Bar veteran Peter Vestino’s team will be pouring a taste from the bar’s sophisticated menu of inventive martinis and French-inspired classics.

Other local Chicago bars featured in the Chicago Cocktail Classic include:

Lemon – Chicago, IL
Meadowlark – Chicago, IL
Nine Bar – Chicago, IL
Queen Mary Tavern – Chicago, IL

International Icons

Tokyo Confidential, Tokyo

Making its Chicago Cocktail Classic debut, Tokyo Confidential is described as “where chaos meets elegance.” If you’re drawn to this kind of fun-loving energy, you’re going to want to make a stop at this bar’s station for a taste of where global cocktail culture is headed. No. 70 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list, prepare for Japanese ingredients, boundary-pushing drinks and feeling like you know your bartender after only one drink!

BKK Social Club, Bangkok, Thailand

The legendary glamour of BKK Social Club at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok returns to Chicago for round two of the Chicago Cocktail Classic! Holding the No. 49 spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 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. Returning for a second year, 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 (No. 34 on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2026) delivers serious innovation without ever taking itself too seriously.

Other international bars scheduled to appear at the Chicago Cocktail Classic include:

Bar Glue – Liverpool, UK
Bar Ophelia – Almada, Portugal
Bon Vivants – Nassau, Bahamas
Kaito De Valle – Mexico City, Mexico
Otro Bar – San José, Costa Rica
Superfine – Paris, France
Uh Bar, Toronto, Canada

Cross-Country Classics

Overstory, New York, NY

No need to travel to have one of Overstory‘s one-of-a-kind cocktails on the 64th floor of 70 Pine Street in NYC’s Financial District, the Chicago Cocktail Classic is your chance to try a sip on the 17th floor in the Fulton Market District! Known for drinks built around unusual ingredients and techniques—think tequila with palo santo and salt, or whiskey clarified with Earl Grey tea and Champagne—Overstory delivers flavor combos that are difficult to find anywhere else.

Service Bar, Washington, D.C.

For Chicago Cocktail Classic attendees looking to experience one of the country’s most acclaimed cocktail programs, Service Bar from Washington, D.C. is a must-try. Just named No. 39 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list, this unpretentious neighborhood gem proves that cutting-edge drinks don’t have to come with any attitude. This is your chance to get a taste of one of the most talked-about cocktail spots in the U.S. capital.

Thunderbolt, Los Angeles

Since opening in Echo Park, Thunderbolt Los Angeles, No. 92 on North America’s 50 Best Bars, has earned national and international acclaim for pushing cocktail boundaries. Rather than relying on spectacle, the team uses modern technology to create drinks that are exceptionally balanced, consistent, and approachable, making it a favorite among both industry professionals and casual cocktail fans. This one will be a standout at Chicago Cocktail Classic!