Travel the Globe in A Glass

International sips to enjoy with us or at home

Looking to sip something new this holiday season? Discover wine and spirits that will transport you to far flung destinations, one glass at a time—no passport required! Lettuce’s top beverage pros share their curated picks for the bottles that will take your palate around the world.

Japanese Whisky at Sushi-san

Sushi-san has amassed one of the largest collections of Japanese whisky in the U.S., with a staggering 200+ different expressions available. The extensive list includes both rare and approachable varieties, along with exclusives like FEW x Sushi-san Bottled in Bond 100 and Mars Komagatake San Edition Single Cask. The Omakase Room at Sushi-san offers tastes of rare Japanese whisky as part of its beverage pairings—click here to learn more.

TRY IT AT SUSHI-SAN: Old Fashioned
Sushi-san Single Barrel FEW Rice Whisky, Mars Iwai 45, Cane Sugar, Bitters

ADD IT TO YOUR HOME BAR: Mars Komagatake San Edition Single Cask ($200)
“We are the first restaurant in the U.S. to have a private bottling from the famed Mars Shinshu Distillery in Japan,” says Assistant General Manager Daniel Bennett. Snag a bottle of this elegant whisky—distilled in Nagano in the shadow of Mount Komagatake by Mars Shinshu, which is regarded for its craftsmanship in distilling as well as its use of interesting casks for aging—directly from Sushi-san.

Sushi-san also has an extensive list of sake by the glass. Click here for a lesson in sake 101!

Make a reservation at the Sushi-san location nearest you, including our new spot in Music City, Sushi-san – Nashville!

Italian Spirits at Tre Dita

The St. Regis Chicago Wine Director Kat Hawkins delights in introducing guests to lesser-understood Italian spirits like amari, vermouth and grappa at Tre Dita and Bar Tre Dita. “I’m really having a vermouth moment this winter (all year actually), because it is so versatile,” Kat says. Learn more about Italian spirits at Bar Tre Dita.

TRY IT AT TRE DITA: Tre Martini
Piucinque Italian Gin, Contratto Bianco, Lorenzo Inga Gavi di Gavi Grappa, lemon

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Bordiga Rosso Vermouth di Torrino Sweet Vermouth ($34.99)
“This vermouth is wonderful as an aperitif, over ice with an orange twist, or made into a cocktail like a Manhattan or Negroni. A lot of baking spices, floral, and herbal notes make this perfect for the winter. Tip—keep it in the fridge once opened to preserve its flavor and quality.”

Try the recipe for Tre Dita’s Tre martini at home, or a Tuscan spin on a classic Hugo Spritz, Where Hugo, I’ll Follow, which uses Italicus bergamot and bianco vermouth.

Make a reservation at Tre Dita.

Rum at The Bamboo Room

Tucked inside acclaimed cocktail haven Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago’s River North, The Bamboo Room is home to a vast collection of rare and approachable rum, rhum agricole and Ron. Nearly every rum-producing country in the world is represented across the two bars’ more than 300 rums. Along with the inventive, award-winning cocktails, be sure to try one of the rum tasting flights, which offer a tasting tour of unconventional distilleries, independent bottlers and small-scale producers sourced during Beverage Director Kevin Beary’s travels to the Caribbean, Central and South American and more. Learn more about the newest cocktails at The Bamboo Room.

TRY IT AT THE BAMBOO ROOM: Jamaican Ten-Speed
Cacao Butter Fat-Washed Probitas, Super Banana, Lime, Pineapple, Honeydew Melon Shaved Ice

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Three Dots Single Barrel Rum ($90)
“Our current single barrel is 100% pot still 17-year-old Fijian rum, finished in Japanese umeshu plum liqueur casks,” says lead bartender Tyler MacClellan. “This truly interesting and flavorful rum is a great gift for the rum connoisseur looking to add a new bottle to their home bar.” (Available for purchase at Three Dots and a Dash.)

Make a reservation at The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash.

Tequila at RPM Seafood

RPM Restaurants Beverage Director Ben Lieppman says that unadulterated quality is of utmost importance when it comes to tequila. “For people who don’t drink tequila, it’s often because they swore it off after a moment in their younger lives when they drank too much Jose Cuervo Gold or an adjacent tequila of poor quality that has tons of additives.” But, when you find the right craft producer, he says, “Tequila sips wonderfully and you can drink it year round—when it’s hot, when it’s cold, during the day, or late into the evening. Drink it to celebrate, or just when you need to wind down.” Eager to learn more about wine, too? Check out the RPM Sommelier Tasting Experience at RPM Seafood.

TRY IT AT RPM SEAFOOD: A Jalisco Affair
Arette “Suave” Reposado, RPM Single Barrel, Del Maguey Iberico, Roasted Pineapple & Habanero, L’Aperitivo Nonino, Lime

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: El Tesoro Reposado RPM Single Barrel ($95)
According to Lieppman, “Tequila is a spirit that is heavily influenced by the land it comes from. In the [Jalisco] Valley, the tequilas are mineral driven, clean, and crisp, and in the highlands, in the eastern part of Jalisco, they take on verdant and fruity qualities. That region is home to the lion’s share of newer artisanal labels. Two brothers, Felipe and Carlos Camarena, run three different distilleries that produce some of my favorite tequilas that are readily available. El Tesoro, Tequila Ocho, G4, Volans, and Terralta are all incredible in their own right.”

Get the recipe for RPM Seafood’s A Jalisco Affair.

Make a reservation at RPM Seafood.

Mediterranean Wine & Spirits at Aba

Mediterranean favorite Aba (Austin, Chicago, Nashville) offers wine sourced from regions along the Mediterranean coast, including Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, Italy, France and Spain—the vineyards of Chateau Musar, which features prominently on Aba’s wine list, grow in an area of Lebanon that is said to have started its winemaking more than 6,000 years ago—and spirits like Kastra Elion Vodka from Greece, distilled from Greek olives picked by hand.

TRY IT AT ABA – AUSTIN: Ancient Lore Espresso Martini
Desert Cactus Vodka, Kastra Elion Vodka, Flor de Caña “Spresso,” Beatrix Coffee Roasters “Voyager” Espresso, Demerara

Aba Senior Beverage Manager Nick Berggen says, “The Ancient Lore Espresso Martini at Aba brings indulgence and complexity to the traditional version, with the rich texture and vegetal flavor of Kastra Olive Vodka pairing perfectly with Desert Cactus Vodka’s Prickly Pear fruit distillate. We take it a step further with the addition of freshly pulled Beatrix Coffee Roasters Voyager espresso out of our nitrogen draft, creating a creamy microfoam that makes for the ultimate sipping experience.”

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Chateau Musar “Jeune Rouge,” Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2021 ($76)
According to Aba Head Sommelier John C. Slatter, “This wine from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, made from a blend of Cinsault, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, is bold and full bodied with notes of blackberry and cedar, and a perfect pairing for any holiday main course.”

Make a reservation at the Aba location nearest you.

Bourbon at Bub City

When nothing but some good old-fashioned American bourbon will do, head to Bub City in River North or Rosemont to sip the best bourbons available paired with BBQ favorites like 18-Hour Smoked Prime Brisket, Award-Winning Chicken Wings and Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. Learn more about bourbon and BBQ pairings at Bub City.

TRY IT AT BUB CITY: The Best Damn Old Fashioned
Barrel Craft BP Bourbon, maple syrup, vanilla bark bitters

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Weller Antique 107 ($175)
Bub City Partner Eric Rose says: “This single barrel selection is non chill filtered and provides the perfect balance between flavor and proof!”

Make a reservation at Bub City – River North | Make a reservation at Bub City – Rosemont

California Wines at RPM Restaurants

If your palate favors wine over spirits, look no further than RPM Restaurants, which is now pouring its debut collection of three expertly blended single-vineyard wines—52W Cabernet Sauvignon, Cèpe d’Été Chardonnay and Three Kings Pinot Noir—available exclusively at RPM Italian (Chicago, D.C. and Las Vegas), RPM Steak and RPM Seafood. A collaboration years in the making, the RPM wine team worked hand-in-hand with acclaimed California Central Coast winemaker Andrew Jones of Field Recordings, to bring these bottles from vine to table. Discover more wine experiences at Lettuce and more recommendations for wines to bring to the holiday table.

TRY IT AT RPM ITALIAN: 52W Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Prime Beef Meatballs
A fresher, more elegant take on cabernet. Deep purple in the glass, it opens with overripe plum, black cherry, and vanilla, leading to a lush, fruit-forward finish,

BEST BOTTLE TO BRING HOME: RPM Restaurants Beverage Partner Richard Hanauer says, “The prime beef is amplified by the cabernet’s refined tannins and flavors from the Paso Robles vineyards.” All of RPM’s single-vineyard wines are available for off-premise purchase exclusively in Chicago as part of RPM’s Holiday Gift Box.

Make a reservation at RPM Italian – Chicago | Make a reservation at RPM Italian – D.C. | Make a reservation at RPM Italian – Las Vegas

Also check out Antico Posto’s Holiday Vino 3-Pack to give the gift of Italian wines!

VERMUT at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! and Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba!

Vermut (or vermouth, in English) is a fortified wine flavored with herbs and spices. It’s a versatile and aromatic drink that can be enjoyed on its own, as an aperitif, or as a key ingredient in classic cocktails. Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! and Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba! are bringing a timeless Spanish tradition to Chicago’s afternoon scene debuting a new cocktail, La Hora del Vermut, made with La Cueva Nueva Vermut, orange and a splash of soda in partnership with Valencia-based vermouth brand Cueva Nueva. Available exclusively during Happy Hour at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM daily and Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba! weekdays from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, your favorite tapas restaurants are inviting you to slow down, sip, and savor like the Spaniards do. This new drink, the La Hora del Vermut, literally translates to “The Vermouth Hour,” which is the blissful window in Spain between late morning and lunch, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, when friends gather over a glass of vermut (vermouth), a salty snack, and conversation.