In a move that's sure to bring a smile to the faces of many Chicagoans (and grimaces to others), Jeppson's Malort is now available at O'Hare International Airport. The maker of the bäsk announced the move in a Facebook post today, and now wary travelers at the city's largest airport will have the chance to knock back a couple of shots of the stuff to help quell their pre-flight jitters.
The booze is now available in O'Hare's Terminal 2 at the Delta Sky Club (across from Gate E4), so you'll have to have one of those fancy memberships to indulge in a pre-flight taste.
Malort is widely available at bars throughout the Chicago area and can be found basically no place else. It's become notorious in town for its questionable taste, and pranksters have been known to trick their unsuspecting friends into taking shots of the liqueur. The first time a Malort virgin experiences the drink's unique flavor is usually a pretty awful experience—it sort of tastes like you're licking the rim of a gas tank while chewing on year-old black licorice. But once you acquire its taste, Malort is actually quite delightful.
In any case, it's good to see that Chicago's most iconic liqueur is getting exposure in one of the country's largest airports. Now the legend of Malort can be spread across the world. Whether that's a good or bad thing for the city is up for debate.