The best whiskey bars in Chicago

This Lincoln Park rock & roll mainstay is known for its killer jukeboxes, music movies and concert films on the TVs and an insane whiskey collection—more than 800 varieties of bourbon, rye and Scotch whiskeys from 15 different countries, plus a few of Delilah’s own bottlings you won’t find anywhere else.

This massive underground lounge is unmarked on the outside, but makes quite the mark with its "whiskey library," where the shelves are stacked with hundreds of mostly-American varieties. Untitled claims it has the largest selection of American whiskeys in the world.

Longman’s whiskey shelves are deep: more than hundreds of varieties, ranging from everyday accessibility (options start at $3 a shot) to wildly indulgent (the bar’s rare bourbon collection offers decades-old vintages of classic brands). Need help deciding? Try one of the thoughtfully arranged whiskey flights.

Serious drinkers have never had much reason to frequent Wrigleyville until Matthias Merges opened this restaurant and bourbon bar across the street from the Friendly Confines in 2018. The shelves are stocked with countless vintage releases and for those willing to open their wallets, there are several bottles of Pappy van Winkle on offer, too. The cocktail program is also fantastic—headlined by the Three Finger Old Fashioned featuring Mordecai’s house bourbon.

This West Town standby is decked out like a biker bar, but several other B’s make it a roadhouse of choice for many patrons: burgers, beers, Bloody Marys, brunch and bourbon. On the spirit front, the Spoke aims to stock “the best selection of whiskeys in Chicago,” and they make a good case for it: There are over 500 well-chosen bottles from which to pick—and every Wednesday, they’re half-priced.

Pristine pieces of sushi are usually the first things that come to mind when thinking about this buzzy spot from Lettuce Entertain You. But for fans of Japanese whisky, Sushi-san’s impressive collection of malts and blends are what bring them here. Sidle up to the bar and look through the expansive menu to find pours from popular producers like Suntory and Nikka, as well as some rare options. And order up some maki rolls or sizzling skewers to pair with your spirit.

The Acme Hotel’s bar wears its whiskey love on its sleeve—er, walls. Check out the barrel-stave panels lining the snug side rooms while you sip on a Toki highball. Prefer your whiskey straight? There’s a wide selection of today’s finest, or you can drop three figures on a pour from the antique Scotch list, like a 35-year-old bottle of the Dalmore ($760).

This Irish-ish pub is an Andersonville favorite, with its vaguely literary theme (its namesake was an early-20th-century Irish playwright) a vast improvement over the shamrocks-and-shillelaghs joints on other stretches of Clark Street. An impressive beer list and menu of Irish comfort foods is bolstered by a strong whiskey list.

With hundreds of bottles to choose from, Rebel & Rye—named after the whiskey rebellion of 1794—can be an overwhelming experience. Fortunately, the able staff at this Southern-themed bar are more than happy to make recommendations for every palate and budget. American distilleries are the focus so expect plenty of bourbon and rye.

When the weather’s nice, there are few places better to sip on bourbon, rye or scotch than Whiskey Business. That’s because in addition to having over 100 varieties of whiskeys, it also sports a spacious 3,000-square-feet rooftop. So grab some friends and head over to this Wicker Park hangout for a fun and nostalgia-driven time.

At this cozy Celtic ale house in Lakeview, you can hang out on the serene outdoor patio, eating fish-and-chips and sampling your way down a lengthy list of single malt Scotches. Don’t know your Lagavulin from your Bunnahabhain? The knowledgable staff will steer you to something you’ll love.

Japanese steakhouse and sushi restaurant Roka Akor took over the space next to its River North location and transformed it into a concept that pays tribute to the Macallan. The heart of the experience is the M Room’s tasting menu, which highlights the flavors and ingredients used in the Scotch-making process, plus complementary beverage pairings. But there’s also an a la carte selection of expensive and hard-to-find bottles, including pours from the M Collection and Fine & Rare Collection.

We appreciate a place where you can stroll in for either a cup of Joe or a whiskey neat. At this eclectic all-day bar and coffee shop, folks can treat themselves to pours from reserve bottles or barrel-aged old fashioneds and Manhattans. And if money is no object, spring for a flight of Pappy Van Winkle. Something to note—due to its location in the downtown area, Slightly Toasted is only open on weekdays.

There’s more packing the patio at this Wicker Park favorite than micheladas and tacos al pastor. Big Star has been serious about whiskey since it opened in 2009. These days, its team makes regular visits to Kentucky to find picks for its single-barrel program, and the restaurant also maintains a reserve list of rare bottles. And you can still get $4 pours of the shot of the day.

Neither arcade bar nor gay bar are necessarily categories where you’d expect to find well-tended whiskey lists. But the Boystown outpost of the local arcade-bar empire distinguishes itself from its slushie-slinging Halsted Street neighbors with a respectable selection of whiskeys including modern small-batch bourbons like Blanton’s Single Barrel and Noah’s Mill.