Oh! That looks familiar! Thanks for posting a link to the pic.

I was at The Whistler on Friday night and ordered my girlfriend a couple of excellent Dark and Stormys made with Barritt's (not on the drink menu, but no problem for these bartenders*). Very nice ginger bite; I'll have to look for it the next time I'm at Sam's.


*Coincidentally, a friend had just been to the new De Ville bar at the corner of Damen and Huron. I haven't been so I won't pass judgment, but he related that the bartender had to ask her colleague what comprised a Manhattan, and then haughtily informed him that they "don't do cherries."


The Whistler
2421 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773-227-3530

Bar Deville
701 N. Damen Ave
312-929-2349

I'm currently finishing off an "Authentic Bermuda Stone" Regatta ginger beer that I picked up at University Market in Hyde Park. A pretty sad specimen---very muted ginger taste, with a few fruit notes on the finish. I guess it's not that bad, but I wish I'd gotten the Reeds instead. The most distinguishing characteristic is that it looks vaguely counterfeit, like the labels were printed on an inkjet.

This ginger beer has already been mentioned in this thread, but I will say that my current favorite ginger beer is Bundaberg, of Australia. Available at cost plus and other places. It's sort of the opposite of Reed's (my old favorite), in that it's cloudy and less crisp. Give it a shot if you haven't. Cost Plus has 4packs for about $6.

I've had excellent Ginger Beer cocktails at Vong's Thai Kitchen, Sepia has an amazing 'dark and stormy' with a port float, the Violet Hour has a great one as well, and The Whistler uses it with tequila and creme de cassis in its 'diablo'. you could probably call any of those spots and ask where they get it, or where their supplier does.

world market would work, as someone else said, and possibly Asian and Caribbean markets

I must revise my previous posting re: Barritt's now that I've gotten around to making some Dark & Stormys with it. I'm very disappointed. I don't know if the folks at the Whistler were using a rum other than Gosling's or if they added some additional acidic ingredient, but this drink just did not work coming from my own bar. Unpalatably sweet, with no bite whatsoever---like a fizzy glass of butterscotch. It worked a little better in a Moscow Mule, but I might as well have been using Canada Dry. Bleh.

I tried Ginger Beer a little while ago at P.F. Chang's and it was wonderful! I can't believe I hadn't noticed this thread until now. Thanks everyone for the recommendations - glad to see others enjoy it as much as I do (the people I was with hated it ).

so the whistler was mentioned, and the violet hour makes a ginger syrup for their beers. I know the charlie's ale house in andersonville has ginger beer on the menu, other than that, does any bar stock ginger beer as a regular mixing ingredient?

The Bristol makes a Dark and Stormy, but I don't know if they use Ginger Beer or one of those ersatz/homemade versions.

d4v3 wrote:For a proper Moscow Mule, you need Cock 'n Bull ginger beer. Apparently, somebody is making it again. You also need to serve the drink in copper mugs so it stays icy cold. Years ago, there was a bar and canoe rental place on the Fox River that made Moscow Mules with Cock 'n Bull and served them in real vintage copper mugs. I'll call a friend and ask for details....

According to my friend, the place still exists, and still makes real Moscow Mules (still, I would call first to make sure). The address is in Ottawa, but it is actually just outside of Wedron (north along the river from Ottawa).

Chet & Mary's Fox River Tavern
3401 E 2062nd Rd
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 434-6690

Here is a link to a recent WSJ article about the history of the drink.

This place appears to be called Chet's Tavern, guess Mary is no longer around.

Anyone been recently?

After this winter, I'm picturing driving out to Ottawa on a warm spring day to enjoy a well made Moscow Mule.

Is Che

Sweet Willie wrote:

d4v3 wrote:For a proper Moscow Mule, you need Cock 'n Bull ginger beer. Apparently, somebody is making it again. You also need to serve the drink in copper mugs so it stays icy cold. Years ago, there was a bar and canoe rental place on the Fox River that made Moscow Mules with Cock 'n Bull and served them in real vintage copper mugs. I'll call a friend and ask for details....

According to my friend, the place still exists, and still makes real Moscow Mules (still, I would call first to make sure). The address is in Ottawa, but it is actually just outside of Wedron (north along the river from Ottawa).

Chet & Mary's Fox River Tavern
3401 E 2062nd Rd
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 434-6690

Here is a link to a recent WSJ article about the history of the drink.

This place appears to be called Chet's Tavern, guess Mary is no longer around.

Anyone been recently?

After this winter, I'm picturing driving out to Ottawa on a warm spring day to enjoy a well made Moscow Mule.

Apparently, their canoe rental business is still called C&M canoe rentals. I will ask my friend, who makes an annual pilgrimage to Wedron for a day of canoeing and Moscow Mules, if they still serve a proper Mule. C&M will rent you a canoe and set you up with the necessary food and beverages. It sounds like a great way to spend a day. I am sure, though, that the water level in the Fox River will be pretty high this spring from all the snow melt.
EDIT:
I spoke with my friend who said that as of last Autumn (2013), Chet and Mary's was still in business. Despite the name, it is actually owned by a couple named Roger and Debbie, who, it seems, have done major renovations on the tavern. My friend booked a river trip with them for about a dozen people. I understand that the trip consists of floating 7, 12 or 21 miles downstream, so the current does most of the work for you. You are dropped off with a canoe upstream, then just float back down to the tavern where you can enjoy a Moscow Mule in a vintage copper mug. This might make a good LTH event, topped off with dinner at The Cajun Connection.

d4v3 thanks for the info!

I recent;y had my 1st Moscow Mule at Ward 28. They serve it in a copper mug. It was delish!

knitgirl wrote:I recent;y had my 1st Moscow Mule at Ward 28. They serve it in a copper mug. It was delish!

Awesome! Do you mean Ward 8 in Evanston?

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

knitgirl wrote:I recent;y had my 1st Moscow Mule at Ward 28. They serve it in a copper mug. It was delish!

Awesome! Do you mean Ward 8 in Evanston?

=R=

yep! My typing skills aren't the best