Free drinks, River North and Lakeview

Cityscape Bar in River North hosts a free wine tasting, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, and a free Scotch tasting, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22. Details.

During the "I Love Cover Bands" fest in Lakeview ($5 cover), Absolut will host a free cocktail reception from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, followed by the Absolut Best Bartender Competition: Get free samples of tiki cocktails created by 10 local bartenders and vote on your favorite. Details.

Dewar's seems to be stepping up the marketing lately...we were approached by a Dewar's rep at District Bar on Friday, offered "samples" (a.k.a. a solid four fingers) of 18-year, and encouraged to find him if we wanted refills (unnecessary, after the gigantic pours he gave us the first time).

He mentioned that he'd be doing a lot of tastings all over town in the coming weeks.