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Cocktails

Chicago Cocktail

Chicago Cocktail is a cocktail made with Lemon Wedge, Superfine Sugar, Brandy, and Fresh Lemon Juice. It is served in a Old-Fashioned Glass.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic23.3% ABV6 ingredients

At a Glance

373 kcalCalories
23.3%ABV
39.4gSugar
44.1gCarbs
1.95Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition. Some ingredient data may be approximate.

These nutrition figures are approximate estimates for this recipe — actual values vary with your exact measures, brands and serving size.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Advancedstirred drink

Why: 6 ingredients, stirred drink, requires rimmed glass, requires bar spoon

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  1. Rim chilled old-fashioned glass with lemon and sugar.Rim
  2. Stir remaining ingredients with ice and strain into glass.Stirred

How to Serve

Glass
Old-Fashioned Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Stirred
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Chicago Cocktail cold and taste the citrus balance before adding extra sugar. Fresh citrus usually makes the biggest difference. It is commonly matched with seafood, ceviche, salads style pairings.

Taste

What does Chicago Cocktail taste like?

Chicago Cocktail is bright and tart, with citrus carrying much of the first impression. Sweetness and dilution need to balance the sharpness.

Primary flavours

CitrusSweet

Supporting notes

TartAlmondCherryDry

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • High ABV
  • Noticeably sweet
  • Bright and citrusy

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Chicago Cocktail is right for you

Chicago Cocktail is best when you want brightness and a clean tart edge. Choose it if citrus balance matters more than richness, creaminess or heavy sweetness. The listed serve is about 21.8% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Chicago Cocktail if...

Skip Chicago Cocktail if tart citrus is not what you want. Sour-style drinks rely on acidity, so they can feel sharp when you are looking for richness or sweetness.

When to serve

  • Seafood DinnerSuggested from its lemon and citrus notes, pairing with ceviche and seafood.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

SeafoodCevicheSalads

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar
Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Superfine Sugar1.0 oz

Powdered SugarWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use carefully; powdered sugar can affect texture.
What changes
Powdered sugar can replace superfine sugar if it dissolves fully.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Simple SyrupWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use about 1/4 oz simple syrup per teaspoon of sugar as a starting point.
What changes
Simple syrup can replace sugar, but it also adds water and dissolves more easily.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Brandy2.0 oz

CognacWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount; taste before changing citrus or sweetener.
What changes
Cognac can replace generic brandy in a cocktail at the same measure; expect a more specific Cognac profile rather than a neutral brandy.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Fresh Lemon Juice0.75 oz

Lime JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Start with the same amount, then adjust sweetness if the drink tastes too sharp.
What changes
Lime juice can usually replace lemon juice, but the drink becomes sharper and more tropical.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Orange Curacao0.75 oz

Triple SecWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes
Triple sec can replace orange curaçao when a cleaner orange liqueur profile is acceptable.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Maraschino Liqueurto taste

MaraschinoGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount.
What changes
Maraschino can replace maraschino liqueur when the recipe uses it as a liqueur ingredient.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Chicago Cocktail at home?
Yes. The Chicago Cocktail uses 6 ingredients, making it more involved to prepare at home. You will need a Old-Fashioned Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.