Mezcaleria las Flores – A Night in Mexico Thrives in Chicago
It’s Saturday night in Chicago, and you have to hit up a bar before you go to that concert you’ve been waiting all month for. Maybe you need a new spot to add to your weekend bar crawl, or maybe you just happen to really know your Mexican spirits. Enter: Mezcaleria las Flores. One of the rare Chicago bars specializing in fine Mezcal and Tequila, Mezcaleria la Flores is the newest trend-setting locations centered in Logan Square.
Myself and a date were invited to Mezcaleria las Flores’ media event to test the bartenders’ mixology skills and to give you all the details of some of the most layered and intricate drinks we’ve ever had. The interior of Mezcaleria las Flores really set the feel for the type of night we’d have, once we entered the bar. Bright blue walls immediately caught our eye, followed by the slightly eclectic décor of Mexican tapestry, hanging plant-life and various pottery and wall-hangings. The focal point of the cozy bar was certainly the floor-to-ceiling bar display, featuring, of course, all the tequila and mezcal we’d be sampling that evening.
The first drink we sampled was the Shook Ones Pt 1, which was composed of Del Maguey Mezcal Vida, Kailani Coconut, Fresh Lemon and St. George Absinth. The clay cup it was served in was rimmed with Cacao Nibs and Sesame Seeds. While very interesting to drink, the flavor that stood out the most was the rim of cacao and sesame, which left a very dark flavor compared to the intensity of the liquors.
Our next drink was the Basedworld Paradise: a DIY Victoria Beer glass filled with Mayalen Wild Cupreata, Victoria Beer, Pineapple, Lemongrass, Dolin Genepy and Fresh Lime. This glass had a Chile Tajin rim and an Aloe garnish. If one word could describe this drink, we’d pick “natural”. Although the drink isn’t necessarily “earthy”, the fresh flavors of lemongrass and aloe really are the stars of this drink.
The final drink served was called Five Unlucky Days. Served as a shot, I personally felt this was definitely a sipping drink! One shot is made up of Cimarron Tequila Reposado, Landy VS Cognac, La Gitana Manzanilla Sherry, CH Fernet, and Nutmeg Oil. There were a lot of components and alcohols in this drink that, if you so choose, you can really take the time to sip on and identify.
Mezcaleria las Flores is a bar that really focuses on presentation along with its alcohol choices. Each drink is expertly mixed in a way so you can happily enjoy your tequila and mezcal, but also take the time to discover a new flavor every time you take a drink. Each aspect (liquor, flavoring and garnish) is there to complement one another and create an experience. The presentations really bring the experiences full circle.
You may have noticed no food was mentioned. But don’t you fret! Although Mezcaleria las Flores offers Churros to snack on, the business is good friends with its neighbor, Johnny’s Grill. If you have the drunk munchies after a few drinks, the cooks over at Johnny’s Grill are happy to send a burger over your way! Now that’s what I call good business!
If you like group outings, memorable atmospheres and discussing your drinks, I highly suggest Mezcaleria las Flores. Skip the airplane, and spend a night in Mexico right in Logan Square!
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