Wicker Park Drinks Make Summer's 'Must Try' Cut

If you're looking for a way to beat the heat, consider trying one of Chicago's "must-try" drinks, several of which local critics say are right here in Wicker Park.

RedEye Chicago recently published a list of "25 Drinks Every Chicagoan Should Try" in which it identifies milkshakes, margaritas and more warm-weather drinks to sip on this summer and beyond.

Local highlights included the dulce de leche licuado at Big Star, 1531 N. Damen Ave; Italian sodas at Cipollina, 1543 N. Damen Ave; aguas frescas at Antique Taco, 1360 N. Milwaukee Ave.; and the peanut butter and jelly martini at the Blue Line Lounge and Grill, 1548 N. Damen Ave.

The dulce de leche will run you $4 at Big Star and critics assert that it's the best milkshake in the neighborhood. 

Cipollina's sodas are just $2.75 a pop. They're "fizzy coolers made with locally produced Jo Snow syrups in creative combos such as grapefruit-rosemary, tangerine-lavender and hibiscus-basil-orange."

Agua frescas—or "fresh waters" in Spanish—at Antique Taco are $2.50 for a 12-ounce glass, $23 for a pitcher and extra if you want it spiked with vodka. The water is flavored with sugar, lemon juice and seasonal pureed fruit.

Blue Line's peanut butter and jelly martini may be $8 most days, but on Wednesdays, you can score it for $5.

"This might not sound like a flavor combination you’d want to consume in liquid form, but trust me on this one," writes RedEye taster Leonor Vivanco. "It’s frothy, sweet and quite like a PB&J."

Other honorable area mentions included the swirl margarita at Uncle Julio's in Old Town and the iced coffee at Bow Truss Coffee Roasters in Lake View.

Check out the full list here.

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