Behind The Bar At Best Intentions

While most upscale bars menus are filled with complicated cocktails made with hard-to-place ingredients, Logan Square's Best Intentions takes more of a no-fuss approach to concocting drinks.

That's not to say its boozy beverage list is anything less than impressive, though. The bar's manager Andrew Prazich says his simplistic-yet-memorable libations are eye-catching and flavorful — without the unnecessary frills.

"We don’t use fancy equipment or loads of hard-to-pronounce things, but we believe we’re still able to make stunning cocktails that hold up to any other bar that’s striving for greatness," he says.

According to Prazich, the popular industry haunt is considered "damn near famous" for its signature Wondermint Malted (which still sounds pretty extravagant if you ask us!). "It’s a malted milkshake cocktail with Death’s Door Wondermint, Broker’s London Dry gin, and Luxardo Angioletto, a hazelnut liqueur,"he explains.

But Best Intentions' cocktail roster isn't the only thing drawing in locals and tourists alike. It also has an enticing atmosphere that ranges from relaxed to all-out dance party, and it's filled to the brim with unique mementos and ornate decor.

"Combining the wood paneling with family heirlooms, random kitschy keepsakes and an amazing sound system inspires mandatory fun," says Prazich.

Luckily, we were able to score not one but two delectable cocktail recipes from behind the bar at Best Intentions. Recreate them at home this weekend, or head to the Logan Square bar to have the experts mix one up for you:

AB Negative

"The AB Negative has been and will always be on our cocktail list since it’s an angostura based cocktail and it’s just plain sexy," says Prazich.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Angostura bitters
• 1 oz. Barenjager
• 1 oz. Todd Appel’s Lemon Cordial
• 1 oz. green tea

Directions: Shake. Strain into Hollow Stemmed Coup (from your parents wedding). No garnish necessary.

The Last Nerd

"The Last Nerd is an original by me on our current list and I think it fits with concept of the bar so well," says Prazich. "It’s just a simple build in the glass, no stirring or shaking garnished with two olives."

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Driftless Glen 5 year brandy
• .5 oz. Luxardo Marashino
• .25 oz. green chartreuse

Directions: Fill Rocks Glass with ice. Express oil from peel of lemon on ice. Add ingredients. Garnish with 2 olives on a fancy cocktail sword.

Image Credits: Best Intentions