Malort Heads East With Their Reign Of Beverage Terror

By Lisa White in Food on Feb 6, 2014 4:10PM

Photo by Sarah Freeman.

First, puckering the palates of Chicagoans, next, the world! Malort, the de facto city of Chicago spirit, has horrified unsuspecting drinkers for many years across town. A friend comes to visit, you meet a recent transplant at a bar and drop the word Malort. If their response is “what’s that” you buy them a shot and get ready to snap a photo of their “Malort face” in action. It’s a time honored tradition for many in the city.

The past few years Malort has gotten a big boost in popularity thanks to the numerous delicious cocktails now utilizing the beverage. Things have gotten a bit more out of hand recently, with the addition of craft Malort brands, Malort pizza. Now Malort is taking their domination of taste outside our fair city, garnering a pretty big writeup in the Washington Post who claims Malort is the "buzziest spirit in Washington."

Of course some Midwest expats got the party started at Ivy & Coney, a a "tavern inspired by the Midwest's neighborhood watering holes." Or as we like to call it, the bar. Two of the owners are Chicago natives and realized they couldn't truly be authentic if Malort wasn't on their shelf. They ordered a case for the bar's December opening. That infectious liquor must have caught on quick, as the Post points out that a handful of DC spots are now showcasing Malort on their cocktail menu, including one drink inspired by the Hard Sell at Chicago's own Bar Deville. Looks like we'll have to send our friends at DCist a bottle and welcome them into the Malord fold.