Featured Cocktail of the Week: Bottle Rocket’s Rock Dove
This week’s featured cocktail of the week takes us to rotating pop up bar space, Bottle Rocket.
Surf Bar was the first, the one that was supposed to become a new mainstay on Milwaukee avenue in Logan Square. But after an uninspiring opening reception, Emporium Bar and Arcade (the braintrust behind Surf Bar) knew they had to change something.
What they’ve managed to do is to flip a failed concept into a revolving door of original drinks, themes, and vibes every time a new bar rotates in. After Surf Bar there was Branca Bar (an ode to popular liqueur Fernet Branca), Pipedream (a successful Pipeworks brewery tap takeover), and now Bottle Rocket.
Bottle Rocket has brought its own style and drink menu including this weeks featured cocktail- the Rock Dove.
Let’s be honest, the coolest thing about the cocktail is the paleta in it. The paleta pops out of the cocktail influencing the drink to portray a yellowish hue.
The drink itself is built for summer. Consisting of a tequila base, lime citrus, orange blossom liqueur, and grapefruit, it features a great balance.
The bitterness of the grapefruit and lime are accompanied seamlessly by the soft and floral taste of the orange blossom liqueur. The end product is a drink that is great for sipping on, lending itself to the sweeter side, but not wholly.
Maybe the best part of the Rock Dove though, is biting into the paleta, soaked in liquor. You may never look at paletas the same.
Along with a coconut paleta drink, a slew of frozen drinks, draft cocktails, and a local beer list (including $4 Old Style), Bottle Rocket has created an excellent summer drink list.
Bottle Rocket has also nailed the concept and bar vibe. Its block party theme is executed flawlessly. Plastered with Chicago street signs, No Parking signs and telephone poles, they’ve truly made it feel like you are at one giant party on the street.
The space is filled by that yellow/orangish glow you get from the streetlights on the highway and all throughout Chicago. Old Style signs and Vienna Beef signs and neons are found on almost every wall inside the bar. Not only are Vienna Beefs signs posted everywhere, but hot dogs and Polish sausages are also sold inside Bottle Rocket; a fantastic late night bite.
Enforcing the idea of an outdoor block party even more is the game of bags (or cornhole), which is set up on artificial grass and surrounded by a small fence. With no official list, all that’s needed to play is a simple “who got next?”
Bottle Rocket will employ the spot and serve up hot dogs, paletas, and outdoor party vibes all through July.
