I attended the grand opening of the new aloft Chicago O'Hare recently and got to sample firsthand some of the signature cocktails being served in w xyz, the boutique bar in the lobby of each aloft hotel. The bar features three house-infused liquors: blueberry vodka, bartlett pear rum and pineapple-chipotle tequila. The tequila wasn't ready on opening day, but I tried the other two; the vodka had a sweet-tart blueberry flavor that almost tasted like a well-made Cosmo just on its own. I preferred the rum, though — its crisp pear flavor was light and refreshing. Of the signature cocktails, the Watermelon Martini was dangerously smooth, while the Brown-Eyed Girl was just on the right side of super-sugary — though the rock-sugar swizzle stick might put some over the edge.
The bar is set at one end of the bright, multi-level lobby space, with comfortable seating, a pool table, free wifi and plenty of outlets to plug in your laptop while you unwind with a drink. And with an upscale Muvico movie theater right next door, w xyz bar is the perfect place for a cocktail and a snack before catching the latest blockbuster.
