Acadia's Amnesiac cocktail of yellow chartreuse, Amaro, orange bitters, osmanthus tea soda and house-made Absinthe ice cubes. (Photo: Michael Simon)
Acadia, the long-awaited project from acclaimed chef Ryan McCaskey, opens Dec. 21 in the South Loop.
During Wednesday's sneak preview of his whimsical, yet sophisticated take on items like lobster rolls, house-made salt-and-vinegar potato chips, and miniature S'mores, I also got a comprehensive sampling of bar director Michael Simon's cocktails. The drinks are equally whimsical, taking a cue from classic cocktails not typically found in most restaurants.
Simon's even gone so far as to add his own offbeat elements to these cocktails, from absinthe-infused and coconut-and-dill ice cubes to house-made tomatilla agave syrup and edible violets.
Here is Simon's opening menu: