Travel the Globe in A Glass

International sips to enjoy with us or at home

Looking to sip something new this holiday season? Discover wine and spirits that will transport you to far flung destinations, one glass at a time—no passport required! Lettuce’s top beverage pros share their curated picks for the bottles that will take your palate around the world.

Japanese Whisky at Sushi-san

Sushi-san has amassed what is likely the largest collection of Japanese whisky in the U.S., with a staggering 185 different expressions available. The extensive list includes both rare and approachable varieties, along with exclusives like FEW x Sushi-san Bottled in Bond 100 and Mars Komagatake San Edition Single Cask. The Omakase Room at Sushi-san offers tastes of rare Japanese whisky as part of its beverage pairings—click here to learn more. 

TRY IT AT SUSHI-SAN: Toki A.F. Old Fashioned
Suntory Toki, Nixta Liqueur, honey syrup, sakura green tea bitters

ADD IT TO YOUR HOME BAR: Mars Komagatake San Edition Single Cask ($200)
“We are the first restaurant in the U.S. to have a private bottling from the famed Mars Shinshu Distillery in Japan,” says Assistant General Manager Daniel Bennett. Snag a bottle of this elegant whisky—distilled in Nagano in the shadow of Mount Komagatake by Mars Shinshu, which is regarded for its craftsmanship in distilling as well as its use of interesting casks for aging—directly from Sushi-san.

Sushi-san also has an extensive list of sake by the glass. Click here for a lesson in sake 101!

Make a reservation at Sushi-san.

Italian Spirits at Tre Dita

The St. Regis Chicago Bar & Spirits Director Diane Corcoran delights in introducing guests to lesser-understood Italian spirits like amari, vermouth and grappa at Tre Dita and Bar Tre Dita. “I’m really having a vermouth moment this winter (all year actually), because it is so versatile,” she says. Get tips from Diane about how to enjoy Italian spirits at Bar Tre Dita.

TRY IT AT TRE DITA: Tre Martini
Piucinque Italian Gin, Contratto Bianco, Lorenzo Inga Gavi di Gavi Grappa, lemon

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Bordiga Rosso Vermouth di Torrino Sweet Vermouth ($34.99)
“This vermouth is wonderful as an aperitif, over ice with an orange twist, or made into a cocktail like a Manhattan or Negroni. A lot of baking spices, floral, and herbal notes make this perfect for the winter. Tip—keep it in the fridge once opened to preserve its flavor and quality.”

Try the recipe for Tre Dita’s Tre martini at home.

Make a reservation at Tre Dita. 

Rum at The Bamboo Room

Tucked inside acclaimed cocktail haven Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago’s River North, The Bamboo Room is home to a vast collection of rare and approachable rum, rhum agricole and Ron. Nearly every rum-producing country in the world is represented across the two bars’ more than 300 rums. Along with the inventive, award-winning cocktails, be sure to try one of the rum tasting flights, which offer a tasting tour of unconventional distilleries, independent bottlers and small-scale producers sourced during Beverage Director Kevin Beary’s travels to the Caribbean, Central and South American and more. Learn more about the newest cocktails at The Bamboo Room.

TRY IT AT THE BAMBOO ROOM: Ants on a Log
RL Seale 12 Barbados Rum, Vermouth, Madeira, Peanut, Celery, Raisons, Ants

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Three Dots Single Barrel Rum ($90)
“Our current single barrel is 100% pot still 17-year-old Fijian rum, finished in Japanese umeshu plum liqueur casks,” says lead bartender Tyler MacClellan. “This truly interesting and flavorful rum is a great gift for the rum connoisseur looking to add a new bottle to their home bar.” (Available for purchase at Three Dots and a Dash.)

Make a reservation at The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash.

Tequila at RPM Seafood

RPM Restaurants Beverage Director Ben Lieppman says that unadulterated quality is of utmost importance when it comes to tequila. “For people who don’t drink tequila, it’s often because they swore it off after a moment in their younger lives when they drank too much Jose Cuervo Gold or an adjacent tequila of poor quality that has tons of additives.” But, when you find the right craft producer, he says, “Tequila sips wonderfully and you can drink it year round—when it’s hot, when it’s cold, during the day, or late into the evening. Drink it to celebrate, or just when you need to wind down.” Eager to learn more about wine, too? Check out the RPM Sommelier Tasting Experience at RPM Seafood. 

TRY IT AT RPM RESTAURANTS: A Jalisco Affair
Arette “Suave” Reposado, RPM Single Barrel, Del Maguey Iberico, Roasted Pineapple & Habanero, L’Aperitivo Nonino, Lime

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: El Tesoro Reposado RPM Single Barrel ($95)
According to Lieppman, “Tequila is a spirit that is heavily influenced by the land it comes from. In the [Jalisco] Valley, the tequilas are mineral driven, clean, and crisp, and in the highlands, in the eastern part of Jalisco, they take on verdant and fruity qualities. That region is home to the lion’s share of newer artisanal labels. Two brothers, Felipe and Carlos Camarena, run three different distilleries that produce some of my favorite tequilas that are readily available. El Tesoro, Tequila Ocho, G4, Volans, and Terralta are all incredible in their own right.”

Get the recipe for RPM Seafood’s A Jalisco Affair. 

Make a reservation at RPM Seafood. 

Ancient Civilization Wine & Spirits at Aba

Mediterranean favorite Aba (Austin, Chicago, Miami) offers wine sourced from regions along the ancient trade routes of Phoenicia, including Morocco, Israel, Lebanon, Greece and Cyprus—the vineyards of Chateau Musar, which features prominently on Aba’s wine list, grow in an area of Lebanon that is said to have started its winemaking more than 6,000 years ago—and spirits like single estate rye vodka from an ancient hardwood forest in western Poland.

TRY IT AT ABA – AUSTIN: Ancient Oak Espresso Martini
Belvedere “Smogory Forest” single estate rye vodka, St. George NOLA coffee liqueur, Beatrix Coffee Roasters “Voyager” Espresso, demerara

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Chateau Musar “Jeune Rouge”, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2021 ($76)
According to Aba Head Sommelier John C. Slatter, “This wine from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, made from a blend of Cinsault, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, is bold and full bodied with notes of blackberry and cedar, and a perfect pairing for any holiday main course.”

Get the recipe for Aba’s Ancient Oak Espresso Martini.

Make a reservation at the Aba location nearest you.

Bourbon at Bub City

When nothing but some good old-fashioned American bourbon will do, head to Bub City in River North or Rosemont to sip the best bourbons available paired with BBQ favorites like 18-Hour Smoked Prime Brisket, Award-Winning Chicken Wings and Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. Learn more about bourbon and BBQ pairings at Bub City. 

TRY IT AT BUB CITY: The Best Damn Old Fashioned
Barrel Craft BP Bourbon, maple syrup, vanilla bark bitters

BEST BOTTLE FOR YOUR HOME BAR: Weller Antique 107 ($175)
Bub City Partner Eric Rose says: “This single barrel selection is non chill filtered and provides the perfect balance between flavor and proof!”

Make a reservation at Bub City – River North | Make a reservation at Bub City – Rosemont

California Wine at The Oakville Grill & Cellar

If your palate favors wine over spirits, look no further than The Oakville Grill & Cellar, where the list of nearly 1,000 exclusively California-sourced wine will whisk you away to a coastal vineyards with one sip. Along with refreshing wine-based cocktails like the 1996 Spritzer and Pearloma, The Cellar Door replicates the experience of a Napa Valley wine tasting room, right inside The Oakville, no plane ticket necessary! Explore more recommendations for wines to bring to the holiday table.

TRY IT AT THE OAKVILLE: Pearloma
Del Amigo Mezcal, Pear Cordial, Tatomer Riesling, Pompelmo

BEST BOTTLE TO BRING HOME: The Oakville Holiday Wine Box ($165), includes three bottles—Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon, Corison Corazón Riesling, and Ink Grade Andosol Red Blend—curated by The Oakville sommeliers. Click here to order now for holiday gifting!

Make a reservation at The Oakville Grill & Cellar 

Also check out Antico Posto’s Holiday Vino 3-Pack to give the gift of Italian wines!