Chicago is a city known for its dazzling array of bars, clubs and taverns, but visitors to this week’s DNC will in all likelihood be offered a very specific drink, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker warmly supports the idea.
That drink is, of course, Jeppson’s Wormwood, which has become famous or infamous for its intense aftertaste and part of the famous “Chicago Handshake”, along with Old Style beer.
Pritzker has been a proponent of Malört for some time, and he proclaimed it the DNC’s “unofficial shot” this weekend.
During an interview with MSNBC host Jen Psaki, Pritzker described Wormwood as a drink that tests the “strength” of the person who consumes it.
“If you come to Chicago, every Chicagoan knows you have to take a shot of Wormwood,” he said. “This is a liquor Chicagoans take. I’m not saying it’s the best spirit. I’m just saying it’s the one if you want to prove your mettle.”
Calling it “not the best tasting” is probably being charitable, but Chicagoans have certainly taken a certain sense of pride in the drink, which was introduced by Jeppson’s in the 1930s. Earlier this year, Noon Whistle Brewing offered cicada-infused Wormwood shots, but was recently fined by the state of Illinois for the offering.
Other bars have offered Wormwood infusions with everything from candy canes to Chicago-style pizza.