Meet the finalists of Time Out Chicago’s 2018 Bar Awards

Chicago has no shortage of excellent watering holes, from sophisticated cocktail bars to laid-back dives to some of the greatest whiskey joints around. No matter what your go-to drink is, we're willing to bet there's a Chicago bartender who can whip up the best version you've ever tasted. We're celebrating the city's top establishments—as well as the people and beverages behind them—at the third annual Time Out Chicago Bar Awards, where we'll honor the very best in the industry. But before that, we're releasing the five finalists for each category, which our panel of expert judges deliberated on and nominated.

Up next: Our panelists will reconvene to make the toughest decisions yet: The winners will be featured in our summer magazine, out June 13. Until then, raise a glass to our powerhouse lineup of finalists for the Time Out Chicago 2018 Bar Awards. 

RECOMMENDED: Our full guide to Time Out Chicago's Bar Awards

Bar of the Year: Sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin

Lost Lake
Sportsman’s Club
The Whistler
The Drifter
Scofflaw

Best Legacy Bar: Sponsored by Monkey Shoulder

Delilah’s
The Green Mill
The Violet Hour
Matchbox
Miller’s Pub

Best Wine Bar: Sponsored by Segura Viudas IO

Rootstock
Red & White Wine Bar
Webster’s Wine Bar
Income Tax
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar

Best New Bar

Ludlow Liquors
Golden Teardrops
Prairie School
Waydown
Sleeping Village

Best Dive Bar

Richard's Bar
Rossi’s
Rainbo Club
Old Town Ale House
Whirlaway Lounge

Most Creative Drinks List

The Aviary
The Drifter
Prairie School
Lost Lake
The Ladies’ Room

Best Bar-Restaurant Program

Oriole
Monteverde
Proxi
Bad Hunter
Bar Biscay

Best Crew

Best Intentions
Sportsman’s Club
The Broken Shaker
Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar
Disco

Most Stylish Bar

Beatnik
Vol. 39
Prairie School
Sparrow
Golden Teardrops

Best Specialty Bar

Lost Lake
Todos Santos
The Northman
Billy Sunday
Twisted Spoke

Best Cocktail in Chicago

Prickly Pear at Estereo 
Frozen Piña Colada at the Moonlighter 
Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch at Maple & Ash
Gin Martini at Best Intentions
Topo Amiercano at Bad Hunter

Sexiest Cocktail in Chicago

Peach Better Have My Honey at the Aviary 
Silly Rabbit at the Sixth
Highball at Prairie School
Spanish Gin and Tonic at Cindy's
To the Point at Bellemore

2018 panelists