[title]
Are you constantly reciting bits of Chicago trivia? Do you have the city's flag tattooed on your upper arm? Have you been bingeing Chicago Party Aunt with gusto? If you answered yes to any of these questions—or if you're otherwise a fan of all things Chicago—a new Chicago-inspired drinking game wants to put your knowledge to the test.
Designed by the local gift shop company Transit Tees, the Chicago Handshake Drinking Card Game schools players on all sorts of Chicago factoids, from architecture and history to food and drinking culture. To start, anywhere from two to 12 players grab a glass of their favorite liquor and flip through 104 cards marked with tasks and trivia-based drinking commands, like the Drag It Through The Garden card ("Choose another player to name all nine ingredients that comprise a Chicago Style Hot Dog. If they mess up, they must take 1 token and 1 shot") and Call Today! ("Everyone must sing the jingle to Chicago's favorite carpet company company"). Across the game's roughly hour-long duration, players might also be asked to put on their best Chicago accent, recall the meaning behind the stars on the Chicago flag and name local breweries—all while growing tipsier with each subsequent card.
Here's the real kicker: In addition to each person's drink, players must leave a Chicago Handshake—the classic combo of Jeppson's Malört and an Old Style tallboy—sitting at the center of the table. At the end of the game, whoever's assembled the most tokens has to down the Chicago Handshake (which might not be such a bad thing, depending on your drinking preferences). Shuffle and repeat as desired.
Ready to get your Chicago-themed drink on? You can snag a copy of the Chicago Handshake Drinking Card Game for $20 online, at Transit Tees locations in Andersonville (5226 N Clark St) and and Wicker Park (1371 N Milwaukee Ave) and at Garfield's Beverage locations throughout Chicago. The game doesn't come with Malört, unfortunately, but if you'd like the full package you can reserve a spot at the game's launch party at CH Distillery on November 8, where light bites, a cash bar and $4 Chicago Handshake deals will be offered. A standard reservation is free, but for $25–$110 you can grab a gift box containing the game, customized beer can glasses and Malört bottles of various sizes.
