The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

> It is also, in five words, the unofficial liquor of Chicago

No, it's a meme that hipsters have somehow latched onto because the Chicago aesthetic seems to be popular now.

If a native Chicagoan tells you that you have to have a shot of Malort when you're at the bar because it's the "unofficial liquor of Chicago" - they're pulling a prank. It's somehow lasted a century as a prank you pull on your buddies who don't drink that often.

If it's lasted a century as a prank Chicagoans play on people, it sounds like it is in fact a cultural touchstone.

I live in the Chicago suburbs now and used to live in Chicago. Taking shots of Malört in bars is indeed a rite of passage for tourists, but yeah, it's a foul-tasting shot.

Democratic Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was recorded sharing shots of Malört with visiting politicians during the week of the Democratic National Convention. I enjoyed looking at the reaction of the visiting politicians after they drank it.

I've seen it used more often as an initiation if someone has recently moved to Chicago. You welcome them to the city with a "Chicago Handshake" which is Old Style beer and a shot of Malort.

Yes, this, exactly.

The most annoying part of Malort discourse is that it’s changed since it was purchased by CH and isn’t nearly as strong.

It was never a good product. It's a bad product that people drink as a stunt or a prank.

Agreed. It’s just gross. However the part that gets me is it’s not even as gross as it used to be before it became “cool”.

Pritzker is a rich guy who grew up in California and Massachusetts, so in Chicago he's an absolutely typical Malort drinker. It's become a big part of pretending to be local.

First a hipster meme and then a forced meme by the makers to capitalize on it.