You know how much I love coffee and you know how much I love bourbon! Which is probably why I love going to Starbucks Reserve Roasteries. These aren’t just your regular ol’ Starbucks. Starbucks Reserve Roasteries and coffee bars have exclusive roasts and blends, plus exclusive drinks. You may see smaller Starbucks Reserve here and there in the Bay Area, but they don’t serve alcohol. You have to check out the bigger roasteries which serve alcohol and also tons and tons of pastries and food. I’ve been to the one in Seattle and I recently went to the one in Chicago, which happens to be the biggest Starbucks in the world.

Besides the unique coffee drinks, you can also have the same experience at their experiential cocktail bars. One of my favorite kinds of cocktails are, of course, the ones that have coffee! Starbucks has recently come out with their first ever barrel-aged coffee and it is SO good. I had it as a cold brew and it’s like having bourbon on the rocks, but it’s 8am and you’re in the office and you’re okay because you’re having caffeine and not liquor.

One of my favorite experiences at the Chicago roastery were the comparison flights. You can try the barrel-aged cold brew and/or Irish con crema alongside a shot of Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey on the rocks. And duh, I had to try both! It was really nice to enjoy the coffee itself and then tasting the inspiration with it. I highly recommend coming here and gong straight to the fourth floor to make a reservation at the cocktail bar. I know it’s hard because you want to experience all the other floors, BUT TRUST ME. They’ll text you when your spot is ready so you’ll be able to walk around and shop the merch and get some food.

This is just one of the many things you can do at Chicago’s Starbucks Reserve. I can honestly just live inside here and drink coffee and eat those pastries for the rest of my life. It’s a highly recommended spot for a trip to Chicago. For the locals, the line has died down so come thruuuuuu!