In a world where technology dominates our every sinew, it has become near impossible to enjoy an expensive cocktail in one of Chicago’s finest luxury bars without a Virtual Reality (VR) headset strapped to your face. But the directors at Baptiste & Bottle (B&B) at Conrad Chicago hotel promise an immersive experience that’s worth the $95 you’ll pay for a round. The Macallan Rare Journey cocktail experience is so much more than just a glass of cocktail and a VR headset.
Upon placing an order, patrons are first handed an acorn (it’ll make sense in just a bit). Then, the server wheels in a cart loaded with the most absurd paraphernalia: a box layered with moss and vegetation, dry ice, the VR headset, and the ingredients of the cocktail — Bodegas Tradición 30-year Oloroso sherry and Macallan Rare Cask scotch. The acorn is placed on the ‘forest floor’ and water is poured over the dry ice. Lo and behold, an atmosphere of fog and mystique.
The patron then straps the headset on and enters a world of her own before so much as a drop of alcohol has entered her system. She will go through forests, sherry bodegas, vineyards, and beaches, free to ‘roam’ and ‘explore’ — all while the server blends the cocktail to sommelier perfection. Once the four-minute joyride through the origins of the drink has ended, the patron is free to take the headset off and sip at the glass which is ensconced in the middle of the fog and forest.
The good people at B&B claim the journey aims to cover all the sensory experiences while indulging in the finest wine and whisky. The idea is that you know where your drink came from and how it got to your glass before your first taste.
So, if you happen to be in downtown Chicago and have $95 to spend on a round of fancy booze, why not?