Lincoln Whiskey Kitchen

WHAT: Lincoln Whiskey Kitchen
WHERE: 930 N. Meacham Rd. (Schaumburg)

OUR RATING: Chance It! (If you’re near).

Lincoln Whiskey Kitchen (LWK) is definitely out of our normal range. Located in Schaumburg, its a 40 minute drive from the city (right next door to Woodfield Mall), but we thought we’d branch out a little and give you a taste of suburban style. A restaurant with a decidedly southern feel they, obviously, specialize is whiskey and foods prepared with it, so be ready to try some dishes that are explicitly labeled as alcoholic and definitely grilled. We arrived there early to experience a special prohibition-style dinner, complete with whiskey pairings.

LWK

Adam: Designed in a homestyle, leathered manner, LWK is heavy on wood and worn upholstery. Perfectly complemented by the numerous barrels along the far wall, you become part of the whiskey story, experiencing a pleasant evening in an interesting space. Definitely aim on getting a booth, as they are both intimate and comfortable.

Alicia: What I really didn’t understand about this place was their music selection. You’d think a whiskey joint would have a little more class than playing Top 40’s, especially on a night with a special prohibition 1920s style dinner. It really took me off my game, but luckily it wasn’t too loud to completely overwhelm our experience, and I was able to tune it out for a majority of the evening, especially with the intimate nature of our booth.

The Whiskey

Adam:

Jack Daniel’s Unaged Rye: Well, this is a strange drink. Completely clear, as it has never touched the inside of a barrel, this single malt whiskey packs a punch. Light, easy going and with a honeyish bouquet, only 600 cases have been produced in Illinois alone and at 72% rye content, it’s touted as something special. I was not as impressed. The complexity of whiskey is based upon its aging process, and unaged whiskey might as well be moonshine, which I can obviously find elsewhere.

LWK Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel: Specially produced for LWK, this 90-proof whiskey is delectable and highly interesting. With vanilla and brown sugar notes, it’s the whiskey to drink if you are a serious whiskey fan, or just someone getting into whiskey. If you only order one glass in the evening you visit, try this and you’re sure not to be disappointed.

Alicia:

Gentleman Jack: I’m sure most of you are aware of this particular offering from Jack Daniel’s. According to their brand ambassador, the “ladies are getting into this drink.” Well, it’s just fine, but I like my whiskey a bit stronger, honestly. At 80-proof it does pack some power, and is definitely very smooth and silky, with notes of fruit and spices. Apparently Gentlemen Jack is the only whiskey in the world to be charcoal mellowed twice, leading to its superior smoothness.

Tennessee Honey: This subtle whiskey is a blend of their Tennessee Whiskey and a unique honey liqueur of their own making, with obvious hints of honey and a smooth finish. Ultimately, however, this one is a little too sweet and the liqueur unfortunately far outweighs the whiskey.

The Food (with more whiskey)

Adam: It was clear: I was going to have a job on my hands. Not only was it a four course meal, but each course had whiskey in it or next to it (and when this place says whiskey is in a meal, they mean that raw, uncooked whiskey is in the meal).

To start the evening, Whiskey Wild Mushroom Soup, the house speciality, was served steaming, topped with Swiss cheese and crispy shoestring onions. A 21+ dish, I couldn’t honestly taste the whiskey in it, but the mushroom component was absolutely delicious. Creamy, and made all the better by the Swiss and onion inclusions, this is a highly recommended, if hearty, appetizer.

This being a four course meal, AZ Egg Rolls were out next. Traditional crispy egg rolls filled with grilled chicken, yellow corn, black beans and jack cheese, along with jalapeno sour cream and sweet salsa for dipping, this was a tad disappointing, being only two half cut rolls. That being said, the portion was very tasty even if on the small side.

Perhaps the best dish of the night were the beautifully braised, and enormous, Beef Short Ribs, accompanied by whiskey demi-glace, horseradish bread crumbs and served on a bed of mashed potatoes. The beef literally fell off the bone, being cooked so excellently, and the whiskey was evident in all areas of the dish. Extremely tasty and full of flavor, this has to be the star on LWK menu.

Alicia: While I started the night with the same first course as Adam with the soup, my eyes lit up as my second course hit the table–bacon wrapped shrimp with a spicy whiskey dipping sauce. While the bacon lacked a bit of a crisp, the beautifully grilled shrimp paired amazingly with the shining star–a smoky barbeque whiskey dipping sauce. Some super powerful stuff right there, but surprisingly it didn’t overwhelm the delicate and perfectly cooked shellfish, and instead left a warming heat on the palate.

For my main course I ordered the Citrus-Soy Salmon, grilled with asian spices and topped with Japanese sesame cucumbers, with a side of mashed potatoes. With the salmon grilled to perfection, the acidity of the pickled cucumbers cut right into the heart of the savory soy reduction complementing the delicate fish, which had just the right amount of crispness on the outside while keeping the inside moist and luscious. I enjoyed the salmon so much that I won’t go into the disaster the mashed potatoes were…so let’s just leave it at that.

And now for the show-stopper, LWK’s Bourbon Ice Cream Sliders, chock full of liquor. Ready? This baby looked like a slider, but with a warm profiterole for a bun, honey bourbon ice cream for filling, and a marshmallow whiskey fudge sauce to top it all off. Oh yeah. The ice cream was silky, the profiterole delicate, and that whiskey fudge sauce packed a sweet punch that kept our insides all warm and fuzzy long into the night.

Final Thoughts: Delicious, diverse and flavorful, LWK has a lot to recommend it as an excellent suburban spot for that quintessentially southern remedy. However, due to the hit-or-miss nature of some of the cuisine on offer, we’re not sure it’s worth the journey out here if you are a permanent Chicago resident. That being said, if you’re in the area and need a quick bite, definitely try out this spot.