Since opening late last year, Barrelhouse Flat has been a breath of boozy-fresh air in Lincoln Park’s craft cocktail scene—the ever-changing, always-esoteric menu features a slew of seasonal cocktails. Available through this weekend, summery cocktails include the Mani Pedi, Haute Tropique, and Sleepaway Camp. Despite their monikers, though, these drinks are not for the faint of heart. Haute Tropique combines two kinds of rum, an Italian liqueur called Fernet Branca, orange curacao, Pernod absinthe, cinnamon syrup, lime, grapefruit, and angostura bitters: a whole as heady as the sum of its parts. Looking for something less complicated? Try the Ernest Hemingway-inspired Death in the Afternoon, which mixes Pernod absinthe with Champagne.

If you can’t make it this weekend, the lengthy mainstay menu’s rum cocktails evoke summertime, too: a shaken daiquiri mixes rum, lime, and simple syrup; and the stirred Cuba Libre contains rum, lime, angostura, and Mexican Coke. Or, order a punch bowl (for four, eight, or bottomless)—our pick is the interesting Pisco Punch, with Pisco, pineapple syrup, Yerba Mate, and lemon.

A perfect after-dinner drink spot, Barrelhouse serves primarily light bites (its escargot fries are worth a try). But we suggest passing up the de rigueur daily popcorn offerings for the cotton candy of the day as a true snack-style drink accompaniment. 2624 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-857-0421