Chicago Cocktail Reviewer Tries Taco Bell Cantina's 'Somewhat Chemical Tasting' Concoctions
"All in all, my first experience at Taco Bell Cantina was a good one," wrote Daniel de Oliveira in his review of Chicago's Taco Bell Cantina, which you can read here.
Taco Bell Cantina opened in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood in early October. It's garnered more attention than your average Taco Bell, and for good reason: it's the first in the country to serve alcohol.
The tale of the Taco Bell that serves booze draws many curious customers, and even a bonafide cocktail reviewer sent by Tales of the Cocktail. A collection of cocktail lovers, Tales of the Cocktail features blogs on tasty alcoholic drinks and runs one of the most well-known cocktail festivals in the world.
Apparently the idea of Taco Bell cocktails was too interesting to pass up.
Taco Bell Cantina is not a full-stocked bar, mind you -- you can't order a Manhattan. Your choices are three drinks dubbed "Twisted Freezes" that resemble slushies: the Mountain Dew Baja Blast, Cantina Punch and Cantina Margarita. After choosing whatever sounds most appealing to you, you can then add rum, tequila or vodka.
Daniel de Oliveira and his companion Sergio Serna -- who are both respected Chicago bartenders -- tried all three drinks, choosing a different alcohol for each.
Their thoughts on the Mountain Dew Baja Blast with Ketel One Vodka and the Cantina Margarita with Don Julio Blanco? Kind of what you'd expect it seems, rating the two drinks with 2/5 and 3/5 lime wedges respectively.
"This overly sweet and somewhat chemical tasting concoction actually paired really well with the food," Oliveira wrote about the Baja Blast.
It was the Twisted Cantina Punch that really won the two over though. Earning 4.5 out of 5 lime wedges, Oliveira wrote, "... it was just as delicious on the first sip as it was on the last."