Hard Sell

The Hard Sell was created by Chicago area bartender Brad Bolt for bar De Ville in 2009. Malört is a legendary Chicago area spirit with an infamous reputation. It's a polarizing ingredient due to its highly bitter flavor profile making it almost impossible to balance in drinks. When the Cocktail renaissance reached Chicago it was not much of a surprise when area bartenders started incorporating it into cocktail recipes. I love the way cocktail writer Robert Simonson put it "St. Germain is a little too likable and Malort is not likable enough...it makes sense." This cocktail's name is absolutely perfect. On its best day, Malört is indeed a Hard Sell.