One thing all Chicagoans have in common is our love or disdain for Malört. Everyone should try it once (if you’re of age, of course)—it’s technically a rite of passage in Chicago.
It’s so popular it’s infiltrated every part of our lives. Yes, even our food…even one of the city’s most prized wings.
Woodie’s Flat, the 21+ Old Town sports bar, has made Malört BBQ Wings for its October sauce of the month. So, if you’re one of the few who hasn’t even had a sip of this controversial spirit, this may be your gateway into trying it.
Chef Nahuel Rodríguez of Big Onion Hospitality created the sauce by starting with a classic BBQ base and adding Malört for a bold, tasty flavor.
You can order them now through October 31. A single order costs $18.95 (1 lb) and a double order costs $33.95 (2 lb)
Why the wings are worth the trip
The collaboration follows Woodie’s Flat being named Best Overall Wings at Chicago’s Wing Out for the fourth consecutive year, and the kitchen’s method explains why.
- Medium-sized wings, not jumbo. Most sports bars go big. Woodie’s deliberately doesn’t, because medium wings cook juicier and more consistently.
- Two hours of smoke. The wings spend roughly two hours over hickory and applewood, then get coated in a proprietary spice rub.
- A double fry. After the first fry, the kitchen lightly glazes the wings in buffalo sauce. A quick second fry crisps the skin and locks in the flavor. Only then do the wings get tossed in the final sauce, in this case the Malört BBQ.
Woodie’s sauce of the month series
Malört BBQ is the latest entry in Woodie’s Flat’s Sauce of the Month series, a rotating monthly special built on creative collaborations and unexpected flavors.
Past sauces have included Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Orange Soda Burst. Sticky Sesame proved so popular that it earned a permanent spot on the Woodie’s menu.
If the Malört sauce becomes a crowd favorite, it could follow the same path. For now, you have until October 31 to find out.
Woodie’s Flat is located at 1535 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610.
