21-05-2025
Malört vs. Fireball: Philly's new liquor rivalry
Some Chicagoans swear by Malört — others swear at it.
Why it matters: The polarizing liquor is finally on Pennsylvania shelves — and we're waiting to see if it challenges Fireball, our best-selling spirit, for top shelf.
There's even a freakin' book about the bitter-tasting brand.
Driving the debate: Philadelphians are still too naive to debate the pros and cons of Malört so we turned to the real pros: Axios Chicago teammates Monica Eng, Carrie Shepherd and Justin Kaufmann for their insights.
What they're saying: Eng is a Malört convert who initially hated the drink the first couple of times she tried it. But then she had it with an Old Style — as part of a drink called the Chicago Handshake.
It tastes like "a bit of butterscotch" that "drifts into grapefruit rind and finishes with burnt rubber bands," Eng tells us.
How to drink it: "Don't," Shepherd warns Philadelphians.
"It's the aftertaste that gets you and it doesn't hit immediately. Take a breath, THEN chase it with the champagne of beers. Or just Champagne."
