Enjoyed: Saturday, May 28, 2022

Listed on the menu: No, but the bartender happily told me her preferred recipe, so she must have made many.

Ingredients:  Bulleit bourbon, simple syrup, muddled orange and cherry, orange bitters.

The occasion: On Memorial Day weekend, Husband and other assorted family members attend the Indianapolis 500, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. Since Husband was driving out, I joined him, but continued 3 hours further north to visit my mom, my sister, and her family. I chose this inn because of its proximity to the Indiana Dunes and because the website listed a speakeasy/bar/restaurant also on the property. I was happy with the location (Sis and I caught a remarkable sunset over Lake Michigan), annoyed that the restaurant was merely a Pizzeria Uno, and disappointed that the speakeasy space was full of windows and families chomping on pizza.

My rating: **** out of 5. A solid recipe, definitely, and very traditional, so I enjoyed it.

Final thoughts: My disappointment in the “speakeasy” experience was compounded by the historic significance of “The Spa,” as told to me by the clerk who checked me into the inn. Notorious gangster Al Capone ran a “barbershop” on the property, which was merely a cover for illegal activity. Bottles of bootleg alcohol were stored here, and floated down the Little Calumet River (only steps away) and into Lake Michigan. The clerk also told me that there are still bullet holes as well as shackles embedded in the basement walls. Now, why couldn’t the speakeasy be down there? THAT would be an attraction and a cool place to drink! Admittedly, the lobby did have cardboard cutouts of Al Capone and even Frank Sinatra, as well a bathtub that Capone allegedly used to make gin, so that placated me a bit.