Hi, it's Curiosity Reporter Adriana Cardona McGee Gagad.

And in this episode, I want to start with a little game.

Guess what drink these people are describing here?

If I had to kind of boil it down scientifically, I would say...

It tastes like...

It's like angry.

Baby aspirin wrapped in grapefruit peel and then tied up with rubber bands.

Like a sour patch kid is kind of like a friendly sour flavor.

This is the most god-awful, bitter, sour flavor you've ever had.

If you took a whole grapefruit and just took a big bite out of it, and you get everything,

you get the peel, you get the pith, you get the flesh, you get the juice.

Here's a hint.

It's very Chicago.

Do you know what it is?

It's my lord.

Chicago's own bitter liquor that went from being the birthday shot bartenders gave for free

to a popular choice on many drink menus across bars in the city.

So popular that Curious City listener, Kevin McDermott, wanted to know.

How it went from a very obscure drink in a handful of dive bars to becoming a symbol of Chicago,

which it really is now.

And, you know, like the path it took to get there.

Kevin has lived in Chicago all his life.

...