In a display of sheer local pride and collective palate punishment, nearly 2,000 Chicagoans gathered at Recess, a popular venue in the West Loop, to set an unconventional world record. A total of 1,969 participants raised their glasses together to knock back simultaneous shots of Jeppson's Malört, the infamous wormwood-based liqueur celebrated locally for its brutally bitter and lingering finish.
The event was playfully dubbed a bad decision for a good cause, as ticket proceeds and donations were directed to Ravenswood Community Services to combat local food insecurity. High-profile attendees joined the grimacing crowd, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who helped pour shots for eager patrons, and City Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who joked that sharing in such collective suffering is ultimately what binds Chicagoans together.
While Malört is notorious for evoking shuddering expressions—often described by locals as tasting like grapefruit pith blended with lawnmower clippings—the atmosphere remained jubilant throughout the synchronized gulp. Organizers and participants celebrated the historic toast, turning a beloved local rite of passage into a record-breaking triumph of civic unity and charitable goodwill.