What does Malort taste like? Chicago answers.... this series of lettering posters was created by real-life quotes
Malört Liqueur Lettering Print Illustration Series
The Brief: To create a series of lettering illustrations celebrating the humorous quotes about the distinct flavor of Jeppson’s Malört liqueur, as a personal project.
Role: Illustrator responsible for concept, design, and implementation of all lettering and illustration.
Tools Used: Procreate app, iPad Pro, Photoshop, Apple pencil.
For those who are not already familiar with it, what does Malört, the beloved/hated Chicago favorite liqueur, taste like? Jeppson’s Malört is a bitter herbal liqueur that was originally produced in Chicago (and after moving to Florida, is back again in Chicago under CH Distillery) and it’s flavor is quite distinct and very intensely bitter, sparking lots of fun quotes and reactions for those who are trying it for the first time. Being from Chicago, I wanted to do a personal project to illustrate these colorful quotes. This series was not at all sponsored or affliated with Jeppson’s Malört or CH Distillery and is just a personal project because I’m a fan of the product, but if you’d like a print of any of these lettering artworks, please reach out to CH Distillery about licensing them as official merch, as I’d love to collaborate with them and see them out in the world!
Have you tried Malört? If you’ve got a good quote for how it tastes, send it my way and I may illustrate it!
The second of my lettering illustrations to celebrate the unique flavor of Jeppson’s Malört liqueur. This one is by Sam O’Brien of Gastro Obscura and can be found at https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/jeppsons-malort-chicago and https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/gastro-obscura-book
The third of my lettering illustrations to celebrate the unique flavor of Jeppson’s Malört liqueur. This quote is from The Violet Hour head mixologist Toby Maloney from an interview to Munchies, Food by Vice. Article by Gray Chapman, January 6, 2018. https://www.vice.com/en/article/78djmd/malicious-maligned-malort-is-chicagos-most-beloved-and-disgusting-liqueur
The fourth of my lettering illustrations to celebrate the unique flavor of Jeppson’s Malört liqueur. This quote is from John Wilmes, Food and Wine, updated May 12 2022: https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/history-of-malort-chicago-novelty-liquor
The fourth of my lettering illustrations to celebrate the unique flavor of Jeppson’s Malört liqueur. This quote is from The Unemployed Wine Guy Sommelier, Prescott Vanmeyer III, and you can find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCYC7fI-qxw and more about him at https://www.youtube.com/@unemployedwineguy/about
Here’s the series of illustrated lettering quotes about how Malört tastes, up through 2023, although I plan to add more of these colorful quotes to the group. What should I illustrate next?
Do you need something like this created for your own business? I am happy to create custom artwork to suit your business, please reach out to discuss. Thanks for checking out my work! ;o)
See more of my work at www.jenniferhines.design.
