Luke Taylor | The bar's set pretty high around here

University of Illinois students don’t know how good they have it.

Stop into any bar, liquor store or even Walmart within a 30-mile radius of campus, and you’ll probably find beers (and ciders and meads!) from local breweries, already ice cold and ready to impress your buddies at tonight’s party.

I’m not even two years out from graduation; I know college kids are missing out, because I know what they’re drinking.

It’s jungle juice.

If it’s “good,” it’s a concoction of various liquors and mixers in a giant container, maybe with some pieces of fruit. If it’s what I was drinking, it’s probably just Kool-Aid and vodka.

If both of those options turn your stomach, congratulations! You’re probably of legal drinking age.

East Central Illinois has a multitude of better options for you, as The News-Gazette is detailing in this beverage guide.

Microbreweries have been “in” for some years now, long enough to survive everyone finding them annoying and cycle back to being cool.

But “micro” doesn’t seem to accurately describe the many successful breweries pumping out specialty drinks round these parts, with their wide variety of offerings.

And, as I’ve learned over the last year of “Bartender of the Week” features, there are also plenty of helpful folks ready to help you choose a favorite ... or fix something up with a better mixer than Kool-Aid.

Here are just 60 of the people and bars I can recommend you visit:

1. Tom Paul from Tumble Inn in Champaign.
2. Becca Donahue from Big Four Tavern in Danville.
3. Tim Sheridan from Huber’s in Champaign.
4. Dotun Adelabu from Kams in Champaign.
5. Teresa Wilson from Central Tavern in Thomasboro.
6. Abigail Davis from Riggs in Champaign.
7. Payton Cain from Roch’s in St. Joseph.
8. Matt Barga from the Esquire in Champaign.
9. Reta Lamb from Snapper’s in Danville.
10. Jackie Campos from Project 47 Smokehouse in Mahomet.
11. Crystal Smith from Pipa’s Pub in Champaign.
12. Laura LeBaugh from Pia’s in Champaign.
13. Shania Alexander from It’ll Do in Arcola.
14. Rosemary Ferrera from the Rose Bowl in Urbana.
15. Jordan Kelsey from the Literary in Champaign.
16. Vaughn Kimberly from Punch Bar and Lounge in Champaign.
17. Shannon Maxey from the Wild Hare in Fisher.
18. Donna Hoffman from North Forty in Gifford.
19. Chris Fascian from Big Grove Tavern in Champaign.
20. Jessica Guiles from the Sidney Saloon in Sidney.
21. Matt Kucera from Bentley’s Pub in Champaign.
22. Cody Gill from Barrelhouse 34 in Champaign.
23. Melody Ensinger from the Brass Rail in Champaign.
24. Gabby Taylor from Boomerangs in Urbana.
25. Anastasia Pennington-Flax from Gallery Art Bar in Urbana.
26. Sindra Gerdes from Artesia Brewing in Thawville.
27. Lauren White from the Loose Cobra in Tolono.
28. Kyle Gifford from the Blind Pig in Champaign.
29. Missy Trower from Rookie’s North End Tavern in Ivesdale.
30. Nick Rainey from Triptych Brewing in Savoy.
31. Ben Poundstone from Fieldhouse 219 in Monticello.
32. Jae Smith from Harvest Market in Champaign.
33. Heather Runyan from Fatman’s Warehouse in Danville.
34. Trisha McKee from Aspen Tap in Champaign.
35. Doug Roberts from Seven Saints in Champaign.
36. Kat Livesay from Kat’s It’ll Do in Arthur.
37. Crystal Garrett from The emBARras in Villa Grove.
38. David Hunter and Megan Groff from Guido’s in Champaign.
39. Kati Anderson from The Wheelhouse in St. Joseph.
40. Lucas Gregg from Lu and Denny’s in Tolono.
41. Dashae Stegall from the Axe Bar in Champaign.
42. Erin Hosch from Route 45 Wayside in Pesotum.
43. Stevie Coleman from Goldy’s 2.0 in Champaign.
44. Gabrielle Beaver from Bunny’s Tavern in Urbana.
45. Daphnie Anderson from Good Spirits in Farmer City.
46. Sarah Brown from Irish Circle in Wapella.
47. Carla Toliver from Willow Pond Golf Course in Rantoul.
48. Misti Tucker from Circle South in Clinton.
49. Jodie Shaw from Julee’s Shooting Star in Westville.
50. Cindy Perrotta from Route 1 Sales in Milford.
51. Sophia Horn from Neil St. Blues in Champaign.
52. Taylor Reifsteck from the University of Illinois Orange and Blue golf courses in Savoy.
53. Terry Grant from Lola’s Bar and Grill in Potomac.
54. Nick Fisher from Hamilton Walker’s in Champaign.
55. Ronnie Johnson from Rosie’s Tavern in Danville.
56. Dominique Styles from Collective Pour in Champaign.
57. Jennifer Wise, Hannah Bray and Haley Jones from ET’s Downtown in Rantoul.
58. Vicky St. Peter from Prairie City Wine Room in Paxton.
59. Jamie Rini from Uptown Tavern in Paxton.
60. Gabby Kiel from the Hound’s Rest in downtown Champaign.