Eldergin

Elderberry Gin Liqueur

Each year we bring together incredible combinations of ingredients to produce special single-batch spirits. This year's is no exception. It is our delight to introduce our Winter 2011 limited release, Eldergin. This spirit arrived in stores, bars and restaurants for the first time on December 7, 2011.

Inspired by sloe gin liqueur, Eldergin is a perfect blend of our Distiller's Gin No. 11 and fresh elderberries. In our view, elderberries are underutilized gems. In fact, they grow all around the Chicago area, along bike trails and forest preserves, yet most people never pay attention to them. Raw elderberries can be bitter, but with a little distillery magic, they become sweet and delightful.

With this limited release, just over 900 bottles were produced - 507 in a 750 ml size and 400 in a 375 ml size. Each bottle is hand numbered, and once these bottles are sold there will be no more available. As with past limited releases, once it's gone, it's gone.

Enjoying Eldergin

Producing The Spirit

In the end, we used over 250 pounds of fresh elderberries to make our batch of Eldergin. Most of the berries came from a farmer in central Missouri, but we actually picked some of them ourselves as well. Unlike most other berries, elderberries require some cooking before they release their delicious flavor. After our still, Ethel, softly cooked the berries, we pressed them with a wine press to extract the juice. It was then combined it with a specially distilled batch of Distiller's Gin No. 11. The resulting elixer was put away for several weeks to allow all the flavors to meld. We then finished the spirit with a touch of sugar, resulting in a deliciously bright, unique liqueur.

Finding Eldergin

Here is a list of stores where you should be able to find a bottle of Eldergin (updated 1/30):

CALIFORNIA
San Francisco - K&L Wines & Spirits

ILLINOIS
Antioch: Antioch Fine Wine & Spirits
Arlington Heights: Binny's Beverage Depot
Bolingbrook: Binny's Beverage Depot
Buffalo Grove: Binny's Beverage Depot
Champaign: Sun Singer Wine & Spirits
Chicago: Andersonville Wine & Spirits, Binny's Beverage Depot (South Loop, Grand Ave), City Provisions, Evolution Wines & Spirits, In Fine Spirits, Life's a Cabernet, Lush Wine & Spirits, The Noble Grape, West Lakeview Liquors
Des Plaines: Binny's Beverage Depot
Downers Grove: Binny's Beverage Depot
Highland Park: Binny's Beverage Depot, Wine Discount Center
Libertyville: Gold Eagle Liquors
Long Grove: Sunset Foods
Mundelein: DiCarlo Fine Wines & Spirits
Niles: Binny's Beverage Depot
Northbrook: Evolution Wine & Spirits, Sunset Foods
Oak Park: Marion Street Cheese Market
Orland Park: Binny's Beverage Depot
Rockford: Artale Wine Co.
Savoy: Friar Tuck
Springfield: Corkscrew Wine & Spirits
Skokie: Schaefer's, Toni's Liquors
Urbana: Corkscrew Wine & Spirits
Willowbrook: Binny's Beverage Depot

MINNESOTA
Burnsville : Byerly's
Minneapolis: France 44, Lake Wine & Cheese, Zipps Liquors 
St. Paul: Thomas Liquors

In addition, you should be able to find it by the drink at the following fine establishments:

Berwyn: Autre Monde

Champaign: Radio Maria, Seven Saints

Chicago: 2 Sparrows, Acre, Blackbird, The Drawing Room, Hot Chocolate, In Fine Spirits Lounge, Jerry's Sandwiches, Prasino, Ripasso, Sable, Sepia, Watershed

Northbrook: Prairie Grass Cafe