Thanksgiving 2007 News & Holiday Cocktails
At this time of giving thanks for the great things in our lives, we want to thank you, our loyal newsletter readers and friends! Thank you very much for enjoying our spirits, trying our cocktails, and giving us your friendship and support. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
North Shore Spirits Make Great Gifts!
Our 2007 gift boxes are hitting stores this week. Please keep our spirits in mind, they're a great way to share a nice cocktail (and a taste of Chicago) with your friends & family.
Cocktails, Cocktails, Cocktails
For your holiday enjoyment, we've got a few great recipes with pears (we love 'em this time of year) - the Falling Pears Martini, Pearadise Found, and the Asian Pear Martini, as well as recipes for the Winter Sunset, the Ultimate Chocolate Martini, and two fantastic pre-dinner cocktails for your Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy!
Winter Sunset
(Adapted from Holiday Cocktails by Jessica Strand)
2½ oz Distiller’s Gin No. 6
¾ oz Dry Vermouth
1 oz Fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Simple Syrup
1 tsp grenadine
Pour grenadine into martini glass. Mix gin, vermouth, syrup and juice in your shaker over ice. Strain slowly into glass, drop in lemon slice.
Ultimate Chocolate Martini
(thanks to Suzanne G. in the Club!)
2 parts Tahitian Vanilla Vodka
2 parts Godiva White Chocolate liqueur
1 part Godiva Chocolate liqueur
3 parts Baileys
Shake ingredients together with ice, strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with chocolate (either rim glass with chocolate shavings or add a piece of chocolate).
Falling Pears Martini
2 oz North Shore Vodka
½ oz Pear Liqueur
2 oz Pear Puree or Nectar
Shake ingredients over ice, strain into champagne flute or martini glass. Garnish with dash of cinnamon and a slice of fresh pear.
Pearadise Found Cocktail
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
2.5 oz Pear Puree or Nectar
1 oz Lillet Blanc
Dash of Orange Bitters
Shake all the ingredients with ice, strain into champagne flute. Garnish with a thin strip of red pear (or, if serving in a martini glass, a skewer of small pear chunks).
Asian Pear Martini
From our friend Russ Faulk at
Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet
1 oz Tahitian Vanilla Vodka
1 slice fresh peeled ginger
1 slice of Asian pear
Chilled Prosecco
3 pieces candied ginger
Muddle fresh ginger, pear and vanilla vodka together in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker half-full with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into martini glass and top with Prosecco. Garnish with 3 pieces of candied ginger on a cocktail spear.
Upcoming Tastings
Friday, Nov 16
In-store tastings at Binny's in Elmwood Park, Binny's in Glencoe, and Sam's Wine & Spirits in Chicago from 4-7 pm
Saturday, Nov 17
In-store tastings at Binny's in Willowbrook, Binny's in Highland Park, Dobby's Worldwide in Palatine, and Sam's Wine & Spirits in Downers Grove from 1-4 pm
Friday, Nov 23
In-store tasting at Binny's in Skokie from 4-7 pm
Saturday, Nov 24
In-store tasting at Binny's in Orland Park from 1-4 pm, and at Schaefer's in Skokie from 12-4 pm
Friday, Nov 30
In-store tastings at Teddy's in Arlington Heights and Teddy's in Palatine from 5-8 pm, and at Fox & Obel in Chicago and Woddman's in Aurora from 4-7 pm
Saturday, Dec 1
In-store tastings at Binny's in St. Charles and SavWay Wine & Spirits in Oak Brook from 1-4 pm, and at Lakeside Foods in Winnetka from 12-4 pm
Cocktail No. 1
Developed by our good friend Tim Lacey of Spring Restaurant Group
1¾ oz Aquavit Private Reserve
1 oz Fresh Tomato Juice
Pinch of Salt
Squeeze of Lime
Splash of Simple Syrup
Club Soda
Combine first 5 ingredients with ice and give a quick shake. Pour into old fashioned glass and top with club soda.
From our friend Josh Kaplan at MK Restaurant in Chicago
1 part Distiller's Gin No. 6
1 part Aperol
1 part Vya Sweet Vermouth
The best Negroni we've ever had. Shake ingredients with ice, strain into martini glass.
The first "Thanksgiving" was in 1621, but it was not repeated, and it was not called Thanksgiving (that term was used for a religious holiday). The 1621 harvest celebration lasted 3 days, and included dancing, singing, and playing games.
No one knows for sure what day the original Thanksgiving took place, but it was not on the fourth Thursday of November. It was sometime between September 21 and November 11.
A yearly day of thanksgiving was adopted first in New York State in 1817, and eventually spread through the country. President Lincoln designated it a national holiday in 1863.
*Source - History Channel Online
North Shore Distillery is the first and only artisanal distillery in Illinois. We have a passion for spirits, and for developing creative new products. Learn more about us on northshoredistillery.com. We hope you enjoy our products!