Holiday Celebrations & Cocktails
Just in time for the rest of your 2007 holiday celebrations, we wanted to send you a few more great cocktail ideas, fun cocktail trivia to wow your friends and family, and updates on new places to find our products.
Recent Media Coverage
We have been honored with some great media coverage in the last few weeks - here are some quick links:
- Eric Asimov, the wine critic for the New York Times, praised North Shore Vodka and Distiller's Gin No. 6
- The Chicago Tribune recommended our Tahitian Vanilla Vodka as a handcrafted holiday gift for foodies
You can find these very fun handpainted martini glasses for your holiday gifts at Que Syrah in Chicago. They can even make a gift arrangement for you if desired!
Great Cocktails for Sitting by the Fire
Peppermint Patty
1 part North Shore Vodka
2 parts White Chocolate Liqueur (Godiva)
½-1 part Peppermint Syrup
Rim martini glass with dark chocolate shavings (use syrup to wet glass). Shake ingredients over ice, strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with mini candy cane.
Evening Blossom
By Tim Lacey, Beverage Director for Spring Restaurant Group
Into a cup of hot jasmine tea pour 1 oz. Distiller's Gin No. 6. Stir & enjoy.
Tahitian Hot Chocolate
1 part Tahitian Vanilla Vodka
4 parts hot chocolate
Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings
Add vanilla vodka to hot cocoa in a mug, stir well. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings and enjoy.
Danish Mary
3 oz Aquavit Private Reserve
4 oz Bloody Mary Mix
Combine ingredients over ice, stir well. Garnish with a sprig of dill or your favorite Bloody Mary garnish.
New Places to find North Shore Spirits
ILLINOIS
Carol Stream: Mr. A's
Champaign: Bacaro, Radio Maria, Seven Saints
Chicago: Binny's Beverage Depot (South Loop), Gold Crown Liquors, Holiday Liquors, The Hopleaf, Murphy's Bleachers, Sam's Wine & Spirits (South Loop), Sepia, the Sipping Room, the Violet Hour
Glendale Heights: Foremost Liquors
Libertyville: Viva le Vine
Naperville: Jimmy's Grill
Plainfield: Binny's Beverage Depot (opening soon)
Rantoul: Liquor Locker
Villa Park: Lunar Brewing
INDIANA
Carmel: Payless Liquors, United Package Liquors
Crown Point: Lucrezia
Hamilton: Pier 32
Indianapolis: Charleston's, Fleming's Steakhouse, Payless Superstore, United Package Liquors
South Bend: Citywide Liquors
Valparaiso: Trail Inn Liquors
West Lafayette: Village Bottle Shoppe
Whiting: Keith's Restaurant
Zionsville: Payless Liquors
KENTUCKY
Bellevue: The Party Source
Find the complete list of retailers here, or click here to buy online!
Holiday Tradition Trivia*
Origins of Tipping
We initially started tipping people to give them money to toast to our health. The French word for a tip, pourboire, means "in order to drink."
Clinking Glasses
Several potential theories explain why we clink our glasses after a toast. Perhaps its because initially people didn't have their own glasses, they used a communal one. The clinking began as a way to symbolize the sharing of drinks from one vessel. Or, the Vikings started it,and purposely sloshed some of their drink into the other glasses, as a safeguard against anyone poisoning another's drink. I think I like the first one better!
*Source - Alcoholica Esoterica by Ian Lendler
The term Hot Toddy likely originated in Scotland, and was probably coined by someone from the British East India Trading Company. Its an old drink formula, and was mentioned in writings from the early 1700's.
Egg Nog has been seen in the U.S. since the 1700's, when it was brought over from England. Rum was cheaper than other types of liquor at the time, and dairy products were plentiful, so it was quite popular.
*Source - Wikipedia
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 wish you the very best for the holiday season and the new year, and we hope you enjoy our products!