Looking for an Amazing Cocktail?

Welcome to the North Shore Cocktail Repository, home to a wide variety of fantastic concoctions. For each of our spirits, we have listed our favorite simple, classic and seasonal cocktails. Many are easy, but a few are more advanced. Try something new and find inspiration here.

  • North Shore Vodka
  • Distiller's Gin No. 6
  • Distiller's Gin No. 11
  • North Shore Sol
  • Aquavit-Private Reserve
  • Sirène Absinthe Verte
  • Eldergin Liqueur
  • Locavore Cocktails
  • Housemade Ingredients

Fantastic North Shore Vodka Cocktails

Our vodka is great on its own, and it makes amazing mixed drinks. Why not try one of these?

Simple and Elegant
Classic Cocktails
Seasonal or Advanced
North Shore on the Rocks
2½ oz North Shore Vodka

Fill glass with ice; add vodka. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel or wedge of lime.
Moscow Mule
History: Created in the 1940’s, taught Americans how to drink vodka. Originally served in a copper mug.

2 oz North Shore Vodka
½ a lime
Ginger Beer

Fill tall glass with ice. Press lime into glass, and drop lime half into glass. Add vodka, and top with ginger beer. Stir quickly with bar spoon.

A Currant Affair
2 oz North Shore Vodka
½ oz Cassis liqueur
Splash of Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Ginger Ale

Shake vodka, cassis, juice and bitters with ice; strain into ice-filled rocks glass. Top up with ginger ale, garnish with lemon wedge.

Dirty Vodka Martini
3 oz North Shore Vodka
1/3 oz Dry Vermouth
1 tsp+ olive juice (to taste)

Stir with ice, strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with blue cheese stuffed olives.

Harpoon
History: Created on behalf of the Ocean Spray company, and used to market their juice in the 1950's.

1 oz North Shore Vodka
1 oz Cranberry Juice
Squeeze of Fresh Lime

Combine ingredients over ice, stir. Serve it up, and add some triple sec, and you'll be very close to a Cosmopolitan.

North Shore Appletini
1½ oz North Shore Vodka
Dash of Cinnamon Schnapps (not hot)
2 oz Apple Juice

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into cocktail glass. Add dash of cinnamon and apple slice. Can also be served warm - heat juice, stir ingredients together and serve!

Vodka + Apple
2 oz North Shore Vodka
2 oz Good Apple Juice

Combine ingredients over ice; stir. Top with dash of ground cinnamon.

The Vesper
History: ordered by James Bond in Casino Royale, and named for his lady friend

3 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
1 oz North Shore Vodka
½ oz Lillet Blanc

Shake ingredients with ice; strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with large swath of lemon peel.

Think Spring
1 oz North Shore Vodka
1 oz Fresh Red Grapefruit Juice
1 tsp Simple Syrup
Dash of Grenadine (very light)
Chilled Rose Champagne (off-dry)

Pour vodka, juice, syrup and grenadine into glass, stir. Top up with champagne. Garnish with one fresh raspberry.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us!

Distiller's Gin No. 6 Makes Amazing Cocktails

Aside from the classic martini, here are some other great drinks that highlight the versatility and complexity of Distiller's Gin No. 6. Most of these are from mixologist friends, or from classic cocktail books. Enjoy!

Simple and Elegant
Classic Cocktails
Seasonal or Advanced
Classic Martini
3 oz Distiller's Gin No. 6 (or 11)
½ oz Dry Vermouth
Dash of Orange Bitters

Can't go wrong with this elegant classic. Swirl vermouth in glass; discard (or put it in the shaker, if you prefer). Garnish with blue cheese olives or a twist.

The Bebbo Cocktail
History: Saved from extinction by Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails, this classic was invented in the 1920’s.

1½ oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
½ oz Honey
¼ oz Fresh Orange Juice
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir the ingredients in a shaker (no ice) until the honey dissolves. Add ice, shake & strain into glass. Garnish with a cocktail cherry.

Cranberry-Ginger Gimlet
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz Cranberry-Ginger Syrup

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with skewer of fresh cranberries.

Fresh Lime Gimlet
2 oz Gin (Distiller’s Gin No. 6)
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio)

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.

Corpse Reviver No. 2
History: originally a morning drink. According to the Savoy, four of these in quick succession will unrevive the corpse again.

1 oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz Lillet Blanc
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash Sirène Absinthe Verte

Shake ingredients with ice; strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Polynesian Spell
(a great old Tiki drink)
1½ oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
1 oz Grape Juice
¼ oz Triple Sec
¼ oz Brandy
1 tsp Simple Syrup
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Ginger G&T
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
¼-½ oz Ginger Simple Syrup (to taste)
Tonic Water

In a rocks glass, add gin and syrup, then add ice, and top with tonic. Garnish with a lime wedge or a piece of fresh ginger root, or both.

No. 6 Negroni
History: Created in 1920's Italy, where Count Negroni always asked for gin in his Americano cocktails.

1 part Distiller's Gin No. 6
1 part Aperol
1 part Sweet Vermouth (vya)

This version of the classic relies on the specific ingredients listed - its an amazing take on this drink. Serve this in a cocktail glass, after shaking thoroughly with ice.

Spiced Orange Flip
2½ oz Distiller’s Gin No. 6
¾ oz Orange Curaçao
1½ oz Fresh Orange Juice
1 oz Honey Syrup (1:1)
1 Whole Large Egg

Shake ingredients well, without ice, then add ice and shake hard. Strain into chilled cocktail glass, garnish with dash of ground cinnamon.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us!

Distiller's Gin No. 11 Makes Great Classic Cocktails

Aside from the classic dry martini, or mixed with tonic, our No. 11 works incredibly well in a variety of cocktails. Here are a few of our current favorites.

Simple and Elegant
Classic Cocktails
Seasonal or Advanced

Classic Martini
3 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
½ oz Dry Vermouth
Dash of Orange Bitters

Can't go wrong with this elegant classic. Combine ingredients in a mixing glass or martini pitcher with ice; stir to chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with blue cheese olives or a twist.

Pegu Club
History: Created in the 1920's at the eponymous club in British colonial Burma. This version is by Paul McGee at The Whistler)

2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/4 oz simple syrup (1:1)
4 dashes Angostura

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange twist.

Grapefruit Basil Fizz
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
3/4 oz Fresh Red Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1 One Large Fresh Basil Leaf
1/2 oz Club Soda

Shake first four ingredients with ice (including the basil). Strain into cocktail glass or ice-filled rocks glass. Top with soda, garnish with sprig of fresh basil.

Gin & Tonic
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
3 oz Good Tonic Water (Fever Tree, Fentimans and Q are our favorites)

Fill glass with ice; add gin and tonic water, stir. Garnish with fresh lemon twist or lime wedge.

Robert E. Lee Cooler
History: developed in the 1940's, and great on a hot day
1 1/2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
1/4 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
1 tsp Simple Syrup
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
Club Soda
Ginger Ale

Combine first four ingredients in rocks glass, stir. Add ice, then top with splash of soda and splash of ginger ale. Garnish with lemon & orange spirals.

Hum Blush
(A variation on the Maiden's Blush)
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 oz hum liqueur
1/2 oz Raspberry Simple Syrup
Dash of Grapefruit Bitters (Scrappy's)

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a fresh raspberry.

Grapefruit Gimlet
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
1 oz Grapefruit Juice
¾-1 oz Simple Syrup (to taste)

Shake ingredients with ice; strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with swath of grapefruit peel.

No. 11 Clipper
History: not entirely clear, but appeared in print in the 1920's as the China Clipper. This is our adaptation.

1 1/2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
1 dash Fresh Orange Juice
2 dashes Orange Bitters

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with orange twist.

Pear Sparkler
1½ oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
1½ oz Pear Puree or Nectar
½ oz Rosemary Simple Syrup
Splash of fresh grapefruit juice
Club Soda

Shake gin, puree, syrup and juice with ice, strain into champagne flute. Top with club soda, and garnish with fresh sprig of rosemary.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us!

Deliciously Different Sol Cocktails

Our newest spirit, Sol, is wonderful on it's own, but it makes amazing mixed drinks too. Why not try one of these fantastic ones today?

Simple and Elegant
Classic Cocktails
Seasonal or Advanced
Sol on the Rocks
2½ oz Sol

Fill glass with ice; add Sol. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel or wedge of orange
The Jupiter Cocktail
History: Developed in the 1920's and first published in 1923 in Europe.
1½ oz Sol
¾ oz Dry Vermouth
1 teaspoon parfait amour
1 teaspoon orange juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.


Central Standard
1 ½ oz Sol
½ oz Koval Ginger Liqueur
½ oz Aperol Aperitivo
½ oz simple syrup
1 egg white
2 dashes Fee Brother’s Rhubarb Bitters

Combine ingredients with ice and shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with grapefruit peel.

Sol Gimlet
2 oz Sol
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Honey Syrup (1:1)

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into ice-filled glass or chilled coupe. Garnish with fresh lime wedge.

Negroni with Sol
History: this Italian drink was named for a count, who asked for an Americano with a shot of gin in it. Traditionally a gin drink, it's delicious with Sol.

2 oz Sol
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Aperol

Stir ingredients with ice, strain into chilled glass. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.

Sweet Sol Sour
by J. Bestul of the NSD Tasting Room
2 oz North Shore Sol
1½ oz Cranberry Juice
½ oz Brown Sugar Simple (2:1)
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of ground cinnamon

Combine ingredients, shake over ice, strain into old fashioned glass. Garnish with orange peel.

Sol & Tonic or Cola
Mix 2 oz of Sol with your favorite tonic water, or with Mexican Coke, over ice. It's delicious!

White Lady
History: Popular since the 1930's, and developed in the 1920's in Europe. Two men named Harry claim it, and there are several other "lady" drinks.

2 oz Sol
½ oz Cointreau
½ oz lemon juice
1 egg white

Shake ingredients well without ice first, then add ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with fresh lemon or orange peel.

Bring Out Yer Dead!
by Chad Larson at Barrio Lowertown 1½ oz North Shore Sol
½ oz Cointreau
½ oz Cocchi Americano
¾ oz Lemon Juice
¼ oz Simple Syrup
2 drops Sirène Absinthe Verte

Combine ingredients except absinthe into a mixing glass, add ice. Shake vigorously. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add absinthe.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us!

Aquavit Private Reserve - an Incredible Cocktail Ingredient

Although its a nontraditional way to use it, we really enjoy using Aquavit Private Reserve in cocktails. Its great with other savory flavors, like tomato or ginger. Try these when you're looking for a new cocktail adventure.

Simple and Elegant
Classic Cocktails
Seasonal or Advanced

Chilled Aquavit
Store your bottle of Aquavit - Private Reserve in the freezer, and store a small, thin glass along with it. When desired, fill the glass with aquavit, and enjoy.

This is the tradition in Sweden and Denmark. Our aquavit can also be enjoyed neat or shaken with ice.

The Midnight Sun
History: From the late 1800's, though rarely known. Suggested by Bobby Heugel at Drink Dogma

1½ oz Aquavit-Private Reserve
½ oz Grapefruit Juice
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
½ tsp Sugar
¼ oz Grenadine

Shake all ingredients over ice, strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with orange slice.

Remedy Toddy
by Jon Palmer at Heartland in St. Paul, MN
2 oz Aquavit - Private Reserve
1/2 oz Benedictine
1/2 oz Honey Syrup
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon
3-4 oz hot water

Combine ingredients in a mug, stir. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Spiced Mule
2 oz Aquavit - Private Reserve
1/2 Lime
Ginger Beer
Squeeze half of lime into tall glass; add aquavit. Fill with ice, top
with ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedge.

Improved Aquavit Cocktail
History: there were a series of "improved" cocktails popular in the late 1800's; this one follows that pattern.

2 oz Aquavit - Private Reserve
1 tsp Demerara Simple Syrup
1 tsp Maraschino Liqueur
2 dashes Grapefruit Bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice; stir until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe glass, garnish with a grapefruit twist.

Wingdär No. 3
by Nina Pilacoutas at Watershed 
1¾ oz Aquavit - Private Reserve
¾ oz Honey Syrup (2:1)
3 barspoons diced tart apple 
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Muddle apples and lemon, add syrup and Aquavit. Shake hard, and fine strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a fresh sage leaf, freshly spanked.

Swedish Mary
2 oz Aquavit Private Reserve
3-4 oz Bloody Mary Mix (your favorite one, or housemade)

Combine ingredients over ice, stir well. Garnish with a sprig of dill or your favorite Bloody Mary garnish.

 

Sailor Mercury
History: this is a variation on a classic formula, for the Sidecar as well as the White Lady, using aquavit.

2 oz Aquavit-Private Reserve
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Shake ingredients with ice; strain into cocktail glass or coupe glass. Garnish with orange wheel.

Spirit of Life
by Keyan Still at Cafe Natasha  
1 oz Aquavit - Private Reserve
1 oz Esprit Classique
½ oz Velvet Falernum
½ oz Dry Vermouth
1 Dash Reagan's Orange Bitters
2 Dash's Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with an orange peel.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us!

Favorite Recipes using Sirène Absinthe Verte

Sirène is delightful with a traditional absinthe water drip, or with the simple addition of chilled water (sugar cube optional). We recommend a ratio of 3:1 water to absinthe. It's also an intriguing cocktail ingredient, adding depth and complexity. Here are some of our favorite recipes using our newest creation.

Simple and Elegant
Classic Cocktails
Seasonal or Advanced

Traditional Absinthe Drip
1 1/2 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
3 1/2 oz Chilled Water (in a carafe or absinthe fountain), to taste

Pour absinthe into glass. If desired, place absinthe spoon over glass, and place one sugar cube on the spoon. Slowly add the water, pouring over the sugar cube to dissolve it (if using). If adding sugar, stir the mixture after adding the water.

Dixie Cocktail
History: First published in 1916, and popular in New Orleans.

¾ oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
½ oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
½ oz Dry Vermouth (Vya)
2 dashes Grenadine
1 oz fresh Orange Juice

Shake all ingredients well with ice, strain into a small cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist. This is a very old cocktail (and a potent one), but it's great.

Parisian Mule
1 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
1 oz Orgeat
½ oz Orange Curacao
1/2 a lime, cut into wedges
Ginger Beer

Muddle lime wedges in glass. Add absinthe, orgeat and liqueur. Fill with crushed ice, then top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedge.


Absinthe Frappe
1½ oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
½ oz Simple Syrup (to taste)
2-3 oz Cold Water

Fill highball glass with crushed ice. Add drink ingredients, then stir to combine.

Sazerac
History: One of the oldest cocktails, created in New Orleans in the 1830's.

2 oz. Rye Whiskey
¼ oz. Simple Syrup
4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
1 dash Angostura Bitters (optional)
¼ oz. Sirène Absinthe Verte

In a mixing glass filled 3/4 with ice, add whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters. Stir well. Coat the inside of a chilled rocks glass with absinthe, discard excess. Strain the cocktail into the glass. Twist a piece of lemon peel over the drink, and then discard it.

Sirène-i-Tea
1 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
1-1/2 oz Cranberry Juice
1/4 oz Cinnamon Syrup
1/2 oz Honey Syrup (2:1) 
1/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Combine ingredients in a mug. Top with very hot water. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

The Butterfly and the Tank
by JT Robertson at Marion Street Cheese Market
1/2 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
1 Unbleached Sugar Cube
4 oz Moscato d'Asti
Pour absinthe into champagne flute; add sugar cube. Top with Moscato.

The Monkey Gland
History: Created at Harry's American Bar in Paris during Prohibition, and named for a popular medical procedure.

1½ oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
1½ oz fresh Orange Juice
1 tsp Grenadine
1 tsp Sirène Absinthe Verte

Shake all ingredients well with ice, strain into a small cocktail glass.

Passion Fairy
2 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
2 oz Passion Fruit Puree
1 oz Brandy
3/4 oz Triple Sec
Two dashes Orange Bitters

Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a long orange twist.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us

Our 2011 Limited Release, Eldergin, is Amazing in Drinks

Here are a few of our favorite ways to showcase Eldergin. Each is unique, and delicious!

Simple and Elegant
Classic Cocktails
Seasonal or Advanced

Eldergin on the Rocks
2½ oz North Shore Eldergin
Club Soda (optional)
Fill a rocks glass with ice, add Eldergin. Top with a splash of soda, if desired. And garnish with a swath of orange peel if desired.

Elderthorn
History: adapted from the Blackthorn, a cocktail dating back to the 1800's and with many recipe variations

2 oz North Shore Eldergin
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes Orange Bitters

Stir ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of fresh lemon peel.

Elder Cheer
2 oz White Rum
1 oz North Shore Eldergin
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
½ oz 2:1 Simple Syrup
2 drops Bittercube Jamaica #1 Bitters

Shake ingredients with ice; strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

Eldergin & Tonic
2 oz North Shore Eldergin
3 oz Good Tonic Water (Fever Tree and Q are our favorites)

Fill glass with ice; add Eldergin and tonic water, stir. Garnish with fresh lemon twist.

Hobson Cocktail
History: Not clear, but dates to the early 1900's. Source is cocktaildb.com

1½ oz North Shore Eldergin
½ oz Orange Curacao
¼ oz Sirene Absinthe Verte

Stir ingredients with ice; strain into chilled cocktail glass.

The Spice Trade
by Christopher at 2 Sparrows
1 oz North Shore Eldergin
1 oz Carpano Antica
1/2 oz aperol
1/2 oz apricot liqueur
1/2 oz lemon juice
Simple Syrup to taste
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Ccombine all ingredients and shake witj ice. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Eldergin Fizz
2 oz North Shore Eldergin
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Orange Liqueur
Club Soda

Shake first three ingredient with ice, strain into tall glass filled with fresh ice. Top with soda, stir well. Garnish with orange wheel.

Ten Cent Pistol
By J. Bestul, North Shore Tasting Room
1 oz Cognac
1 oz North Shore Eldergin
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash simple syrup
Shake ingredients with ice, strain into champagne flute. Top with champagne, garnish with lemon twist.

Elder Price Cocktail
by Adam and Jen Murphy
1½ oz Pisco
1 oz North Shore Eldergin
1½ oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
¼ oz Gran Classico Bitter

Shake ingredients with ice; strain into chilled coupe glass. shake/strain/coupe

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us!

Favorite Recipes using Local Ingredients

We do lots of local events where we make cocktails with local produce, as well as products from other local producers. In most cases, we allow ourselves one exception per drink, to allow for citrus to balance, etc. However, we try to be 100% local where we can. Here are some of the cocktails from these events, using a variety of ingredients and flavors.

Simple and Elegant
Modeled on Classics
Seasonal or Advanced

Chitown Mule
2 oz North Shore Vodka
1 oz Koval Ginger Liqueur
1/2 a Lime
Club Soda
Homemade Bitters (or orange ones)

Fill a tall glass with ice. Squeeze lime juice into glass, drop in lime shell. Add vodka, liqueur and a couple of dashes of bitters, then top with soda. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.

Chicago 75
History: Modeled after the famed French 75.
1 oz Distiller's Gin No. 6
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
½ oz Koval Ginger Liqueur
Dash of Simple Syrup for balance (1:1)
Metropolitan's Krankshaft Kolsch

Shake firest three ingredients with ice; strain into champagne flute. Top with Krankshaft, and garnish with a lemon curl.

Black Dynamite
By Natalie Converse at In Fine Spirits
¾ oz North Shore Vodka
¾ oz Black Raspberry-Honey Syrup
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Metropolitan's Dynamo Lager

Shake first three ingredients with ice; strain into chilled coupe glass. Top with Dynamo lager, garnish with an orange wheel.

Spiced Apple Sparkler
1½ oz Aquavit-Private Reserve
¼ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
¼ oz Simple Syrup
1½ oz Local Hard Cider or Wine (such as August Hill Apple Infusion)
Shake first three ingredients with ice; strain into coupe glass. Top with chilled cider. Garnish with slice of local apple.

Muddled Mary
History: A fresh take on the Bloody Mary, which was invited in the 1910's.
1½ oz Aquavit-Private Reserve
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
3-4 Local Cherry Tomatoes
Few Sprigs of Fresh Garden Herbs (Basil, Oregano, Thyme, etc.)

Muddle tomatoes, simple, herbs and lemon. Add Aquavit and ice, shake well. Strain into cocktail glass, garnish with cherry tomato on rim.

Blueberry-Basil Lemonade
1 oz North Shore Vodka
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
3/4 oz Water
6-8 local blueberries
2 leaves fresh local Basil

Muddle blueberries and basil. Add vodka, lemon, simple, water. Stir, then pour into tall ice-filled glass. Garnish with additional sprig of fresh basil.

 

Apricot Fizz
History: A play on the classic gin fizz.
2 oz Distiller's Gin No. 11
1 oz Aperol Liqueur
2½ oz Apricot Puree (from local apricots, if you can get 'em)
½ oz Club Soda

Shake first three ingredients with ice; strain into ice-filled tumbler. Top with soda. Garnish with slices of fresh apricot.

Cucumber Caipiroska
1½ oz North Shore Vodka
3/4 oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
4 Lime Wedges
4 Local Cucumber Wheels
Fresh Local Oregano

Muddle lime, 3 cucumber wheels, simple syrup and oregano in glass. Add vodka and ice, then shake well. Pour shaker contents back into glass. Garnish with cucumber wheel.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us

Housemade Ingredients

Sometimes, our recipes call for ingredients you can't buy in any store. Most of the time, they're easy to make, and they'll definitely make your drinks better. Here are the recipes for syrups and other homemade ingredients we often use.

Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

If you're using it right away, you can simply shake them together until the sugar dissolves.

If you plan to keep the syrup for any period of time, heat them on the stove together, stirring often, and simmer for 1 minute. Cool completely, then store in the refrigerator up to 1 month.

Cranberry Ginger Simple Syrup
1½ cup sugar
1 cup water
½ cup fresh cranberries
1" fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced

Combine ingredients in saucepan and bring to slow simmer, stirring often. Simmer for 5 minutes then remove from heat. Smash berries with potato masher. Allow mixture to cool completely, then strain mixture into clean glass container; store in refrigerator up to 1 month.

Rosemary Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
5 - 5" stalks of rosemary

Place sugar and water in a saucepan; pull leaves from rosemary stalks, and add to pan. With a muddler, briefly muddle the rosemary with the sugar. Bring to a simmer, stirring often. Simmer 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool completely, then strain out rosemary. Store in refrigerator up to 1 month.

Raspberry Syrup
3 cups fresh raspberries
1 cup sugar
½ cup water

Puree raspberries, then pour into saucepan. Add sugar and water. Bring to a simmer, then cool. Double strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove solids. Store syrup in refrigerator for up to 1 month. Recipe recommended by J. Bestul.

Ginger Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
5" fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced

Combine ingredients in saucepan. Bring to simmer, stirring often. Simmer 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Strain out ginger pieces. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Honey Syrup
1 cup honey
1/2 cup water

Heat in a saucepan, stirring often to dissolve honey. Once honey has fully dissolved with the water (usually before boiling), remove from heat. Allow to cool completely, then store in clean glass jar in the refrigerator.

Brandied Cherries
1 pound dark, sweet cherries, pitted
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup brandy
Cinnamon stick
Ground cardamom

Combine the sugar, water, lemon juice, a dash of cardamom, and the cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Add cherries, and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cool for a few minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and stir in the brandy. Cool completely, then store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. Cherries will keep for several months, as long as they are fully covered by the liquid.

Have a favorite recipe you don't see here? Please send it to us!