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A Rare Creation - U.S. Made Aquavit
North Shore Aquavit....750ml
Most common in Scandinavia, aquavit is a truly enjoyable spirit. In that part of the world, you can find many small and large-batch aquavits with widely varying flavors. In the U.S., the selection is far more limited. In Chicago, we have only found five aquavits (and only 3 are common), all of which are imported. We thought it was high time one was produced on this side of the ocean.
By the U.S. government's definition, aquavit's dominant flavor must be caraway seed (most commonly found in rye bread). Beyond that, the distiller uses his or her own artistic flair to add additional flavors and qualities to the spirit.
Aquavit - Private Reserve has a complex balance of spices and flavors. We begin with hand-selected botanicals from all over the world, including caraway, cumin, and coriander. These botanicals are macerated and distilled with the alcohol, and we age the spirit in new American oak to soften and meld the flavors. Unlike other aquavits, we do not add caramel coloring. All of the flavor and color is natural, and are the direct result of our process.
Enjoying Aquavit - Private Reserve
Aquavit is traditionally enjoyed chilled and straight, but it can also be sipped neat. Being avid mixologists, we have some fun and savory cocktail recipes with it as well. Visit our Cocktail Repository to find some favorite recipes with Aquavit - Private Reserve.
This spirit received 95 points - Exceptional Rating from the Beverage Testing Institute in November 2008 and was the Highest Rated Aquavit
Tasting notes: "Yellow straw color with a chartreuse cast. vibrant and stimulating aromas of pink peppercorns, cardamom, lemongrass, medicinal roots and herbs, and sandalwood follow through on a silky entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with a touch of tilled earth a long, spicy fade. Excellent flavor, purity and depth.
This spirit also received a Gold Medal in the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and in July 2008 the folks at Spirits Review awarded it a 9 out of 10, and described it as "[i]ncredibly smooth and seductively aromatic - especially for an aquavit."
North Shore Absinthe Verte....750ml
Introducing Sirène Absinthe Verte
Like the sirens of Greek mythology, Sirène will tempt you. With a beautiful, nuanced aroma and flavor, Sirène embodies the rich tradition and history of absinthe.
Absinthe has always been a favorite spirit at North Shore Distillery - first as a curiosity on our world travels, then as a fascination. We have tasted many variations and have been working on our own recipes for years. Now that is possible to actually introduce one to the market, we are excited to share this incredible absinthe with you.
Creating Sirène
We take a traditional approach to creating Sirène. We use the traditional trinity of absinthe ingredients along with a proprietary blend of additional herbs and spices to create Sirène's richness and complexity. The process requires a significant amount of time, preparation and botanicals, but the result is worth the effort.
Enjoying Sirène Absinthe
Absinthe is traditionally enjoyed in a drip. Pour about an ounce of absinthe in to an absinthe glass or a rocks glass. Then place an absinthe spoon on the glass and place a sugar cube (optional) on the spoon. If you do not have an absinthe spoon you can just add simple syrup to your absinthe. Then you drip ice cold water over your sugar cube and in to the absinthe. You can use an absinthe fountain or simply a carafe of ice water. We recommend having your first drip with three parts water and one part absinthe. Then adjust the water next time to your personal taste.
