CRAFTED COCKTAILS

CRAFTED

COCKTAILS

TAKE A TRIP ON A NORTHERN ILLINOIS ILLINOIS DISTILLERY DISTILLERY TOUR TOUR TO TRY TRY THESE THESE 5 SPOTS5 SPOTS

By Diane Krieger Spivak Photos provided by Black Dog Distillery, Kennay Farms Distillery and Whiskey Acres

For aficionados of whisky, brandy, gin and other spirits, the burgeoning distillery trade is like heaven on earth. Local distilleries have made it possible to embrace a myriad of oneof-a-kind cocktail creations to excite the palate and soothe the soul.

Take a trip to one — or all — of these distilleries in the Neighborhood Tourist region and taste for yourself.

¢ BLACK DOG DISTILLERY 10038 Clow Creek Road, Plainfield 630-946-6532 www.blackdogdistillery.com Black Dog’s signature cocktail is its Lavender Vodka Lemonade. The name alone makes one salivate. “It’s our most requested drink at fairs and fests,” says co-founder and master distiller Keith Moore. The libation consists of organic lemonade, Black Dog’s own lavender vodka and a local honey syrup. Black Dog does vodka and rums exclusively. “We do clear spirits,” says Moore. “Because we distill with sugar cane we’re naturally gluten-free. You can come in and sample our products, have a cocktail. If you like it, you can buy a bottle and take it home.” In 2017, USA Today ranked Black Dog as No. 4 out of the top 10 craft vodka distilleries in the country. A percentage of all sales and proceeds from a number of events each year go to local animal shelters. Watch its Facebook page for events.

A Feast fo Sensesrthe

GENEVA • SHOP • EAT • DRINK • PLAY • STAY

Seasons change, but Geneva is always a treat to behold. Spark your creative side as you shop for the perfect gift among our over 140 specialty shops. While downtown, stimulate your palate at one of our many wonderful eateries, wineries and taverns. Delight in the autumn foliage along our beautiful bike trails. Come back in December to marvel at a sparkling winter wonderland. Refresh and replenish with an overnight stay at one of our bed and breakfasts or fine hotels. Anytime is the right time to visit Geneva! For more info and trip planning tools, go to genevachamber.com. We hope to see you soon!

¢ KENNAY FARMS DISTILLING 416 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle 815-901-1512 www.kennayfarmsdistilling.com A historical building, the 1930s former Hub Theatre, houses family-owned Kennay Farms Distilling in downtown Rochelle. A tasting bar in the theater’s mezzanine area overlooks the production area located in the former movie section. “We have several wonderful cocktails,” says Doris Kennay, who co-owns the distillery with her husband, Rick.

The Cowsmoopolitan, an obvious spin on the true Cosmo, is a martini with Kennay’s vodka, cranberry juice and a little orange juice shaken and served in a martini glass. The Dee’s Donkey, named after a real-life donkey from the farm’s past, is a spin on the Moscow mule. “We use a lot of our grains in our products,” says Kennay. “Our vodka is 100% corn that we grow. We mill it on our farm and bring it over to the distillery to make our spirits. Any byproduct is returned to the farm and fed to cattle.”

¢ RUSH CREEK DISTILLING 1501 W. Diggins St., Harvard 815-943-7874 www.rushcreekdistilling.com

Rush Creek Distilling in Harvard changes up its signature cocktail quarterly. “I try to do one cocktail per spirit that we have,” says Rush Creek’s Alyssa Stricker. One winter, the distillery offered a jalapeño-infused vodka, a barrel rested gin and a vanilla-infused vodka. “It’s all natural, unlike a lot of things you’d buy at the store with artificial flavorings and colorings.” Rush Creek has posted more than 40 recipes on its website for those who like crafting their cocktails from home.

¢ STAR UNION SPIRITS 300 Fifth St., Peru 815-205-1234 www.starunionspirits.com If you want to enjoy your spirits in a historic setting, check out Star Union Spirits in Peru. This artisanal, smallbatch distillery operates out of the former Westclox factory building. Star Union boasts two signature cocktails: a brandy Old-Fashioned and a Club Cocktail, which includes cherry brandy, house-made maraschino liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, a little ginger ale, lime and a Luxardo cherry. “Our very exotic drink, called the Enchanted Garden, is cherry brandy, a muddled cucumber and jalapeño, jalapeño syrup, ginger syrup, pomegranate juice, lime juice and a little seltzer,” says co-founder Bob Windy. Cherry brandy is one of their top-selling spirits.

¢ WHISKEY ACRES 11504 Keslinger Road, DeKalb 844-494-4753 www.whiskeyacres.com Whiskey Acres is located on a thirdgeneration family farm in DeKalb: Walter Farms, which grows its own corn, wheat and rye. “We use the cream of the crop as grain to make bourbon whiskey, rye and some other things here,” says Nick Nagele, coowner. A 4,000-square-foot visitor’s center adjacent to the distillery welcomes thousands of visitors a year to hang out in front of the fireplace, look out the windows and see the farm, says Nagele. In warmer weather, visitors can play lawn games outside. Whiskey Advocate magazine named Whiskey Acres one of the top six visionaries in whiskey making in 2018. “It’s a stone’s throw from planting to bottling and everything in between. That’s very unique and specific to Illinois and the industry in general,” says Nagele. Whiskey Acres is famous for its Bourbon Slush, an entry-level cocktail for those a little apprehensive about bourbon and whiskey. It’s made with bourbon, black tea, lemonade, orange juice and a splash of ginger ale. There’s also a bourbon aficionado’s cocktail in the form of an Old-Fashioned. “We infuse our simple syrup with barrel char from our whiskey barrels, and make this wonderful, smoky, complex OldFashioned,” says Nagele.