Distiller's Gin No. 6

Distiller's Gin No. 6

On the banks of Lake Michigan, just a few miles north of Chicago, Derek Kassebaum, master distiller at North Shore Distillery, rests his hand on his 250-liter hand-hammered copper pot still. Kassebaum, who has been distilling spirits for eight years, personally traveled to Germany to oversee production of the still, which he nicknamed Ethel. The still is rather unique aside from using a water bath to heat the wash (which ensures that Kassebaum has unparalleled control over the spirits he produces), the still also has its own twitter feed. Kassebaum spent months with Ethel, experimenting with different varieties of botanicals and recipes before bringing Distiller's Gin No. 6 to market. While the final recipe remains a secret, Kassebaum confessed to us that the gin was made using ten different botanicals, including juniper, cardamom, fresh lemons and lavender. While each batch of gin is made from the same recipe, Kassebaum says, he monitors each distillation to ensure the batch meets his exacting standards for flavor and quality. Once satisfied, Kassebaum and his team fill and label the bottles, and he personally autographs each bottle by hand. This attention to detail earned Distiller's Gin No. 6 the Gold Medal the 2008 Beverage Tasting Institute Competition and the title "Best Gin"by Chicago Magazine. Made in the style of a London Dry Gin, Distiller's Gin No. 6 is more complex and well-balanced. Pick up a bottle and tell Ethel how much you appreciate her today!