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Trying Everything from North Shore Distillery
Proof66 had the great privilege to welcome Sonja Kassebaum from Chicago*sq*s own North Shore Distillery at one of our tastings. It*sq*s always a pleasure to watch a professional at work and Sonja was in rare form for us that night. Of course, it helps to have your palate seduced with great vodka, gin, and absinthe to go with the lecture but make no mistake about it, she does something vitally important in the spirits world: she makes it fun to try things.
This was abundantly clear from her opening remarks over our introductory cocktail the Moscow Mule. "This is the drink that taught America to drink vodka,” Sonja announced as she mentioned its history with movie stars, its recipe of lime, sometimes the sweet Rose*sq*s Lime Juice, vodka (her own North Shore Vodka, of course), and the ginger beer. "A light, refreshing summer drink!"
Moscow Mule
2 oz North Shore Vodka
½ a fresh lime
Ginger Beer
Pour vodka into tall glass, press lime juice into glass and drop in the lime. Fill with ice, top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedge if desired.
"Wait!" a man called anxiously from the corner. "Are we supposed to put the lime wedge in the drink?"
You see, the poor fellow had been presented with an unfamiliar drink with a garnish. Should he treat it like the lime wedge in a Corona beer and pop it in? Was it decoration? What was the right move?!
Sonja*sq*s a pro and she gets it. "Whatever you like," she told him crisply. Then winked at him and said: "I do!" Then she plunked the lime in the drink and knocked back half of it one go. In that moment, she absolutely personified what we feel the cocktail culture and fine spirits should be about: get a little educated, understand what you*sq*re drinking, and then - above all - drink what you like.
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