When I drink, I drink good stuff. I’m not a college kid who wants to drink a $12 case of “beer”. Occasionally, I enjoy a cocktail. When I do, I go to my carefully-chosen bottles and usually mix up classic drinks from my little red Mr. Boston guide. One of my favorite classic drinks is a classic martini. I’m not talking about vodka. I’m not using a vermouth spritzer. I mix it the traditional way (or close to it). I’m talking about 2, maybe 3 parts gin to 1 part vermouth. It’s all about taste and balance though, so your preferences may lead you to a different ratio. When I reach for a gin, I try to always have North Shore Distillery’s Gin No. 6 on hand. It has an elegant, complex, yet balanced flavor profile that you don’t get with the ubiquitous blue-bottled competitor. As you can see from the links on their site, I’m not alone in my judgment of this gin–this elixir has won numerous awards. I also like this company because it’s local. They put effort into making great products as locally as possible. From Lake Michigan water, the locally-grown grain, to organic and wild botanicals, they put the “craft” in craft distilling. North Shore makes a number of great products, from vodka to aquavit. I got to sample just about everything they make at a recent tasting event at The Corkscrew in Urbana, where I met Sonja Kassebaum (owner, with her husband, Derek). Talking with her, I can tell how much care they put into their products. Sonja writes her own blog, Thinking of Drinking, where she writes about everything from new cocktail recipes to the latest issues affecting distillers. Over time I’ll post more reviews of my favorite beverages from soda to distilled beverages, and all proofs in between. Some time soon, try something new or make your favorite cocktail. Let me know in the comments what your favorite cocktails are.