Chicago-based Halsted Vodka, which donates 15% of its profits to causes benefitting the local LGBT community, has some holiday mixing ideas.
Halsted Vodka launched in Chicago a little more than a year ago and has supported numerous local LGBT groups and events including:
— The Legacy Project & The Legacy Walk
— About Face Theatre
— The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
— Fred Says
— GLAAD
— Most Fabulous Santa Speedo Run benefiting The Center on Halsted LGBT Senior Center
— Equality Illinois
— Pride Films & Plays
— The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus
— Chicago Rowing Union
— Windy City Performing Arts
— Lesbian Community Cares Project at Howard Brown
— ChiGayGo LGBT Comedy Showcase at The Laugh Factory
— The Center on Halsted
— LGBT Diversity events at the Steppenwolf Theatre and The Goodman Theatre
— Sweetie Maud, LGBT non-profit theatre presentation
— Easy Abby, lesbian web series
— AIDS Foundation of Chicago
— Dining Out for Life
Here are “The Twelve Cocktails of Christmas ala Halsted Vodka”:
The Halsted Dasher
A classic “pink” martini with a dash of Angostura bitters
1 oz Halsted Vodka
1 oz pink grapefruit juice
A dash of Angostura bitters
The Halsted Dancer
A gingertini with fresh juice that dances on your tongue
1 ½ oz Halsted Vodka
1 ½ oz ginger liqueur (eg. Canton)
Squeeze of fresh lime juice
The Halsted Prancer
An espresso martini to get you prancing around the room
2 oz Halsted Vodka
1 oz cold espresso
½ oz Kahlua or simple sugar mix
The Halsted Vixen
A foxy, woodland martini with the nutty taste of Frangelico
2 oz Halsted Vodka
1 oz Frangelico
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
The Halsted Comet
A classic martini with a sparkler
2 oz Halsted Vodka
Dash of vermouth to coat the glass
Serve with a sparkler
The Halsted Cupid
A martini made with Chambord raspberry liqueur
2 oz Halsted Vodka
1 oz Pineapple juice
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur (eg. Chambord)
The Halsted Donner
Donner means “thunder” in German so here’s a dirty martini with thunderclouds.
2 oz Halsted Vodka
2 teaspoons of olive juice
Dash of vermouth to coat the glass
The Halsted Blitzen
Blitzen means “lightning” in German so a martini with a lemon “bolt”
2 oz Halsted Vodka
½ oz Limoncello
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple sugar mix
Serve with a lemon peel garnish
The Halsted Rudolph
A maraschino cherry makes Rudolph’s famous red nose
2 oz Halsted Vodka
1 oz cranberry juice
½ oz triple sec
Dash of fresh lime juice
Serve with a maraschino cheer on a cocktail stick
The Halsted Olive
You guessed it, a classic martini with a Kalamata olive
2 oz Halsted Vodka
Dash of vermouth to coat the glass
Serve with a Kalamata
The Halsted Fireball
A hot cinnamon martini made with Fireball
2 oz Halsted Vodka
1 oz Cinnamon liqueur (eg. Fireball)
Dash of grenadine
The Halsted Clarice
A sweet chocolatini for Rudolph’s sweetheart
2 oz Halsted Vodka
1 oz Crème de Cacao
½ oz cherry brandy (or try 1 oz Kahlua)
Shake all the ingredients over ice and serve in a martini glass.
Halsted Vodka is available at Binny’s in Lakeview & Lincoln Park; Andersonville Wine & Spirits; Independent Spirits in Edgewater and a number of LGBT bars in Chicago including Sidetrack and Crew. To learn more and show your support visit www.halstedvodka.com or www.facebook.com/halstedvodka.