"In wine there is wisdom, in beer, there is freedom, in water there is bacteria," said U.S. Founding Father and esteemed libation consumer Benjamin Franklin.
It is Lake County Libation Trail month, and you should visit one of our breweries, wineries and distilleries eager sip the night away.
Surely 21 irresistible Lake County libations can't account for all of the bountiful treats these makers create and distribute, but it gives you a fantastic overview of the plethora of flavors to quench your thirst.
Bevies of adult beverage drinkers can start the year checking off one thing on their New Year's resolution list: tasting 21 irresistible Lake County libations.
This delicious red wine has aged in oak for an average of 25 years. The 17 percent ABV vino is jam-packed with butterscotch and maple syrup flavors. In the 2018 Central Coast Wine Competition, the Grayslake winery's fortified port wine was awarded the "Best Dessert Wine" for the second year running.
Glunz Family Winery and Cellars, 888 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake.
The Wheeling winery's red wine contains a concoction of 70 percent cabernet sauvignon, 25 percent merlot and five percent petite sirah. The Lynfred wine complements dishes like beef, lamb, venison, spicy food and poultry very well. The vino is also called Vin de City Red.
Seyval Blanc is harvested late in the season and barrel aged for 364 days. The white wine has an array of flavors like a floral bouquet boasting hints of honey, oak and sweetness. At times, a natural post fermentation will occur in the bottle giving the beverage a champagne taste.
Valentino Vineyards, 5175 Aptakisic Rd., Long Grove.
The Kaleidoscope is a semi-sweet fusion of the vineyard’s St. Pepin, LaCrescent and Somerset wines. The melody of flavors includes tropical citrus, peach apricot and strawberry.
Vigneto del Bino Winery, 42150 Crawford Rd., Antioch.
"Gimme a liddle fiddle." The taste of this whiskey encompasses notes of caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, butterscotch and toasty oak. The 92 proof, 46 percent ABV small batch beverage is made in their old style copper pot that was still made from Arkansas. The Lake Zurich distillery urges libation-ers to drink the bourbon whiskey neat or on the rocks with a lemon peel.
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. Route 22, Lake Zurich.
This unique spirit is balanced with juniper, citrus, spice and floral notes. The No. 6 Gin has won numerous awards and was reviewed by the Chicago Tribune and New York Times receiving high praise. The 90 proof libation has 45 percent alcohol and tastes exception with a diverse range of cocktails.
North Shore Distillery, 13990 Rockland Rd., Green Oaks.
The Scotch Ale “Wee Heavy” is the perfect year-round libation in Lake County for the brisker forecast. The sweet-tinted ale, also that may be a bit overweight, as it contains a 7.3 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and rated 20 on the International Bittering Units scale. Due to the higher ABV content, the Mundelein brewery limits customers to only two of the pints in one visit.
Bosacki’s Home Brew, 610 E. Hawley St., Mundelein.
This concoction was created as an autumn festival in your mouth, but now is a year-round drink (best drank in the fall). Bruno Mars’s “24K Magic” can’t compare to the Long Grove brew home’s Belgian strong ale. The 42K is actually the water connection expenses Buffalo Creek Brewery had to pay for their facility expansion. Like the cost of the fee, the ABV stands at a high 10.5 percent and is rated 31 IBUs. You’ll never taste the exact same 42K as the last because the two yeast strains integrated into the beverage change the flavor of the malt.
Buffalo Creek Brewing Company, 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove.
The 5.3 percent ABV lager is a Bavarian-style helles with a light and clean finish. The libation can be purchased in the facility, in howlers to take home and now they're canning Helles-Ya in 16-ounce cans, distributed in four packs.
Flesk Brewing Company, 200 Applebee St. Suite E, Barrington.
The Barrel Aged Warrior Paint Imperial Coffee is taking a victory lap through the Lincolnshire brewing company. The 11-percent ABV stout is brewed with Mexican coffee beans from Bannockburn’s Newport Coffee House. Beautiful aromas of molasses and coffee waft from this libation and the scents are paired with hints of oak and vanilla.
Half Day Brewing Co., 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire.
The hops are out of this world in this double IPA. Clocking in at 8.6 percent ABV, is dry hopped with Citra and it tastes like a tropical fruit salad. According to the Libertyville brewery, no pineapples were harmed in the production of the beer.
Mickey Finn’s Brewery, 345 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.
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