History North Shore Distillery is Illinois' original craft distillery and was established in 2004. The founders are Derek Kassebaum, Master Distiller and co-founder, and Sonja Kassebaum, Chief Cocktail Nerd and co-founder. According to the company's descriptions, they operate as Spirited Artists and produce spirits by hand and in small batches.

Production / Manufacturing The distillery focuses on handcrafted spirits with fine ingredients, small batches, and the use of local inputs where possible. The water comes from Lake Michigan, and production centers around Ethel the Still (250 L), used for all products.

The production approach varies between their different products: - Bourbon: Made from a high-rye sour corn mash (78% corn, 22% rye). Fermentation occurs in-house with a proprietary yeast blend. Distillation occurs through Ethel the Still and aged in new, full-sized American oak barrels for a minimum of 7 years, with the youngest whiskey in the blend at 7 years (and a 7+ year age statement on the label). Alcohol strength: 93 proof (46.5% ABV). - North Shore American Malt Whisky (2025 edition): 100% malted barley. Fermentation in-house and a single-pot distillation. Aged in used bourbon barrels and matured for 7–9 years. Alcohol strength about 42.5% ABV. This is their version of the newly defined American Single Malt Whisky. - General production principles: small batches, in-house processing and aging, use of oak barrels and meticulous craftsmanship to achieve unique flavor profiles.

Products / Whisky Series North Shore Bourbon - ABV: 46.5% ABV (93 proof) - Age statement: Aged in new full-sized American oak barrels for a minimum of 7 years; the youngest whiskey in the blend is 7 years. - Tasting notes: Nose – vanilla, allspice, notes of oak and a hint of dried fig; Taste – full, rich and warm with deep spices and apple; Finish – notes of white pepper and maple. - Availability: Initially available at the distillery and in select retailers in the Midwest region.

North Shore American Malt Whisky (2025 edition) - ABV: 42.5% ABV (85 proof) - Age profile: 7–9 years (oldest in the blend among the blend); youngest whiskey in the blend around 7 years. - Tasting notes: Nose – rich notes of date and roasted almonds; Palate – baked apples and nutmeg; Finish – mature oak. - Notes: Only available at the distillery.

Events and Visits - North Pole Distillery Holiday Pop-Up: December 3, 2025 – January 3, 2026. Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 4–9 pm, Friday and Saturday 4–10 pm, Sunday 2–7 pm. Holiday menu and special events (e.g., Holiday Sing-a-long on December 20). The pop-up offers a Christmas-inspired experience in NSD's space and is suitable for corporate and social events (10–100 people). - Public distillery tours: Classic Distillery Tour (about 60–75 minutes, $15 per person, max 15 people) includes guided tastings; Cocktail Distillery Tour ($30, 60–75 minutes) with cocktail inspiration and tour; Geek Out Tour ($50, 2.5–4 hours) with deeper insights into production; themed tours and private events as needed (booking requires advance arrangement). - Private events: NSD's tasting room is offered as a venue for social or corporate events (2–10 or up to 100+ guests); cocktail and menu design at no extra cost; contact for a set of guidelines and further information.

Philosophy and Approach North Shore Distillery describes itself as Spirited Artists, producing incredibly delicious spirits by hand. The message is an approach based on ingredients, methods to refine distillation and aging through infusion and storage processes; the goal is fresh, original, and inspired flavor in every bottle. They see themselves as craftsmen and artists who prioritize local ingredients and small-batch production to preserve uniqueness and character.