Letherbee Distillers

Illinois
USA
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Letherbee Distillers

Illinois
USA
USA
PRODUCER
ESTABLISHED
FARMING PRACTICE
REGION
Illinois
USA
CITY / VILLAGE
CLIMATE
ELEVATION
SIZE

About

The goal was just to make some good booze. Bartender Brenton Engel was cooking up his own moonshine and it gained such a level of cult popularity that he was inspired to start Letherbee — an independent artisan distillery. The signature concoction would be a distinctive yet versatile gin, made from a recipe developed by Brent and fine tuned based on feedback from colleagues through the Chicago bar scene.

With absolutely no influence from outside investors or marketers, the team of bartenders at Letherbee now distills and produces a range of craft botanical spirits including the aforementioned flagship gin, seasonal variants released semi-annually, barrel-aged absinthe, fernet, and bësk – based on a recipe developed by cohort Robert Haynes. Across the board, Letherbee spirits are made for “wellness” — not only to enliven the discerning drinker but to stock the arsenal of the professional bartender

Products

Original Label Gin

TYPE
Gin
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
DETAILS

Few gins unfold like Letherbee’s flagship tipple, distilled by hand with a clean yet robust blend of 11 botanicals. Juniper spearheads a mélange of spices, including coriander, cardamom, and cinnamon, while cubeb berries evoke a touch of pepper and a hint of ginger in the finish. Lemon and orange peel lend the dry, balanced concoction a bit of room for keen drinkers to pick up subtle notes of licorice and almond. 96 Proof. Neutral grain base. Pot still- maceration method. 160 gallon batches. Un-chill filtered.

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Fernet

TYPE
Liqueur / Bitter
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
DETAILS

Letherbee’s freshly refined take on the signature digestif is smooth, perhaps startlingly so. The prominence of saffron evokes popular Fernets, but supporting notes of rhubarb root and myrrh gum scaffold the palate as to not let bitter notes overpower. Spearmint and eucalyptus lend a subtle, pleasant mentholated finish. Given Letherbee’s penchant for balanced flavors, this Fernet is versatile. Over 20 botanicals in total are used. 70 Proof.

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Besk

TYPE
Liqueur / Botanical
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
DETAILS

that empower the underlying details of Letherbee Original Label Gin to shine through. Tasting Notes: After a year in these magnificent casks, this gin developed a nose evoking pine forests threaded with smoke and enriched with the warm aromas of allspice and toasted almonds. Flavors like hazelnut, caramel, green coffee beans, and cut grass make us imagine our Original Label Gin pulled on a cozy autumn sweater and headed out for a misty hike in the hills.

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Charred Oak Absinthe Brun

TYPE
Absinthe
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
DETAILS

Letherbee's Barrel-Aged Absinthe draws its caramel hue from a six-month stint in unused, charred-oak casks (53 gallon). A classic white absinthe (anise seed, fennel, wormwood with a neutral grain base) recipe mellows in the aging process, softening the anise notes to let sumptuous floral and spice layers resonate. Besides the color, the full-sized barrels also imbue the Absinthe Brun with toasty hints of vanilla and caramel. Bottled at 126 proof, the spirit-forward drink is an addictive sipper that can also add depth to a variety of cocktails.

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Autumnal Gin

TYPE
Gin
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
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Vernal Gin

TYPE
Gin
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
DETAILS

For this Spring and Summer we have beautifully captured and preserved the freshest of peach aromatics side kicked by the grounding green vegetal qualities of basil - all joined with many of the classic botanicals found in Letherbee's OG. No chill filtration. 96 proof. 150 cs produced.

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Autumnal Pear Cordial

TYPE
Liqueur
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
DETAILS

Sustainable. Juice from Bosc and Bartlett pears farmed by King Orchards in Michigan, a small-family run orchard, is fortified to arrest fermentation and create a cordial (aka liqueur). Letherbee used a combination of their own gin along with a neutral grain spirit that's been distilled with bay leaves (to add a savory/herbal element) to create a spirit quite similar to a pommeau but with more depth complexity. It's acid-driven and low-alcohol creation that is most enjoyed straight from the chilled bottle or in a highball. Technically, this is a ‘cordial’ but could be approached more like sherry, pommeau, or light vermouth.

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Strawberry Cordial

TYPE
Liqueur
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
DETAILS

Sustainable. Letherbee starts with strawberry juice sweetened with local honey. Fortified with a combination of Letherbee original gin and neutral spirit. After, the cordial is steeped with neutral French oak staves, cardamon, and fennel. Lower proof- around 16% alcohol

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