Matt Altman shows off bottles of his CD (Catalina Dynastii) Vodka at his vodka distillery, Mid-Oak Distillery in Midlothian. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Master distiller Paul Hletko gives out samples of his product at FEW Spirits in Evanston. | Jerry Daliege~For Sun-Times Media

Sonja Kassebaum, of Gurnee and co-founder of the North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff, pours a shot of vodka into a Strawberry Basil Smash mixed drink at the distillery's bar. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Sonja Kassebaum is a co-founder of North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times Media

Owner Robert Birnecker pours mash into the distiller at Koval Distillery, 5121 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago. | Sun-Times photo

The Summer in Stereo is made with North Shore Distillery's Gin No. 6, simple syrup (made from honey, sugar, water, cinnamon and cardamom), Stereo Sparkling Blend and lime mixed at the North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Some of the mixed drinks that Sonja Kassebaum, of Gurnee and co-founder of the North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff, has prepared include the Strawberry Basil Smash (left), Summer in Stereo (center) and Spiced Mule. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Bottles for tasting are on display at FEW Spirits in Evanston. Bottles retail between $46 and $65. | Sun-Times photo

The Cucumber Fizz mixed drink is made from North Shore Distillery's Sol Chamomile Citrus Vodka, cucumber, lime, simple syrup made from water and sugar, and pineapple sage mixed at the North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Chamomile Citrus Vodka empties from a still named Ethel into a 5-gallon carboy at the North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times Media

Master distiller Derek Kassebaum from North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff fills a 5-gallon carboy with distilled Chamomile Citrus Vodka. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times Media

FEW Spirits founder Paul Hletko describes the process of distilling gin in Evanston. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times Media