Mango gin? There might be few distilleries you could trust with such an idea but North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff, Illinois is an artisan distillery up to the task. The distillery cooks up several flavors of vodka, aquavit, absinthe and the Alphonso Mango No. 11, a limited single-batch spirit for summer. The gin uses the Alphonso mangoes which are smaller than traditional mangoes and peach-like in their juicy sweetness.

To create the mango gin each mango was hand peeled, pitted and sliced before being placed in a 155 proof version of the North Shore Distillery's No. 11 gin. After several weeks, the fruit was then removed and the liquid was pressed out with a small grape press. Each bottle contains a little bit of fruit pulp. Because gin is more flavorful than vodka, the overall taste includes not just fruit but also a touch of spiciness from the botanicals used in the gin. The distillery recommends it be served on the rocks or with a splash of soda and muddled strawberries. With just 256 bottles made, this one is a really limited edition and only found in the Chicago area.

[via Evanston Review]