1. 6 | APRIL 21, 2016 SHEPHERD EXPRESS | STEIN & DINE
DISTILLED TO
DISTINCTION
BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE
LOVES BEER
O
ne guy. One shed. One uncommonly smooth vodka. It’s the story
of Grant Van Driest and Van Drastic Vodka. A former math teach, Van
Driest lives with his wife in the small Wisconsin town of Cedar Grove—a
place with strong Dutch history and teetotaler leanings—so naturally,
Van Driest became a vodka distiller. Operating in his shed—federally
licensed, of course (no bathtub or bootleg booze here)—his vodka is handmade
and hand bottled, and the bottles are truly unique, featuring artwork re-created
from Van Driest’s own paintings. They change with each year, so no two years are
the same. The vodka is crafted in small batches from locally sourced grain. It’s then
distilled three times and, finally, filtered 10 times for a vodka that is as smooth as
satin with absolutely no burn. Drink it over ice or try it in one of the recipes below,
each paired with a complementary cheese. Van Drastic has paired up with Philly’s
Premium Beverages to create a tasty cocktail. Do you have a sweet tooth? Try the
Drastic Beaver. Do you love a salty snack? Go with the classic dirty martini.
For more of Van Driest’s story, visit vandrastic.com. The vodka is distributed by Philly’s
Premium Beverages.
M O B I L E F O O D F E S T
RIDE
& WIN
S H E P H E R D E X P R E S S . C O M / S T R E E T E AT S
C ATA L A N O S Q U A R E // J U N E 3 // 4 - 8 P M
@SUMMER STARTS
ENJOY NUMEROUS
LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS & CARTS
Music from
J. RYAN TRIO
An EXCLUSIVE release from
LAKEFRONT BREWERY
GET TO KNOW VAN DRASTIC VODKA
STOP BY THEIR BOOTH FOR A SAMPLE
Drastic Beaver
Ingredients:
1 part Philly’s Premium Buzzed Beaver Butterscotch Egg Crème Liqueur
1 part Van Drastic Vodka
Directions:
Combine in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds to one minute.
Serve in a chilled martini glass with a room temperature slice of La-Von Farmhouse
Brie.
Dirty Martini
Ingredients:
3 parts Van Drastic Vodka
1 part dry vermouth; use less vermouth for a drier martini, about 1 tbsp.
1 part olive brine or juice, adjust to taste if you like saltier or less salty
Blue cheese-stuffed olives:
Roelli Cheese Dunbarton Blue, Emmi Roth Buttermilk Blue Cheese or your favorite
blue cheese, cut into olive-sized slivers to stuff into the olives.
Pitted green olives
Directions:
Stuff your olives with cheese. Combine the martini ingredients in a cocktail shaker
with ice and shake 30 seconds to one minute. Serve in a chilled martini glass with
blue cheese stuffed olives.
If you’re not a fan of vodka, check out Philly’s Premium Beverages—stop by their
booth for a sip. I recommend the Whiskey Old Fashioned Sour. They’re pre-mixed
and ready to drink. Pour over ice, share with a friend and enjoy! Also available:
Whiskey Old Fashioned Sweet and Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet or Sour. Visit
phillysbeverages.com.