Vodka with a Conscience…
TÜRI Vodka is literally fresh off the boat…from Estonia. The recently liberated Baltic state is new to the importing-to-America business, and now we're lucky enough to partake in their 500-year-old super premium recipe and honor their mission to support artistic, intellectual and social freedoms. With a smooth-as-ice finish, TÜRI, is four times filtered and distilled, and made from rye. (Most from the vodka belt region are potato-based.) TÜRI is now making its debut in Chicago's higher-end places, as well as events at the Chicago Cultural Center, like the "Dinner & Movie" series. And the crystal clear designer bottle is an art piece in and of itself. "You cannot make soup out of beauty, but vodka is another story…" Estonian proverb. Cool Concoctions:
White Estonian: Combine 1 ½ oz. TÜRI Vodka, 1 ½ oz. Coffee Liqueur and top up a tall glass with milk. Baltic Sea Breeze: Combine 1 ½ oz. TÜRI Vodka, 1 oz. cranberry juice and 1 oz. grapefruit juice and serve over ice in a highball glass.

Pearls of Wisdom…
Pearl Vodka was named "Best of the New Crop of Vodkas" by Bon Appetit. It was also awarded 2001's White Spirit of the Year by F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, the world's leading independent authority on spirits, beer and wines. Pearl Vodka's five-star rating exceeded top players in the vodka category, including Grey Goose, Ketel One and Stolichnaya, as well as all other rum, tequila and gin products. This cool sip has no additives, flavorings or chemical impurities, only the world's finest soft winter wheat combined with pure Canadian Rocky Mountain spring water. You can order Pearl at Le Colonial, Spiaggia, Kamehachi, Pump Room, Omni Chicago Hotel and at the Field Museum! Cool Concoctions:
Pearl Necklace: Take 1 oz. Pearl, ½ oz. Godiva white chocolate liqueur, and a splash of cream. Shake over ice and pour into a martini glass. Top with whipped cream. Cultured Pearl Martini: Layer ice, add a pour of Pearl, a spray of vermouth and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a pearl onion.

UV Rays …
UV is all about fun, color and cool looking drinks. Just launched a few months ago in only 15 states, this high-quality four-times distilled brew is made from Midwest-farmed grain straight from Northern Minnesota. It's produced and blended by hand by a fifth generation family-owned spirits company that introduced America's first flavored vodkas back in the early 1950s. UV is all naturally flavored with nothing artificial except the colors. The Vanilla uses four-fold, pure Madagascar vanilla, Cherry uses Morello cherries, Orange is flavored with Florida oranges, Sour Apple is flavored with Granny Smith apples and Blue Raspberry uses only natural raspberries. UV is now available in select Chicago clubs, restaurants and retail stores. Cool Concoctions:
Blue Bombsicle: Add one part UV Blue Raspberry, three parts lemonade, a splash of tonic and garnish with cherries.) Glowing Apple: Take UV Sour Apple, add Phillips Butterscotch Schnapps and garnish with a slice of a granny smith apple (Affy Tapple!) Wake Up! Add UV Cherry to Coke or a Red Bull!
Visit www.phillipsuv.com for more fun, funky formulas.

Around Town or at your Own Private Bar:

Thirsty for more? Visit Vodkaphiles.com for history, links, reviews and recipes (like pasta dishes and a vodka mocha bundt cake, as well as medicinal uses!)