Loonshine under the tree

Produced in Minnesota by Loon Liquors, the handwriting on the label says Batch No. 9, Bottle No. 31. Thanks Jen.

Our healthy, buy local, foodie daughter had a special organic treat for Stan's Christmas tonight: A bottle of Northfield, Minnesota's newly-released Loonshine, a sturdy jug of hometown whiskey produced from all-natural ingredients in a locally-owned still. Just the thing for an old boozer concerned about his health.

According to City Pages, micro-distillery spirits seem to be flooding out of local stills. The Northfield spirit is an un-aged or white whiskey that has a sort of whiskey/rum/tequila finish and works well in many different cocktails. Owners are Mark Schiller and Simeon Rossi.

Schiller claims that the whiskey is light, making it a good fit for classics like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. -- and thereby making a good choice for Stan, who favors the latter.

Barlean's fish oil
Thank you Marcy

The pair, who "stumbled into the idea of a distillery," through their love of homemade cocktails, pride themselves on local ingredients and sustainability and aim to make their facility a zero-waste operation. They are currently the only micro-distillery in southern Minnesota.

To balance Stan's organic Loonshine, daughter Marcy contributed a chilled pint of fish oil.