Malört For The Holidays? Chicago Booze Gets Thanksgiving Treatment

CHICAGO — Thanksgiving may be most associated with long-standing traditions and family feasts, but a Chicago distillery known perhaps best for a polarizing alcoholic beverage is now seeking a seat at the grown-up table.

CH Distillery, which purchased Jeppson’s Malört, announced this week it is releasing a seasonal variety of the infamous Chicago booze called Malörtsgiving. The beverage is characterized as having the flavors of turkey bouillon, cranberry and sage.

But don’t worry, the taste of Malört, which has been at the center of plenty of disputes, discussions and alcohol-centered arguments, isn’t completely changing.

“This shot will transport you to a Thanksgiving feast, all while maintaining our infamous Malört flavor,” the company said in a social media post this week.

Previously, Malört was featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show when the host tried her very first "Chicago Handshake," a shot of the contested beverage followed by Old Style beer. Josh Noel, who previously wrote about beer and spirits for the Chicago Tribune, said that Malört is unmistakable in its taste.

Noel considers himself a fan and says that the taste profile is a blend of grapefruit and rubber bands, which adds to the argument that tends to arise when it comes to the distilled spirit. Noel concedes that the spirit is bracing and bitter and is incredibly dry, which makes it "one of a kind," he previously told Patch.

The limited-edition bottles will be sold by CH Bar and Table in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood for $150 and single shots of the beverage will be available for $8, the company said. The company recently released a Pumpkin Spice variety before introducing the Thanksgiving-themed beverage this week.

All proceeds from the sale of the seasonal drink will go to the non-profit organization, Lemons of Love, which works with those affected by cancer