Todd Woolman started a project three years ago, meeting with some friends over lunch. They brainstormed business opportunities, focusing on a product with a cause since they thought it was, and still is, the thing to do.
In October, their planning finally came to fruition with the launch of Halsted Vodka, inspired bywhat else?Chicago's Halsted Street, one of the centers of the local LGBT community and, arguably, one of the most popular gay areas in the nation.
Halsted Vodka is hand-distilled in Colorado, where it is produced and distributed in unique glass bottles made in Italy, with its backers saying the spirit carries a tasty, smooth, bold, full-body taste without the common bite felt by some vodkas.
Halsted Vodka made its debut in October at Sidetrack in Lakeview and also was a key player in the Legacy Project.
"There was something we wanted to do with this vodka, which I think we've achieved: we wanted a vodka with character and flavor, and not a burnbecause we think that's where vodka is going," said Woolman, 47, who lives in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood and is one of five partners in the Halsted Vodka projectand the only one who is gay.
Woolman said the company will donate 15 percent of its profits back to the gay community, and that included a $1,000 check to the Legacy Projecteven before any profits had been made through sales of Halsted Vodka.
There were focus groups for months at minibar in Lakeview, starting several years ago, to perfect every aspect of the craft spirit.
Halsted Vodka will officially launch at minibar Friday, Nov. 9.
It is already being served at local spots such as Sidetrack, Halsted's Bar & Grill, Hydrate, The Glenwood and Burke's Public House.
"When I walked into Sidetrack and saw all of the bottles of Halsted Vodka in the racks above the big glass bar, I almost fell over. It looked so beautiful up there. That's my baby," Woolman said.
Woolman said plans are in the works to eventually sell Halsted Vodka in other major cities, including New York, San Francisco and Miami, among others. "We think the Halsted Vodka name will sell across the country. People in the gay community know Halsted Street in Chicago."
When sold outside of Chicago, Woolman said the 15 percent will be donated locally, not to a Chicago charity.
Woolman also confirmed that the Halsted Vodka sold in other cities might have a different flavor. However, they plan to keep the Halsted name even when sold outside of Chicago, although something tied to the cityCastro, for instance, for San Franciscomight be added the brand name.
The tamper strip has "60657," the zip code for Lakeview.
"We want Halsted Vodka to live up to the expectations of the gay community," Woolman said.