Beginning Feb. 18, Halsted Vodka: The Spirit of the Gay Community, will be distributed by Stoller Wholesale Wine & Spirits, Inc. The move is part of the brand's expansion strategy as it moves to markets statewide and more broadly in Chicago.
Named for North Halsted Street in Chicago, 15% of the value created by Halsted Vodka—equity as well as profits—is being donated to support LGBT community building and human rights.
Halsted Vodka was developed with the help of Halsted Street bartenders and customers who were invited to take part in the development of the brand, including design, community-giving targets, and blind taste tests. Chicago-based Halsted Vodka is micro-distilled in small glass stills and was awarded a Gold Medal at the most recent San Francisco World Spirits competition.
Already available in more than 60 LGBT and LGBT-friendly venues throughout the Chicago area, Halsted Vodka has attracted many loyal customers since their October 2012 launch. "This has allowed us to support for more than 20 local LGBT causes and community building projects, including the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, The Legacy Project and Pride Plays and Films," the company stated. "The latest partnership, demonstrating support for local LGBT athletes during the Winter Olympics, is the Chicago Gay Hockey Association. Expansion with Stoller Wholesale Wine & Spirits, Inc. will enable many more gifts and support for local LGBT causes."
To date Halsted Vodka has supported the following LGBT groups & events in Chicago:
-Pride Films and Plays
-The Legacy Project & The Legacy Walk, open-air LGBT museum
-The Chicago Gay Hockey Association
-Uprising of Love/ Pride House 14 Fundraising Event for the Russian Freedom Fund
-The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
-GoPride.com and GoPrideChicago.com
-Fred Says ( works with HIV+ teens )
-Equality Illinois
-GLAAD
-The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus
-Windy City Media Group
-Chicago Rowing Union
-Windy City Performing Arts
-Lesbian Community Cares Project at Howard Brown
-ChiGayGo, LGBT comedy series at The Laugh Factory: Chicago
-The Center on Halsted
-Chicago event for dot429, the world's largest LGBT professional network
-Diversity events at the Steppenwolf Theatre and The Goodman Theatre
-Sweetie Maud, LGBT non-profit theatre presentation
-Easy Abby, 2nd season fundraising campaign for lesbian web-series
-The Chicago Aids Foundation
-Dining Out for Life
-TPAN