The New Year’s Eve cocktail party will have a 1920s theme
THORNTON, Ill. (December 27, 2023) – New Year’s Eve is not far off, and for those who haven’t made plans yet, tickets are still available for Thornton Distilling Co.’s New Year’s Eve with Glitch Gatsby.
Glam and glitz
The doors open for the New Year’s Eve cocktail party at 6 p.m. DJ Glitch Gatsby will start at 8 p.m. accompanied by a live trumpet player and burlesque dancer. “Get your groove on with Glitch Gatsby, a brass and bass electro-swing DJ,” said owner Andrew Howell.
Along with entertainment, the party ticket includes three beverage tickets, passed hors d’oeuvres, a charity raffle ticket, a midnight toast, and a costume contest. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the 1920s/Gatsby theme. The best-dressed flapper couple wins a $100 gift card and a bottle of Dead Drop Old Fashioned.
Burlesque performer Ellie Camino, known as the “Dynamite Dame of Detroit,” will headline the New Year’s Eve show and take the audience back to the days of smoke-filled jazz joints.
Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com. An ordering link can be found on Thornton Distilling Co.’s Facebook page.
In addition to New Year’s Eve
Thornton Distilling started the year with a new chef who introduced a fresh menu. “Our chef has been working hard to craft a menu of items to pair with our house-made spirits,” said Howell. “Some of these include his fan-favorite homemade Barbacoa Tacos and Bourbon BBQ Burgers. We also are featuring a new Warm & Gooey Mini Bundt Cake made with our Dead Drop Pecan Bourbon.” Thornton Distilling also offers a traditional “Absinthe Ritual” service at the bar top showcasing their Absinthe Blanche.
A Sunday brunch service was also introduced in 2023. “We added a delicious brunch menu with fun takes on classic brunch dishes and fun cocktails that are only available at that time,” said Howell.
Brunch is served on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. Specialties include Mrs. Berry’s Cinnamon French Toast (with whipped cream, berry compote, chocolate syrup drizzle, and house maple syrup), the Bootlegger Breakfast Burrito (filled with scrambled egg, crispy potatoes, cheese, bell peppers, and tomato, and served with bacon and house salsa) and Chicken & Waffles.
“We’ve also added a new Sunday Historical Tour hosted by Kevin Barron of South Cook Explore,” said Howell.
Unique venue
Thornton Distilling Co. is in a building that dates back to 1857 and is the oldest standing brewery in Illinois. It was erected by German immigrant John Bielfeldt using an artesian well that had been dug for an earlier brewery on the site in 1836.
During prohibition, the brewery was sold to Carl Ebner, who bottled soda pop but was also secretly producing beer. The site was raided by federal agents and is believed to have been under the control of Al Capone during that period.
Its long, interesting history and vintage vibe have made the structure a unique venue for weddings and other events, like the vintage market, bridal fair, and Midwest Spirit Festival. “This year we had a lot of weddings at our upstairs event space, Cooper’s Hall,” said Howell. “We have also been lucky enough to host quite a few holiday parties for individuals and companies. The space is beautiful and would be a fantastic option for anyone looking to hold a wedding, birthday party, or concert.”
For more information on Thornton Distilling Co, visit thorntondistilling.com.
