OAKSIDE BESPOKE BITTERS
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Oakside believes that bitters are to spirits as seasoning is to cooking; they not only add a new dimension, but they accentuate the flavors already in the cocktail. With this guiding principle in mind, Oakside began to develop its own bespoke bitters in 2024 and brought bitters production in-house. Oakside is immensely proud to formulate, macerate, and blend our own bitters for each of our cocktails..
BLACKLAND DISTILLERY
Fort Worth, Texas
Oakside uses Blackland's Rye and Bourbon in our Rye Old Fashioned and Manhattan,
respectively.
The Blackland Prairie runs from the Red River to the north, down to San Antonio in the south.
Lightning fires cleared the land for native tall grass to thrive in the rich, dark soil. Working
through established practices and challenging convention at each turn, Blackland has remastered
spirits – bringing new life into every sip.
Founder Markus Kypreos is a Fort Worth native, attorney, Culinary School of Fort Worth graduate, and
certified sommelier. His curious epicurean outlook inspires the venture. Distiller Ezra Cox has 20
years of experience brewing and distilling, and a deep enthusiasm for creating premium spirits.
NORDEN SPIRITS
Detroit, Michigan
Norden Spirits creates a custom, small-batch aperitivo for Oakside's Negroni.
Norden Spirits was founded by Master Distiller Robyn Cleveland and Summer Ransom-Cleveland. Robyn
spent much of his early 20s in the arts and bartending in Brooklyn, NY. Upon meeting Summer and
moving to Michigan, he helped found the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild-Detroit Chapter and served as its
first President. Over the course of 14 years behind the bar, he had the opportunity to visit and
study at distilleries all over the world. These trips led to a deep respect for traditional spirits
and a desire to share their
stories. Robyn's first taste of Aquavit came during a 3 week stay in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2003 –
in part inspiring him to found Norden Spirits, specializing in Aquavit.
Norden's premiere spirit, Norden Original Aquavit, won Double Gold and Best in Class at the San
Francisco World Spirits Competition.
LONE LIGHT SPIRITS
Ferndale, Michigan
Lone Light Spirits crafts a London Dry Gin for Oakside’s Negroni.
Born and raised in Southeast Michigan, Founder and Master Distiller Joe Lordon discovered his love
for music at a young age - a passion that led him to work for the Kalamazoo, Michigan-born Gibson
Guitars. This musical odyssey took him to Nashville, Tennessee, where he honed his skills building
iconic guitars at Gibson's headquarters, ensuring each handmade instrument resonated with
perfection. It was here that he learned the invaluable skill of maintaining an unwavering standard
of quality - a principle that seamlessly translated into the art of distillation.
As he explored the rich tapestry of Tennessee's distilling landscape, from iconic institutions like
Jack Daniels and George Dickel to Nashville’s craft distilleries such as Corsair Distillery, a new
passion began to ferment. This journey of discovery led him back home to Michigan, where he joined
Two James Spirits in Detroit's historic Corktown neighborhood. After 2+ years of learning the
distillation process on the job, he started his 5-year tenure as the Head Distiller & Production
Manager marked by innovation and excellence, overseeing the production a variety of spirits
recognized as “best in class” and “double gold medal" worthy in international spirits
competitions.
With over seven years of experience in Michigan’s craft distilling scene the concept of Lone Light
Spirits truly took shape - a brand built on the foundation of quality, innovation, and the simple
yet profound moments that spirits can encapsulate. Embracing this vision, Joe was compelled to
create a brand that not only reflected his relentless pursuit of quality but also allowed him to
explore the artistic horizons of new and experimental flavors while staying true to tradition. This
quest for creative freedom and harmony in spirit flavors led to the birth of Lone Light Spirits, a
distillery where every glass is meant capture that feeling of a comforting familiar light, whether a
bonfire or full moon, porch light or flame of a candle, or anything which warms your soul like
sipping great spirits.
At Lone Light Spirits, our story is more than a narrative of transition from music to distillation.
It's a symphony of flavors in harmony with quality craftsmanship, and a testament to the indomitable
spirit of Michigan.
NOVEL COFFEE ROASTERS
Fort Worth, Texas
Oakside uses Novel Coffee Roasters’ cold brew in its Espresso Martini.
Novel Coffee Roasters is a female-owned roastery accompanied by a female-led roasting team. It was
founded in early 2013 from a desire to discover amazing coffees, fresh from the harvest, and roasted
with care to create profound tasting experiences.
Since then, Novel has created a name for itself in producing high quality and unique coffees. It
sources the coffee beans for its cold brew near São Paulo, Brazil, where Mogiana Eagle produces low
acidity green coffees allowing for a lighter touch. Novel has partnered with the same producers in
Brazil since 2018.
In its roasting, Novel optimizes for heat, airflow, and timing to execute flavor balance, enhance
body, and extend sweetness. The resulting cold brew is a silky, medium roast with notes of chocolate
and amaretto.
ROCKWELL VERMOUTH
Sonoma County, California
Oakside uses Rockwell Sweet Vermouth in its Manhattan and Negroni.
Founded by Birk and Lisa O’Halloran:
Rockwell Vermouth offers a fresh American take on a classic European spirit. We’ve spent years
on a quest to find the right ingredients, partners, and processes for the perfect American
Vermouth. Along the way, we discovered golden cane sugar caramelized for the impeccable
balance of bitter and sweet by experts in the Carolinas; California black mission figs sun-dried
by a family with over ninety years’ experience; a UC Davis-developed grape clone to serve as
our base; and supportive local ranchers who allowed us to forage Artemisia Californica herbs
from their Carmel Valley hillsides.
We conducted more than three hundred herb extract trials across more than one hundred recipe
batches. The result is an herbaceous and aromatic vermouth worthy of modern American cocktail
culture. Handcrafted in California, each small-batch production of Rockwell Vermouth is a
testament to what's possible when passionate artisans from around the country work together
toward a shared vision.
NOVEL COFFEE ROASTERS
Fort Worth, Texas
Rockwell Vermouth offers a fresh American take on a classic European spirit. We’ve spent years on a
quest to find the right ingredients, partners, and processes for the perfect American Vermouth.
Along the way, we discovered golden cane sugar caramelized for the impeccable balance of bitter and
sweet by experts in the Carolinas; California black mission figs sun-dried by a family with over
ninety years’ experience; a UC Davis-developed grape clone to serve as our base; and supportive
local ranchers who allowed us to forage Artemisia Californica herbs from their Carmel Valley
hillsides.
We conducted more than three hundred herb extract trials across more than one hundred recipe
batches. The result is an herbaceous and aromatic vermouth worthy of modern American cocktail
culture. Handcrafted in California, each small-batch production of Rockwell Vermouth is a testament
to what's possible when passionate artisans from around the country work together toward a shared
vision.
The Nonino Family
Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
The art of distillation has been a Nonino Family privilege since it was established in Italy in
1897. They continue to respect the tradition and the rhythms of true craftmanship using 100%
Artisanal Methods to produce their inimitable Nonino Distillates.
FEMALE LED, FAMILY OWNED-AND-OPERATED
The 5th Generation of 3 sisters enhanced the original family recipes to create the Amaro
Quintessentia®.
