Meredith Mills-Merritt emerges into the realm of spirits and cocktails with a nostalgic family recipe and a visionary ethos. The beauty executive turned beverage innovator is the founder of The Original Southside, offering a symphony of gin-flavored cocktails to concoct. Meredith’s penchant for spirits came from her mother’s legendary bartending finesse, a beloved family recipe named, “Leah’s Summer Cooler.” Meredith soon embarked on her own journey to reimagine this exact recipe and idea for the modern audience. 

Drawing inspiration from the lore behind “bathtub gin” cocktails that ran rampant in Chicago’s Southside during the prohibition era, Meredith has married historical charm with contemporary elegance into the final results: premium gin, zesty lemon, and mint. The ethos behind the brand sets it apart with ingredients crafted in the USA, being gluten-free and non-GMO, directly reflecting their commitment to excellence and quality. The Original Southside is available in select markets across the U.S. and available online. 

‍