Plainfield Uptown's New Drink Lusheez Brings Out 'The Kid' In All

PLAINFIELD, IL — As restaurants opened for outdoor dining amid the pandemic, this Plainfield eatery introduced a new beverage that harked back to childhood memories, but with an adult twist. Uptown Tap & Eatery launched its brand — Lusheez — in June, and within just a few months, it has gained immense popularity among local diners.

Lusheez are alcoholic slushies and each is uniquely crafted with a mix of flavors.

"It is the perfect marriage of our childhood memory of slushies and the refreshing element of a well-crafted frosty, spiked cocktail that will keep you cool all summer long," said Crisa Barriball, one of the partners of the restaurant. "With all the uncertainty with COVID-19 and people being in quarantine, we wanted to do something that would be fun and uplifting for our guests. We used the concept of the slushy that already brings out the kid in all of us, and made something fun for adults to enjoy outside when patio season began."

Barriball said some Lusheez recipes require combining spirits with fresh ingredients like jalapeño infused tequila or mint infused rum. The eatery prides itself on creating all the infusions in house, which add "an incredible depth of flavor to the drink."

Priced between $6-$10, each drink requires 30 to 45 minutes of preparation. Barriball said their most popular flavor is the Lavender Haze, which is composed of Tito’s vodka, imported Italian lavender syrup and lemonade. Another customer favorite is the Sno Fashioned which is a frozen Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned. Captain’s Curse, a cherry lime daiquiri with Captain Morgan rum, is another popular offering.

"With the excitement of entering Phase Four, we introduced a new recipe by infusing fresh jalapeños into tequila and made a strawberry jalapeño margarita and named that cocktail 'Phase Four'," she said. "Our latest creation — the frozen Bellini — is a peach purée and prosecco combination."

They initially had one machine with three bins for making the slushies. However, as the demand started to increase, they invested in a second machine and since then, they've been selling hundreds in a week with people visiting from neighboring towns.

"We have been amazed by the positive feedback and by how fast the popularity of the Lusheez has grown," Barriball said. "Many of our guests order Lusheez to go by the dozens for their gatherings at home. We had a bourbon drinker tell us that it’s one of the best Old Fashioned they ever had."

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