Malört Maker Tremaine Atkinson Lists $6M Lake House

The maker of Chicago’s most divisive, bitter spirit is asking just under $6 million to offload his 8,460-square-foot home in New Buffalo.

Tremaine Atkinson, head of CH Distillery — the maker of the Swedish-style, bitter schnapps Jeppson’s Malört — listed the home at 11712 Prospect Drive Aug. 29, with Jan Smith of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate. The six-bedroom home sits on 1.2 acres adjacent to a 144-acre marsh preserve, Crain’s Chicago Business reported.

Construction began in 2011 and was completed in 2014 with a mix of contemporary stylings, such as flat green roofs covered with living plants and round-topped roofs. The home offers five full bathrooms and three half-baths; a boat house and floating dock with access to the Galien River; a terrace with outdoor kitchen and fire feature; three additional decks anchored by two masonry fireplaces and a firepit; and a Gunite infinity pool with waterfall and spa.

The New Buffalo house, which is 71 miles from the Chicago Loop, incorporates steel joists, frameless interior doors and other industrial motifs in contrast to the marshy settings. Securing a selling price near the asking price would likely be a record for off-lake properties in the area.

Atkinson launched CH Distillery in Pilsen more than a dozen years ago after spending most of his career in financial services, first as a vodka distiller then in 2018 he bought the Carl Jeppson Company, maker of Malört, moving production of the Chicago hooch back from Florida. CH Distillery also produces gin, bourbon and other spirits. CH Distillery opened a high-end sushi bar and restaurant, now called Joto, during Covid.

Atkinson sold a Lincoln Park home in 2019 that was also built in a contemporary style with brick and steel features. That home sold for $4.3 million. In 2023 he bought an estate in the Village of Golf for $7.2 million.

— Eric Weilbacher