Highwood Historical Cocktail Tour

The ever-popular Historical Highwood Cocktail Tour will be held monthly during the Highwood Evening Gourmet Market on Wednesdays, June 12, July 10, August 14 & 21 from 7-9 PM.

Registered attendees will join tour guide, Bruce “Buzzy” Bertucci as he takes them on a walking tour of Highwood’s historical past. Participants will learn hidden secrets and stories of the buildings and businesses of Highwood over the past 100 years and see why Highwood is recognized as “Whiskey Junction”. Food and cocktails will be available for purchase at each stop.

Born and raised in neighboring Highland Park, Bertucci shares his passion of living, working, and watching Highwood evolve over the past seven decades. “Buzzy” entered Highwood’s bar industry in 1976, as co-owner of the iconic Hideout (now Teddy O’Brian’s), and, after a 24-year run as a restaurateur, he closed his namesake Bertucci’s Restaurant in 2014.

“We enter bars, restaurants, and other buildings in Highwood, and I tell stories about the businesses and the history of Highwood, as well as the City’s ‘characters’,” says Bertucci. “This city had, and still has, plenty of colorful characters.”

Buzzy will continue to share stories of historical Highwood on the second Wednesday of the month from June through August. Historical Highwood Cocktail Tours meet at the Celebrate Highwood booth at the Highwood Evening Gourmet Market at 6:45 PM for a meet and greet and photo opportunity and depart at 7 PM sharp. Each tour will have four stops. Cost is $25/person and includes souvenir cup. Space is limited to 15 people on each tour, so it is highly recommended to reserve your spot early.

Eric Falberg, President of Celebrate Highwood, Alderman and co-owner of 28 Mile Distilling Company, came up with the cocktail tour idea after a trip to New Orleans, and could not have picked a better tour guide. “Buzzy’s knowledge of Highwood history, his sense of humor, and his love for the community makes this tour fantastic.”

Tickets can be purchased below