advertisement

Jenny McCarthy dishes on her new cocktail line, living in St. Charles

St. Charles resident, author, former Playmate, TV star and entrepreneur Jenny McCarthy is promoting her newest venture, "Blondies," a line of ready-to-drink, all natural, gluten-free vodka cocktails that are available in 25 states.

The Daily Herald caught up with McCarthy, 45, before an event at the Rox City Grill in St. Charles to talk about her new line, moving from Los Angeles, and Brian Urlacher's new hair.

Q: What were your biggest challenges in developing "Blondies"?

A: In college, she couldn't digest alcohol and would break out in rashes. She couldn't drink wine either and discovered she was allergic to gluten. About five years ago, she decided to make one. "Usually people say, 'Create something that doesn't exist yet because there might be a need for someone else.'" McCarthy mixed fruit flavored emergency electrolyte packets with Stevia, water and gluten-free vodka. "I thought to myself, 'This tastes awesome. Why can't I create a cocktail that's fruit-flavored, all natural, has some electrolytes in it so you don't get hung over and be gluten-free?' So I met with some distilleries, and a lot of the distilleries sadly wanted to cut corners. They wanted to make the extra buck, they wanted artificial flavors, artificial coloring. I don't want there to be anything fake in it. I already have enough artificial in my body."

Q: A skeptic may characterize your line as Mad Dog with fruit juice. What makes it different and better than other products?

A:" We have coconut water as our base, which gives the drink electrolytes. I don't think you can possibly say there's anything on the market that hydrates you while you drink. It makes us unique to the market.

"You don't taste coconut, we took the flavor out because I don't like coconut.

"But the base, all the water, is coconut. The electrolytes make a difference the next morning."

Q: What's your favorite flavor?

A: "Strawberry. Its very fu-fu girlie, but we have blueberry coming out this summer. And they're coming out in cans this Fourth of July."

Q: What's the biggest joy of living in St. Charles and the Fox Valley?

A: "We knew it's infectious - and by infectious I mean the people - down to earth, hard working, great morals, friends for life. And it all came about from a little boy - (my son) Evan. When he was about 7 years old, I woke up one morning and looked around and said, 'This is not the environment to raise a kid.' Sometimes we want what we didn't have as a kid but yet what we still had as a kid. I love what Chicago gave me. I feel like it's the reason for my success, 100 percent. If I was born in L.A., I don't think I would have made it. Being raised in Chicago gave me the grit, the heart and soul, and I knew if I stayed in L.A. for as long as I did, I would become just as bad as anyone else who lives there (chuckles) and I didn't want that for my son."

Q: In 2012, you and Chicago Baars superstar Brian Urlacher had broken up and told People magazine you would be 'amazing friends.' What do you think of his new hairstyle?

A: "I don't know if I honestly have an opinion one way or the other because I never really cared about hair. I know guys care about it. I am completely indifferent. I guess at this age, I look at the soul. And I'm still in touch with his kids and his family and I hope he feels like his life is better because of it.

"But hair doesn't make the man."

Newlyweds Wahlberg and McCarthy get a reality show

Jenny McCarthy to appear at St. Charles' Arcada Theatre

Donnie Wahlberg hosts benefit concert in St. Charles

Stars, former Playmates react to death of Hugh Hefner

  Jenny McCarthy's new cocktail line, "Blondies," is available in 25 states and will be in out in cans by July 4. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Jenny McCarthy gives an interview Friday before she celebrates her new cocktail line, Blondies, at Rox City Grill in Hotel Baker in St. Charles. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.