NIU alumnus Bill Brooks has made a new brand of vodka available to DeKalb and Sycamore residents.

Tommy Guns Vodka is one of more than 30 products created by Al Capone’s Hideaway and Steakhouse in St. Charles. Brooks, owner of Capone’s, said the company started making new products in 1995, including microbrewed beers, spirits and wines.

The new Tommy Guns Vodka, which hit shelves in January, comes in two different bottles. One is a standard bottle, ranging in price from $24 to $30, and the other is a special tommy gun-shaped bottle, which typically costs between $44 and $50.

Brooks graduated from NIU with an accountancy degree in 1965. His family has strong ties to NIU. One daughter, his sister and his daughter-in-law have also graduated from NIU. He said his time at NIU was invaluable to his career.

“The professors were first-rate and prepared me well for the industry,” Brooks said.

Brooks’ time at NIU provided him with the necessary tools to succeed in the business world, he added. He left NIU with a strong background on how businesses operate and with a degree that impressed employers.

“Everybody wanted my skills coming out of college,” Brooks said. “They were very pleased I graduated from NIU in accountancy.”

Brooks worked on electronic data systems for Ross Perot after graduation. He moved to Al Capone’s in 1973, where he has been since.

Sales representative Gina Vera, an NIU alumna, graduated from NIU in December 2003. She began working for Al Capone’s shortly after and has been there for almost a year. Vera’s marketing degree has helped with her sales approach, she said.

Vera and other sales representatives have done promotions and tastings to advertise the vodka. On-site promotions have included visits from Al Capone’s Flapper Girls. Flapper girls were drinking and dancing party girls from the 1920s. The “roaring ’20s” is the main theme for all Al Capone’s products, Brooks said.

Vera and other employees last week held a tasting at Lundeen’s Discount Liquors, which has locations in both DeKalb and Sycamore. Lundeen’s is the only area store which sells Tommy Guns Vodka.

“The price [of the vodka] has scared away some people,” said Rachel Lundeen, a Lundeen’s employee and the owner’s daughter. “But it has been very well received. We have had many comments on the tommy gun-shaped bottle.”

Vera agreed the tommy gun bottle has been well accepted.

“Some people do not want to open [the bottle], because it looks so good,” Vera said.

The vodka is available in at least five states, six countries and all army and air force bases, he said. The company plans on expanding into possibly 12 more states within the next three to four months.

“Our goal within two or three years is to have [Tommy Guns Vodka] in all the states,” Brooks said. “By 2008, we hope it will be in most major countries.”