Sweetest Day

Did you know Sweetest Day is this Saturday?

For those of you outside the Great Lakes Region, you may have no idea what I'm talking about.  For those of you from the upper Midwest, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about.  Whether you are looking forward to the other Valentines Day, or whether you grumbling about the "Hallmark Holiday" that has no real meaning, there is no question that the day is celebrated by many here in Milwaukee.

While it is true that Sweetest Day was an 'invented' holiday that was used to sell candy in the 1920s, the fact is that many of the holidays we celebrate today were promoted or created by a commercial business.  Do you think the Christmas Card or the turkey dinner on Thanksgiving would be what they are without the Hallmark or Butterballs of the world?

Maybe it is time we change our perception of sweetest day.  After all, it is a retro holiday with a unique beginning.  Imagine all the flappers and dapper celebrities handing out candy in Cleveland in the 1920s.  Imagine the candy they were handing out!  It was probably an awesome treat that tastes nothing like what we have today.  Back in those days, candy making was an art, similar to mixology or bread making.  It was such a celebrated craft that they could have just as easily called Sweetest Day "Artisan Chocolate Day", but this, of course, would not have the sensual connotations that sweetest has.

This year at Bryant's, we are bringing back the roots of the holiday.  We are working with Atomic Chocolates, a local artisan chocolate maker, to provide a free chocolate to the first 100 guests on Saturday.  Unlike the store bought candies you often see on Sweetest Day, these chocolates are the real deal, made with fresh ingredients and rich cocoa.  We like to think these are similar to the chocolates that were given out back in the 1920s, before corn syrup and artificial flavors became standard ingredients in candy.

We hope that even those of you who hate the idea of sweetest day will join us this weekend for a cocktail and celebration of the sweet thing we sometimes take for granted.  Whether you decide to bring your sweet thing is entirely up to you.

We open at 5PM on Saturday with the Velvet Lounge opening at 8PM.

Cocktail of the Month: The Rob Roy

There is a simplicity to cocktails that is often overlooked.  This is especially true in the days of complex craft cocktails, where bartenders are striving to carve a niche in the cocktail world by using obscure ingredients and methodologies.  Not saying we have a problem with flamed Truffula Fruit or fresh squeezed Tomacco Juice, but here at Bryant's we believe there is a classic value in simple, spirit-forward cocktails.  

These are the cocktails that aren't meant to fool a gin-hating cocktail drinkers into enjoying gin; rather, these are the cocktails that make a gin lover love gin even more.  Spirit forward classics include the much loved martini, manhattan, and negronis of the the world, along with our cocktail of the month, The Rob Roy.

The Rob Roy is a scotch-based drink that is, in essence, a manhattan in which scotch is used instead of rye or bourbon.  Wait a minute- you may be wondering how a bartender can change one single ingredient in a cocktail and claim it as their creation- isn't that cheating?  Remember, these are simple, spirit forward cocktails that are minimalist and well-balanced, where changing even one ingredient completely changes the cocktail.

Similar to knowing the subtle differences between the Cosby Show introductions in season 6 and 7, the bartender who invented the Rob Roy in 1894 knew that substituting scotch for whiskey would change the manhattan in to an entirely different cocktail.  Indeed, adding scotch changed it from a sophisticated, whiskey tipple to a sword-wielding scotch-drink, capable of satisfying the most adamant scotch lover who, as you may know, generally prefers scotch on its own.

The Rob Roy mingled vermouth with scotch whiskey so well that it was named after the scottish folk hero Robert Roy MacGregor, who was a well-loved swordsman and cattle man who fought heroically against William of Orange and the Campbell Clan.  

Want to taste for yourself?  Stop by Bryant's Cocktail Lounge during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour where we will be offering our Rob Roy for only $5 during the entire month of October.  Additionally, this scotch classic will be only $5 every Sunday in October.   Can you think of a better way to celebrate Scotchtoberfest?

Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour
Tuesday through Friday
5 to 9
 
  

Let's be honest, maybe a cocktail of the week is a bit much....

If you are a frequent follower of our blog or Facebook postings, you will notice that the cocktail of the week has nearly disappeared.  Maybe our last cocktail of the week was just so great, that it was difficult to follow.  Or maybe, just maybe, yours truly is a little bit lazy and a lot busy.

The fact is, a week comes and goes so quickly that it was difficult to keep up, especially if we were going to explore the origin or uniqueness of a rotating cocktail.  In addition, we found that our customers wished that some of the cocktails of the week stuck around longer than just 6 days; sometimes this is not nearly enough time to plan a trip to Bryant's.  In sum, a week just isn't long enough.

The answer, we believe, is to change the cocktail of the week in to the Cocktail of the Month.  If we get a good response, we may add two or more cocktails of the month.  Perhaps a rotating classic, Bryant's, and modern cocktail??  We'll see!

Let's just see how this goes!

We begin our new cocktail of the month on Sunday.  Want a hint?  Like Sean Connery in Alphabet City, this classic cocktail from 1894 is a riff on an even earlier classic.  First one to guess correctly and post it in the comments section of our blog gets one on us!

Reserving a table at Bryant's

Sometimes we need to make difficult decisions in order to make everyones life easier.

After much discussion with staff and customers, we have decided that it is in the best interest of all customers if we return to the original Bryant's policy of not taking reservations for large groups on weekend nights.  While we love groups of all sizes, we will now only offer seating on a first come, first serve basis.

The reasons for this decision are based on our capacity and several past experiences where large groups make reservations and don't show up, or only a small number of people show up.  When this happens it is not only frustrating for us, it is also frustrating for other customers who are waiting for tables.  While you may think this is rare, the fact is that it happens around 20% of the time.  

If you do have a group of 10 or more and want to come to Bryant's on a weekend night, there are still options.  First, we still ask that you call before you come.  We will try our hardest to get you a table that will accommodate your group.  Second, make sure to show up with your entire group, as we can only hold seats for 10 minutes.  Finally, show up early (before 8:30) or late (after 11:30).  This will greatly improve your chances of having little to no wait.

Finally, please be patient.  Even during the busiest of times the wait for a table is generally under 15 minutes.

If you want a guaranteed seat, you can always reserve the Velvet Lounge for a private party and you will be the envy of your friends and neighbors.

Please keep in mind that this new policy only applies to weekends.  If you are planning on bringing a group to Bryant't on a weekday, make sure to call or email at least two days in advance to we can make sure to have enough staff to accommodate your party.

A visit from across the pond!

We recently had a visit from a couple of reporters from The Guardian in the UK.  


They were in Milwaukee visiting some genuine businesses that are often missed by travel writers.  These included our favorite tiki bar, the Foundation, and our favorite custard stand, Leon's Frozen Custard at 27th and Oklahoma.  They also visited some great businesses in Bay View, including Sky High Skateboard Shop and the Cactus Club.  


While at Bryant's, our newest bartender Jordan made quite the impression, leading the author to describe Bryant's as "effortlessly smooth as the mixologist behind the bar".  Hopefully The Guardian article will lead more travel writers from around the world to visit our fair city. 


Read the whole article HERE.

Cocktail of the Week: The French 75

The French 75

In celebration of the French culture and spirit, the cocktail of the week this week is the French 75, a classic cocktail that is a powerful (and delicious) mixture of gin, lemon, sugar, and champagne.

Created at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, this cocktail was named after the French 75mm Howitzer Artillery Cannon, a powerful artillery piece that became famous during World War I.  Whether is packs a punch like a cannon, or hits the spot like a modern piece of military accouterment, the French 75 is a powerful cocktail which earns its name.

Only $5 during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour, 5-9 Tuesday through Friday.  

Cocktail of the Week: The Bone Crusher

Along with the first week of May comes Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday commemorating the defeat of the French army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, we will be featuring one of the finest tequila cocktails we have ever tasted, The Bone Crusher. Developed by the talented mixologists at Drink in Boston, The Bone Crusher has all the hallmarks of a stellar cocktail: it's simple, delicious, and unique.

Tequila, lime, sugar, hot pepper sauce, and pepper mix to create a spicy, tangy drink that is not only tasted, it's experienced. First you taste the sour of the lime, which is almost immediately offset by the sugar, then comes the surprise. Just like a poorly armed group of 4,000 poor mexican soldiers rising up to defeat the heavily armed forces of the invading French- the spice comes from behind and kicks your butt. Viva la Bone Crusher!

Stop in and try the Bone Crusher this week during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour where you can buy one for only $5. Plus, it will be $5 all night on Thursday in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Cocktail of the Week: Lapham Punch

There are several secrets that surround Bryant's Cocktail Lounge.

Some secrets are known by regular customers and those who have frequented Bryant's for years. For example, if you want a good cocktail, just tell the barman what you are looking for and trust that he will deliver.

Other secrets are known by just the staff. For example, what gives the Black Magic that magical taste that leaves you wanting more.

Still other secrets are even better kept and are known only to two or three people. One of these secrets is the ingredients in Pat's punches.

Pat, the second owner of Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, became somewhat well know for his boozy punch concoctions that would be sold around special occasions- the most popular of which was the Holiday Punch, which we still serve from Thanksgiving to New Years. These punches pack a kick that helps fuel Holiday revelry and are sweet enough to go down like candy.

Many people have tasted the Holiday Punch, but not many have tried the other punches that were served back in the day. One of the most obscure is the Lapham Punch, which was primarily sold around St. Patrick's Day and has a limey, whiskey fueled taste. This punch hasn't been mixed in years and years, but is available this week at Bryant's as the Cocktail of the Week.

If you are a fan of the Holiday Punch, you will most certainly like the Lapham Punch. Stop in during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour to try this well kept secret for only $5 a glass. Plus, as usual, it is available for only $5 all night on Sunday.

Cocktail of the Week: The Daiquiri Cocktail

Did you know that April 20th is National Look Alike Day?

You can celebrate by dressing like your best friend, dressing your dog like your cat, or sitting around watching the Patty Duke show- a TV comedy about two identical cousins who get involved in all sorts of hijinks.  Cathy Lane, played by Patty Duke, is the refined cousin; raised in a cultured world of travel and minuets.  Patty Lane, also played by Patty Duke, is a Brooklyn Heights girl who loses control over rock and roll and hotdogs.

In celebration of National Look Alike Day, we really wanted to feature a drink of the week that looks identical to another cocktail, but tastes entirely different.  This, of course, is an easy task.  A Forever Amber looks an awful lot like a Briar Patch, though they taste quite different.  The Forever Amber tastes like strawberry, while the Briar Patch tastes like raspberry.  A Manhattan looks like Franks Drink, a Tornado looks like a Rat Pack, and a vodka tonic looks identical to a gin and tonic.

Instead, we decided to challenge ourselves by featuring a cocktail that has an identical name to another cocktails, but is entirely different.  Sounds confusing, but it really isn't.  There are two cocktails, both named "Daiquiri".  Much like Patty and her cousin Cathy, these cocktails are identical in name, just like two matching bookends, but they are different as night and day.

Our featured cocktail this week is the original Daiquiri Cocktail.  About 75% of people equate a Daiquiri with a blended icy drink that tastes like lime or strawberry or maybe raspberry.  It may be blue or purple or red, and it may or may not be made with rum.  At Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, in general, we are a fan of blended cocktails, but the Daiquiri is an exception.  Why?  Because the original, un-basterdised Daiquiri Cocktail is so darn good.

The original Daiquiri Cocktail, as we understand it, is quite simple.  Rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup- shaken and strained in to a cocktail glass.  The rum plays with the lime, and the lime plays with the sugar, and the sugar plays with the rum.  It's like a playground in your mouth- a playground made of booze!

This original concoction can also be blended, as it was at the Floridita in Cuba, where Ernest Hemingway hung is hat.  However, we don't recommend it.  Just try it in it's pure form.

This week we want you to find out for yourself why the original Daiquiri is so much better than the blended Daiquiri of the 1980s.  The Daiquiri Cocktail is only $5 during Old Fashioned Happy Hour, which takes place from 5 to 9, Tuesday through Friday.  In addition, we will be offering the Daiquiri Cocktail for only $5 all night on Sunday!  How can you go wrong?

As an added bonus, we have some delicious Fish House Punch, which is a potent and delicious rum punch.  The predominant flavors are lemon-lime, with a hint of vanilla.  Try this after your Daiquiri Cocktail for only $5 for a big glass.

Cocktail of the Week: The Income Tax Cocktail

The Income Tax Cocktail

Yes, it is that time again.  Tax Day.

In case you didn't know (and expect a cocktail lounge's blog to tell you) your taxes are due on April 18th this year.  So, this week, make sure to gather your W-2s, un-crumple your receipts, and prepare to fill in the little boxes answering confusing, "shouldn't there be a comma there", questions.

But first, stop by Bryant's for this weeks Cocktail of the Week: The Income Tax Cocktail.  The Income Tax Cocktail is a pre-prohibition cocktail that is remarkably similar to the classic Bronx- a cocktail that has been a long-time favorite at Bryant's.  The Bronx is a classic mix of gin, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and fresh orange juice.  The difference between a Bronx and The Income Tax Cocktail?  A shake of bitters.

Now, we can only assume that the cocktail mixers of yore had a sense of humor.  This is most likely one of those times when a witty barman created a cocktail to make a point.  Even though the bitters do add a touch of complexity, they also make the cocktail a little more bitter- just like doing your taxes.

Want to try it yourself?  Stop down this week when The Income Tax Cocktail is only $5 during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour, Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 9.  Also, it will be $5 all night on Sunday, April 17th.  The day before your taxes are due.

After sipping on this delicious cocktail, you can rest assured that your bitterness has been shared by generations of Americans who begrudgingly fill out their taxes every year and find that they need a tasty cocktail to help them forget.  Now, where is that recipe for the 4868 Extension to File Cocktail?

Cocktail of the Week: The Velvet Touch

The Velvet Touch

The drink of the week for April 5th through April 10th comes from the Bryant's recipe vault- a dark, secure place, full of cocktail recipes not seen in 5, 10, or even 20 years. We are slowly bringing these recipes out in to the light of day, to once again be enjoyed by our guests.

The Velvet Touch (not to be mistaken for the Velvet Hammer, which is an ice cream drink), is a rum-based cocktail, with hints of almond and strawberry. It is served in a squall glass over ice and is delicious. Like many Bryant's drinks, this cocktail is deceivingly strong and covers the taste of the booze quite well- so well that it is worthy of the name "Velvet Touch".

Don't spend April waiting for Spring to arrive, drink it in a glass! This week only, the Velvet Touch cocktail is only $5 during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour (Tuesday through Friday, from 5PM to 9PM) and all night on Sunday April 10th!

(Unfortunately, we can not combine offers so we will not be able to accept Groupons as payment for any Cocktail Hour cocktail.)

Cocktail of the Week: The Glamour Shot

The cocktail of the week for March 29th through April 3rd is the Glamour Shot. As we move away from the wintery weather of March in to the spring of April (hopefully), we start to move away from brown and bitter in to light clear spirited cocktails.

The Glamour Shot is the perfect cocktail to bridge the two seasons. Created by our excellent bartender Emily Evans, the Glamour Shot is a well balanced mix of Plymouth Gin, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liquor, Cynar, and lime. This is definitely a spiritous gin cocktail, but it has some of the bitter elements one expects in a well-crafted Manhattan.

Stop in this week during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour and try a Glamour Shot for only $5. In addition, we will be offering this drink for $5 all night this Sunday, April 27th. A true bargain for such an exceptional cocktail!

A brand new old postcard.

We take our image pretty seriously here at Bryant's. Any ad, website, blog, or advertising has to fit our image as a historic cocktail lounge. Especially important are the take-aways for customers. The stickers, t-shirts, and postcards say a lot about us as a lounge and a piece of Milwaukee history. The most important of these takeaways are the postcards we give to our customers. We love our postcards for many reasons. We love that people mail them to their friends, fasten them to their refrigerator, and use them to jot down notes about their visit to Milwaukee.

For the last three years, the Whipped Cream Girl postcard has been the postcard of choice. We absolutely love this postcard, which is a recreation of Herb Alpert's "Whipped Cream and Other Delights", an iconic album cover from the 1960s. Our good friend and fabulous Milwaukee photographer Daniel Bishop created this postcard from scratch, including photographing our own Whipped Cream Girl in the Velvet Lounge, drawing the font, and recreating the feel of the original album cover. Truly an amazing piece of work!

Our original intention was to change the Bryant's postcard every year, but the Whipped Cream Girl postcard was so good, we decided not to replace it- until now.

Finally, we have a new postcard that is worthy of representing Bryant's. Based on the historic postcards that have advertised the classiest of restaurants and bars over the years, such as this historic postcard from the former Picadilly Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge on Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee:

These collage style postcards have a unique layout and "feeling" and generally include two to five drawings or photographs of the establishment and a prominent logo. One thing we have noticed is that there are rarely people in the pictures, instead treating the spaces almost like works of art that belong in a museum. Most modern marketers discourage this, but we like it for its historic value and, quite frankly, most of these spaces could be in museums.

Our new collage postcard features four photos of Bryant's (which were again taken by Dan Bishop), and the familiar Bryant's script in the lower left hand corner:

Similar to the historic postcards we used as models, there are no noticeable people in the images, instead focusing on the drinks and the spaces. The back of the postcard is simple and features a Bryant's description that should be familiar to customers of the past:

"Milwaukee's Oldest Cocktail Lounge, open since 1938. Everyone enjoys the two floors of atmosphere, swinging sounds, and unmatched cocktails at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge"

This was taken directly from the copy of one of Bryant's historic radio commercials from the 1960s and we think it is still relevant today! See/hear for yourself:

We hope you will love our new old postcard as much as we do. Next time you are at Bryant's, pick up a few and give them to your friends and family! And, we promise we will occasionally bring back the Whipped Cream Girl postcards- they are just too good to retire altogether!

Valentine's Day is our St. Patrick's Day

If there is one thing at Bryant's as consistent as the delicious cocktails, it's love.

Unlike most modern bars, Bryant's was built for love. The cozy dark lighting and cozy booths create the perfect environment for gazing in to the eyes of your beloved. There are no TVs to distract your gaze, no dance floor to break up the space, no pool tables and no bar games- when you come toBryant's it's about you and your companion. Conversation, laughter, and heady drinks mix to create the perfect environment for love.

Is Bryant's the perfect place for a first date? Probably not, especially if you don't know the person. If the date goes wrong (and let's face it, it may), the quiet music and lack of distraction will quickly highlight the awkwardness. Personally, I would say Bryant's is the perfect place for a second date. If you know you have a connection with your date, bring them to Bryant's for some serious one on one.

Why Bryant's? Ask your grandparents: Bryant's is a proven place for love. I have met dozens of people who say they dated at Bryant's, their parents/grandparents dated at Bryant's, or they got engaged at Bryant's. I even met one fellow named Bryant whose parents loved Bryant's so much, they named their child after the lounge. Now, that's love.

Probably the most famous Bryant's couple, long gone from the memory of most Bryant's patrons, were Bryant and Edna Sharp. This couple created and owned Bryant's for nearly 20 years. It was their vision to create a space full of romantic music and delicious cocktails; a special place, closed off and separate from the everyday world. The separation from the outside world was especially important in the late 1930's. America was just coming out of the Great Depression and just entering a World War. Life was hard and people appreciated a romantic place to get away from the everyday.

Unfortunately, we don't know a lot about Bryant or his wife Edna. However, we did find a memorial to Bryant that was quite telling of the couple and their love for each other:

Personally, I never met Bryant, but I am sure he would be happy to know that Milwaukee is still enjoying the lounge he created over 70 years ago. If only he could see that couples still get a glimmer in their eye when they mention their special times at Bryant's. I'm sure he would be proud to have his name on the most romantic spot in town.

This weekend we are celebrating Valentine's Day at Bryant's. We will be making the best cocktails in town, plus we will be serving Pat's Valentine's Day punch and the Defrongue. Here are our hours, hope you can stop by:

Friday, February 11 5PM-2:30AM Velvet Lounge 10PM-1AM

Saturday, February 12 5PM-2:30AM Velvet Lounge 8PM-1AM

Sunday, February 13 8PM-2AM

Monday, February 14 7PM-2AM

Drinking Made Easy

Do you know who Zane Lamprey is?

I'll be honest, I didn't know who he was and I had never seen his television show "Three Sheets". My first contact with Zane was a phone call from the producer of his new show "Drinking Made Easy" last June. He wanted to bring in a film crew and shoot part of his new show at Bryant's. The answer? Of course- sounds great- of course I know who Zane Lamprey is! I was excited for Bryant's to be featured, but I was most excited that another national television show would be featuring Milwaukee.

The television crew showed up on a Saturday afternoon after filming at the Bomb Shelter down the street. There were four crew members, a producer, some guy named Steve McKenna, and Zane Lamprey. I was impressed with Zane Lamprey. He was funny, easy going, and obviously very smart. He took control of the entire filming, which lasted a few hours- he was consistently calm, funny, and seemed quite sober (which is impossible, given they had been drinking at the bomb shelter for quite a while before visiting us).

We made them several drinks, including a Pink Squirrel (an almond like ice cream drink that was invented at Bryant's back in the 1940s), a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, a Mai Tai, a Brain Buster, a Frank's Drink, and a drink created for Zane called, appropriately, a Zane Lamprey. Of the drinks, I watched Steve McKenna drink a Mai Tai, a Brain Buster, and a Pink Squirrel. Plus, he finished the last half of all the other drinks I made for the crew. Even though this was over a couple hours, I have no idea how he was standing after the filming.

Six months later, in December, I finally got an opportunity to watch the Milwaukee edition of Drinking Made Easy. I have to say, Zane and his crew highlighted some really great Milwaukee institutions. Places that are often overlooked by travel writers and even local journalists. Great Lakes Distillery, the Bomb Shelter, the Safe House, Bad Genie, and Wolski's were all featured and all looked great.

For the Bryant's segment, they distilled several hours of footage down to around 5 minutes, which featured the Pink Squirrel and the Zane Lamprey cocktail. Unfortunately, they didn't show much of the interior of Bryant's and they didn't get in to the history, but this isn't really the point of the show.

If you are a fan of Three Sheets or Drinking Made Easy, you know that they build in a lot of drinking games in to the show. Here are the main drinking games (from the Drinking Made Easy web site):

1. The first person to see Pleepleus, gets to make someone else drink.

2. The first person to see a CONTINUITY ERROR in the show gets to make someone else drink.

3. Before Zane and Steve engage in the 6 SIX-pack challenge, pick a side. If the person you picked to win loses the challenge, you have to drink.

4. When Zane burps, the last person to make the “Good Burp” sign (putting your thumb to your forehead) has to drink.

5. When Marc touches someone (by putting his hand on their shoulder, arm, etc),the first person to say "touché" gets to make someone drink!

We propose a sixth game that would just apply to the Milwaukee episode. When watching with your friends, everyone has to take a drink whenever John (the owner of Bryant's and the nervous bartender in the episode) says "right". Trust me, you and your friends will be thoroughly drunk in no time!

Seriously, we had a great time meeting Zane and his crew and being a part of this fun show. If you get a chance, watch Drinking Made Easy on HD Net and visit the great Milwaukee establishments that were featured on the Milwaukee episode.

Cheers!

Cocktail of the Week: The Fernandito Cocktail

The cocktail for February 8 through the 11th is the Fernandito Cocktail, created by Gary Regan.

We chose this cocktail after searching for a better use for a common spirit: spiced rum. At Bryant's we are huge fans of rum. We use different varieties of rum in many, many of our cocktails. Light rum, dark rum, 151 rum, aged rum, Puerto Rican rum, Guatemalan rum, and yes, we even occasionally use coconut-flavored rum. The one rum we have found little use for is spiced rum. All of the Captain Morgan spiced rum we pour is mixed with coke. Not saying there is anything wrong with this, but there has to be a better use for spiced rum, right?

When someone wants a drink made with spiced rum, we find they will enjoy some of our house-made spiced drinks. The Navy Grog, the Fog Cutter, and the Scorpion are a few of the drinks we make with our own spice mixture. Personally, I feel these drinks blow any store bought spiced rum out of the water, but I may be a little biased. Or I may have had one too many Navy Grogs in my life (these drinks, by the way, are served in our ultra-cool skull mugs, which make them all the more mysterious).

For those of our guests who are not a fan of our house spice mix, we have finally found a cocktail that works well with store bought spiced rum. The Fernandito combines spiced rum (we are using Cruzan spiced rum, which has a heavy vanilla flavor), raspberry liqueur, lime juice, and orange juice.

The Fernandito has all the traits of a great cocktail- simple in ingredients, but complex in taste. It highlights the flavors of the spiced rum without being too boozy. This cocktail is so great, it will appeal to fans of rum and fans of spiced rum (yes, these are often two different groups of people).

Stop in during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour this week and try the Fernandito for only $5. Follow it up with a Geronimo or a Hawaiian Eyes and make it a night!

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge Mythbusters

Bryant's first opened in February of 1938. That's 73 years of serving the finest cocktails in Milwaukee. After so many years, there are bound to be a few myths and misunderstandings surrounding such a historic business. Some of the myths are fun and add to the charm. For instance, did Frank Sinatra used to frequent Bryant's on trips to Northern Wisconsin? We may never know, but enough old timers tell that tale. Others are just plain ridiculous- no, Al Capone did not run a bootlegging business out of the basement of Bryant's.

There are three common myths that surround Bryant's that we have decided to address.

1. Bryant's used to have a drink menu.

We hear this a lot. People swear that Bryant's has or had a drink list and, the last time they were in, they ordered off a menu. Sometimes this frustrates people so much that they leave, believing that we are hiding the menu from them!

We heard this myth so often that we had to ask the old manager (who worked at Bryant's since the 1950s) whether there was, at one time or another, a drink menu. She, as well as every other employee, insist that there never was a menu at Bryant's. It was the original owner Bryant's philosophy that a menu only leads to limited choice and prevents experimentation.

While we agree with Bryant, there is another, more practical set of reasons. First, who would be able to read a menu at Bryant's? It is so dark, we would have to make the print really large. This would make the menu, which would contain over 400 drinks, the size of Webster's unabridged dictionary. If we did have a menu, how the heck would we classify all the drinks? We would have to have a cross referencing index or perhaps a card catalog. Purely from a practical standpoint, our staff is much better at helping you choose a drink.

2. Bryant's Hates and/or Owns At Random

At Random, the similarly styled cocktail lounge located in Bay View, is often mixed up with Bryant's. At Random, which does have a menu, is also dimly lit with delicious cocktails. The feeling is different, but there are definitely a lot of similarities.

Since these two establishments share similarities, people start assuming things. The most common belief is that there is an angry rivalry between Bryant's and At Random. The second, less common belief is that we own or used to own At Random.

The truth is that Bryant's Cocktail Lounge and At Random are similar because the owner of At Random used to work at Bryant's. In the 1950s, he left and opened his own lounge in Bay View. This is why you will see some of the same cocktails at both establishments. They also share a similar style that was more common back in the day. There actually used to be several swanky cocktail lounges in Milwaukee- Bryant's and At Random are just the two best ones that happened to survive several periods of changing tastes.

There is no rivalry between At Random and Bryant's. In fact, the owners were friends for many years. Our staff will often go to At Random on their nights off- after all, where else would you go for a tasty cocktail if you didn't want to go back to work? We believe that there is plenty of room in this city for two cool cocktail lounges and Bryant's and At Random both offer great places to have a cocktail.

3. Bryant's is Haunted

It is difficult to confirm or deny this one. There have been a ton of strange happenings at Bryant's, but we have never been able to catch any on tape.

Footsteps, voices, stools moving on their own, customers being tapped on the shoulder only to turn around and find no one there. We have also seen shadows and people who were not there. Even our most skeptical staff members are suspicious of some of the weird happenings at Bryant's.

After 73 years, there have been two owners, several long term staff members and countless customers who have passed away. They all loved Bryant's and, if you believe in this sort of thing, would probably try to come back to sit at the bar and enjoy an Old Fashioned. I can't think of a better place to spend an afterlife!

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Bryant's Mythbusters. Do you have a Bryant's myth you would like explained? Let us know and we will do our best!

Cocktail of the Week: The Golden Glow

The Golden Glow of Cocktail Hour

For the past two years, we have been offering the same specials for our "old fashioned cocktail hour". Half price old fashioned cocktails, as well as our depression era cocktails. Stopping down between 5 and 9, Tuesday through Friday, is a great way to enjoy some classic Bryant's cocktails for a song. At just $3.50 to $4 each, these cocktails are a true recession-era special.

Many of our best customers first stopped by during cocktail hour to feel the place out. Once they double check their directions, open the door, and let their eyes adjust, they are usually hooked and will stop by again and again and again. Sometimes they become loyal to one specific cocktail, but often they are looking to try a variety of drinks.

We have decided to expand our offerings during cocktail hour to include a "cocktail of the week". This cocktail may be a classic cocktail, or an obscure Bryant's favorite, or it may be a new creation that features a specific new spirit, bartender, or ingredient. The featured cocktail may be available at all times, or it may be a special cocktail that is only offered under the spotlight of cocktail hour. The best way to find out more about the cocktail of the week is to ask your friendly bartender or to keep up with us on Facebook, where we will announce the cocktail of the week:

http://www.facebook.com/bryantscocktaillounge

The first cocktail of the week will be the Golden Glow, which will be available at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge for only $5 through February 4th.

We discovered the Golden Glow in a Galliano cocktail book from the 1970's. We have always been searching for Galliano cocktails, besides the Golden Cadillac and the Harvey Wallbanger, that properly utilize this anise based liqueur. The Golden Glow blends gin, Galliano, and Drambuie (another spirit that is difficult to mix). Simple and sweet, this cocktail is interesting enough to be our first Cocktail of the Week.

Stop by Milwaukee's Classic Cocktail Lounge between 5 and 9 to re-experience our Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour.