The Fountain, Madison, 3/7/14

Location: The Fountain, Madison, WI
Web site: http://www.thefountainofmadison.com/
Points: 2.5
Fruit garnish: +.5
Cherry juice or grenadine: ?
Muddling: +1
Bitters: +.5
Brandy: +.5
Overall taste: 0





The Drink: Wow, this was a pretty drink. The fruit was properly muddled, and it was well-garnished. They used Korbel brandy. However, the overwhelming consensus from the 4 of us who had one was that it was SWEET. Too much 7-up.  Vicki couldn't taste the brandy, but others said they could a little bit.  It just did not have the right balance.

Tips for improvement: More brandy and bitters to balance the sweet.

Atmosphere: We were in the restaurant section which is nice.  There is a bar in this section as well, so we could see them making our drink. 

Experience: We were with 4 friends (Jane, Jonathan, Walter and Debbie).  Jane and Debbie tried the brandy old fashioned sweet and agreed with us that it was too sweet.  They were busy (Friday night) and we were crunched for time and they did a good job of getting us out on time.  The separate bar area here is nice too, though we didn't have time for a second drink there.  This was our first blog post venture with friends, and it was fun!

Paul's Club, Madison, WI 3/7/14

Location: Paul's Club, Madison, WI
Web site: Can't find one
Points: 4.25
Fruit garnish: +.25 for generous, muddled orange
Muddled: Yes!
Cherry juice or grenadine: 0
Bitters: +1
Brandy: +1 Korbel
Overall taste: +1
















The Drink: Yummy, yummy. This was good. A tad strong, but that is better than being too weak. They muddled the fruit with sugar and the bitters.  They also gave the drink a shake before pouring it into the glass. This was just about perfect.

Tips for improvement: none

Atmosphere: What can I say about Paul's Club. If I had not been going there for over 30 years, I might think it was the best bar ever.  But, it is not the same and it is not better.  Paul's Club is known for its oak tree and its coziness.  It was resurrected after a fire and they maintained the coziness.  But, in the last couple of years it moved (tree and all) to a new location that is bigger. It is now not as cozy.  But, if I didn't know all of this--nice bar.  We met a friend there and we had our own space with comfy chairs.

Experience: Well, we saw some bearded hipsters.  

Romanos, Evansville, WI 3/1/14

Location: Romanos, Evansville, WI
Web site: http://romanospizza-lounge.com/Romanos-Website/
Points: 2
Fruit garnish: +.5
Cherry juice or Grenadine: Grenadine, +.5
Muddling: 0
Bitters: 0
Brandy: +1
Overall taste: 0








The Drink: This drink did not work because a purchased old fashioned mix was used. That pretty much disqualifies the drink. There was no muddling. In addition to the mix, Grenadine was added. This made the drink way too sweet. Steve called it a "kiddy cocktail with brandy." We did not have a second one.

Tip for improvement: Make the drink from scratch.

Atmosphere: This is the nicest bar in Evansville. The bar itself is long with big, comfortable  seats.  There is additional cocktail style seating, but we like sitting at the bar.

Experience: The waitress was super friendly. This is a small-town bar after all, so we still had a nice time.  This Romanos makes great chocolate martinis and we love coming here with friends. 

Mason's on Main, Oregon, WI 2/22/14

Location: Mason's on Main, Oregon, WI
Web site: http://www.masonsonmain.com/
Price: $5
Points: 4.25
Fruit garnish: .25 (for the generous orange slice)
Cherry juice or grenadine: not sure
Muddling: yes +1
Bitters: just right +1
Brandy: just right (Korbel) +1
Overall taste:  perfect +1

The Drink: This was a really good BOFS.  Both Steve and I agree that it was nice and smooth. We weren't able to watch them make it, but this is a featured drink on the menu called "Main Street Old Fashioned" which boasts "Our special homemade Old Fashioned mix featuring Wisconsin's Favorite -- Korbel Brandy." The fruit seemed muddled. There was no garnish, but as Steve loves to point out, the flavor is what matters most.

Tip for improvement: Can't really think of anything.

Atmosphere: This is a nice place and is fairly new.  The bar is roomy and has a cosmopolitan almost industrial feel. The main dining room next door has more of a turn-of-the-century look.

Experience: We took the family there for dessert. Everyone agreed the desserts were really good. Even though we were in the bar, there were tables that were comfortable for a large group.  Here is my dessert--Godiva panna cotta with home-made Kahlua ice cream. 

Kavanaugh's Esquire Club, Madison WI 2/21/14



Location: Kavanaugh's Esquire Club, Madison WI
Web Site: http://www.esquireclubmadison.com/
Price: $5.50
Points: 3.25 out of 5
Fruit garnish: +.5
Cherry juice or Grenadine: none
Muddling: no
Bitters: good +1
Brandy: strong enough +1
Overall taste: just a little too bitter +.75







The drink: This drink was just OK. No muddled fruit in combination with a slight bitterness dragged it down.  It was made with simple syrup and bitters, then ice and brandy and 7-up.  Two cherries were the garnish.  This place cranks these out--sometimes there are 6 lined up being made assembly line fashion.  So, they are super popular here.  The second one was better.


Tip for improvement: Muddle fruit with sugar and bitters.  Without the muddled fruit, a BOFS will never be great.  At least they didn't ask if we wanted olives.

Atmosphere: This is a classic Wisconsin supper club. The bar is at the center and it was packed.  We were lucky to get two seats at the bar.  As I said, they crank out the brandy old fashioneds, which is pretty cool.  This place is huge, with various dining areas surrounding the bar area.

Experience: For a Friday night, you get the full Wisconsin fish fry experience.  You wait to get a table in a packed bar and while you are waiting, you have a brandy old fashioned.  The locals are friendly and willing to talk.  Of course we discussed the old fashioneds.  I was told that the best ones in Madison are at "Toby's."  Care to join us?




The Night Owl, Evansville WI 2/14/2014

Night Owl, Evansville WI

Location: The Night Owl, Evansville WI
Web site: http://nightowlgrill.com/
Price: $4.50
Points: 4.0 out of 5.0
Fruit garnish: none
Cherry juice or Grenadine: not sure
Muddling: fruit (cherry and orange)was muddled with sugar. +1
Bitters: just right +1
Brandy: just right (though not Korbel) +1
Overall taste: great +1



The drink: Overall this was a great brandy old fashioned sweet.  The bartender concocted it with care. Steve thought it had a cinnamon taste.  We were asked if we wanted olives and said no, but there was no fruit garnish either. At least there was the muddled fruit to eat. The second one was better.

Tip for improvement: add a fruit garnish.

Atmosphere: the Night Owl has a pleasant bar area which is where we sat.  Note the shiny bar counter. There is also a very open restaurant area. The atmosphere is OK--part sports bar and part Wisconsin small-town bar and restaurant.

Experience: we like this hometown bar for meeting up with friends and for lunch and dinner with the family.