As advocates for Wisconsin bar and cocktail culture we’ve always been admirers of the work done by Brian Bartels.

Bartels, who was born and raised in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, cut his teeth bartending at the Great Dane and Paul’s Club in Madison before venturing to New York City and helping to open and operate a myriad of bars and restaurants as the beverage director for Happy Cooking Hospitality.

In 2020 Bartels would return to Madison to open the instant classic Settle Down Tavern and soon thereafter Oz by Oz and Turn Key Supper Club.

In addition, to his prolific record of opening successful bars and restaurants, Bartels is also a gifted writer, having penned the seminal Bloody Mary: The Lore and Legend of a Cocktail Classic in 2017, and The United States of Cocktails in 2020.

We at Wiscocktail Lounge, couldn’t be more inspired by what Bartels has done to champion those things that make drinking in Wisconsin different than anywhere else in the world.

So, when Brian was gracious enough to allow us to feature his Black Squirrel Old Fashioned cocktail on our fall menu we were ecstatic.

One of our core principles at Wiscocktail Lounge is to champion locally made sprits, beer and wine on our menus. In the case of of the Black Squirrel we chose Wollersheim Two Mile Bourbon which is produced about 15 miles away from the bar. What we love about using the Two Mile Bourbon in cocktails is that it is a “high-rye” bourbon, meaning that it uses a higher percentage of rye in it’s recipe than many other bourbons. This higher percentage of rye add’s a distinct spice to the usual sweetness that bourbon is known for, which allows the Two Mile Bourbon to offer a bit of counterpoint and complexity when mixed in a bourbon cocktail.

Black Squirrel

Wollersheim Two Mile Bourbon, Maple Syrup, Cherry Liqueur, Black Walnut Bitters

Our fall menu, which includes the Black Squirrel cocktail, was released on Friday, September 6th and should be available through late November.

Black Squirrel

Cosmopolitan