That's the spirit: Milwaukee Cocktail Week returns
It's the fifth (appropriately enough) Milwaukee Cocktail Week, and it continues through Sunday with spirits-centered events such as a class on hot-right-now rye whiskey and dinners paired with cocktails, but also a couple of gentle mornings with yoga and nonalcoholic coffee drinks.
This is the first year that the event is organized by the Milwaukee chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild; the inaugural cocktail week in 2013 was launched by Alcoholmanac Magazine publisher Brian West.
No need to drive if you imbibe; buses, taxis and ride-sharing services will take celebrants home from festivities, and Milwaukee Cocktail Week has a partnership with Wayaround, the driving service that uses the customer's own car.
Here's the week's lineup (more details are at mkecw.com):
Monday
The kickoff party at global-gin specialist the Tin Widow, 703 S. 2nd St., is a fundraiser for the Bartenders Guild's new Barman's Fund, a relief fund to help sick and injured bartenders who are uninsured. The party starts at 7 p.m.
Tuesday
A hands-on cocktail lab, sponsored by Great Northern Distilling of Plover, is open to bartenders and to anyone from the public with an idea or three for a good cocktail. From 5 to 8 p.m., participants will create three or four cocktails of their own with Great Northern spirits to be featured at the distillery's bar and at bars around the state. It takes place at Plum Lounge, 780 N. Jefferson St. The event is free.
An art event, Imagination Exploration, takes place from 8 p.m. to midnight at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. 4th St. Expect dance performances, artists painting, portraits of attendees and more at this gallery-like event, plus samples of cocktails by leading Milwaukee bartenders including Daniel Beres of Hotel Madrid and Sam Berman of the Tin Widow. The $10 admission includes drink samples.
Wednesday
Sip and learn about rye whiskey from Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel's during happy hour 4 to 6 p.m. at the Rumpus Room, 1030 N. Water St. Leading the session is Daniel Dufek, perhaps best known as the innovative former bar manager at Hi-Hat Lounge on Brady St.
It's cocktail dinner night at four restaurants around town:
Goodkind, 2457 S. Wentworth Ave., is serving a Wisconsin bourbon dinner with J. Henry & Sons spirits, distilled in Dane. The dinner, which is $100, opens with a reception at 6:30 p.m.; reserve seats at (414) 763-4706.
Hotel Madrid, 600 S. 6th St., is the host of "Bourbon, Pork & Rye, Oh, My," a casual dinner with Heaven Hill spirits, with seating anytime from 5 to 8 p.m. The dinner is $35 in advance or $40 the day of the event. Make reservations with a credit card by calling (414) 488-9146.
Bacchus, 925 E. Wells St., is the site for "Best of Beam," snacks with samples of spirits by Suntory Toki, Maker's 46, El Tesoro, Auchentoshan Bartenders Malt and Jim Beam Black. Bartenders from Bacchus, Buckley's Restaurant and more will mix drinks. Make reservations at (414) 765-1166.
Lazy Susan, 2378 S. Howell Ave., is pairing its weekly gluten-free dinner for two with cocktails using Great Northern spirits. Dinner is $70 a couple, which includes four courses and cocktail pairings. Reservations recommended at (414) 988-7086; they can be made for anytime between 5 and 9 p.m.
Cocktails and cigars will be paired from 6 to 9 p.m. at Great Lakes Distillery, 616 W. Virginia St. Tickets are $25; if bought in advance, they include a "carnivore salad" of sausage, jerky and cheese curds from Roberts' Specialty Meats of Waukesha. Go online for tickets at brewcitycigarfest.com.
"Bad" cocktail recipes get a makeover in a session from 9 p.m. until closing time at the Vanguard, 2659 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Thursday
Football Party With the People at 7 p.m. at Belmont Tavern, 784 N. Jefferson St., will show the Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears game while mixing cocktail specials and pouring touchdown shots.
Milk Stand 3000 at the Phoenix Cocktail Club, 785 N. Jefferson St., will be cocktail fantasy: Hang on to your swizzle sticks; the premise is an extraterrestrial soda fountain/bar that's landed in Milwaukee in 2017 after traveling from another planet in the year 3000. Bartenders will be from the Phoenix and Jazz Estate.
Friday
A scavenger hunt will send teams of two to four people out to encounter Milwaukee's history and beverage industry from 5 to 8 p.m. The event is free, with cash bars along the route. The starting point is the Bittercube Apothecary in Lincoln Warehouse, 2018 S. 1st St., at W. Becher Ave.
A Japanese garden party will take place at the Chef's Table, 500 S. 3rd St., from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with hors d'oeuvres, cocktails made with Japanese whiskey and entertainment. The drinks will be sold, but admission is free.
Saturday
Refresh/Revive is a yoga session with coffee mocktails from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Bittercube space in Lincoln Warehouse on S. 1st St. at Becher St. It's free.
Harvest Fest at Great Lakes Distillery from 7 to 10 p.m. celebrates the release of the distillery's seasonal pumpkin spirit and the debut of its Good Land cranberry liqueur. Admission is free.
A speakeasy will pop up at 1924 E. Kenilworth Place, after a Milwaukee Film Festival screening of "Schumann's Bar Talks." Cocktails will be from Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, Dock18 Cocktail Lab, Boone & Crockett, Goodkind, Badger Liquor, Story Hill BKC, the Jazz Estate, Vermuteria 600 and Sprezzatura. The $10 cash-only admission includes drink samples and appetizers. A cash bar will be available.
Sunday
Round 2 of Refresh/Revive, yoga and coffee mocktails from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Bittercube in Linocoln Warehouse.