Bryant's Cocktail Lounge

Sweetest Day

2011-10-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

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....

2011-09-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-07-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-03-22T22:27:00.001-07:00

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

2011-02-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-10T12:13:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

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.

The Perfect Replacement

2009-05-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

When we took over Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, some of the most iconic Bryant's decor and accessories were missing. For example, there used to be a clock on the pillar in the downstairs lounge. Also missing were the glasses for the blue devil and the skull glasses that used to hold the Navy Grog. Most noticeably, there used to be a picture in the velvet lounge of a mysterious woman. She was very memorable due to her exceptionally long hands and the mysterious look in her eye.

Many of the past customers and employees believed the painting to be haunted. We don't know if this is true or not, but we do know that a lot of strange stories exist about the Velvet Lounge.

Whether or not the painting had super natural powers, we were very disappointed when it disappeared. You just can't find paintings like this any more. We searched and searched for a suitable replacement. She had to be beautiful, but mysterious. The painting had to be dark and unique enough to call the Velvet Lounge home.

We recently came across a painting that we feel fits right in. She is mysterious, beautiful, and a little dark. Best of all, her hands are behind her back, so we're not sure how big her hand are. We will assume they are abnormally large.

Visit the Velvet Lounge soon and take a look at the newest old addition to Bryant's. We think you will be quite pleased.

See you soon!

Thanks for Stopping by Jimmy Fallon

2009-05-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we had the honor of serving Jimmy Fallon a cocktail. He and two friends stopped by and headed up to the Velvet Lounge where Jimmy enjoyed a hand crafted Frank's Drink, which consists of Old Oberholt Rye Whiskey, Chartreuse, Sweet Vermouth, and orange bitters.

He loved the cocktail and even gave us a Twitter shout-out. Whatever the heck that means.

We contemplated renaming the drink Jimmy's Drink, but our dear friend Frank wouldn't have it.

Thanks for stopping by, Jimmy. It was an honor serving you a delicious cocktail.

Featured Cocktail: the old Silk Stockings

2009-05-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

A delicious bourbon cocktail with a sorted past.

For those of you who have ever searched your local bar or liquor store for a spirit you read about in a magazine, you know that finding specialty products is not always easy. This is especially true in Southeast Wisconsin, where many specialty spirits are not even brought in to the area.

Over the years, some of the ingredients used in our cocktails would become unavailable. During these times, we would either change the recipe or retire the recipe. With the resurgence of classic cocktails, we are finding that specialty spirits are once again becoming available. This is great news for us!

We had a recent success story with one of our depression era cocktails, the Silk Stockings. Sometime in the past, one of the primary ingredients became unavailable. The liquor, called Mandarine Napoleon, is a mandarine based liquor that has a mellow, almost herbal taste. When this spirit became unavailable, the mixologists at Bryant's substituted a mellon based liquor. While this may seem odd, both offered a sweet, warm taste that kept the Silk Stockings cocktail balanced with its other ingredients, including bourbon.

After some searching, we found that Mandarine is once again easily available. We acquired a bottle and eagerly mixed a silk stockings the old fashioned way. It was delicious. The mandarine melds seamlessly with the bourbon, creating a very unique and drinkable cocktail.

We now have the pleasure of offering both Silk Stockings cocktails. The old silk stockings, made with mandarine for a smooth, mandarine taste and the new silk stockings, made with melon liquor for slightly sweeter taste.

The best part? Both cocktails are half priced during our Old Fashion Cocktail Hour, from 5-9 PM, Tuesday through Friday.

Defrongue

2009-03-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

There are some cocktails at Bryant's that are more than just a simple, balanced mixture of alcohol and mixer ingredients. The Defrongue is one of these drinks.

We are not sure of the exact history of this potent specialty drink, but we do know it has been served at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge since at least the 1950's, but probably before. The cocktail is Southern Comfort based, but the actual recipe remains a long held secret. In fact, we believe that only four people know the exact makeup of the secret ingredient that makes the Defrongue so tasty.

What makes the Defrongue unique is its reputation as an aphrodisiac. While some would joke that alcohol itself is an aphrodisiac, we believe there is something more to this drink. Maybe it is the heady, sweet flavor or the mystery of not knowing the secret ingredients that make this drink a potent partner to the woo. Regardless, this drink is so highly regarded that, during the 1950's, it inspired a poet to create on ode to the Defrongue cocktail. This poem was printed in a mini poem book and given to the customer lucky enough to be enjoying a Defrongue cocktail.

After many years, we re-released this amazing cocktail on Valentine's Day of 2009. You have the choice of enjoying this cocktail up or on the rocks (personally, I suggest enjoying it up, which was the traditional way of enjoying the Defrongue) and you even get a copy of the coveted poem book to take home.

Peanut Butter Scare

2009-01-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

Our creamy peanut butter ice cream drink, the ET, is made with real peanut butter. Naturally, we were shocked to hear about the Salmonella found in peanut butter around the nation.

We did some investigation and found that our customers are not at risk if they consumed an ET at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge.

We only use Reese's peanut butter in our ice cream drinks. We have found that Reese's makes the best peanut butter, which gives the ET a special taste. According to Hershey's, who makes the Reese's peanut butter, there are no peanuts from the Peanut Corporation of America used in and Reese's product. Hershey's processes all their own peanuts in their own plants.

Therefore, there is no risk of Salmonella in our peanut butter products.

If you would like to read the full press release, visit the Hershey's website.

Our Website is Live!

2008-10-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Our website for Bryant's Cocktail Lounge is now live. Our site features lots of information about Bryant's, including cocktail and history pages. Look for lots of future updates, including featured drinks and special events.

To visit our website, go to:

www.BryantsCocktailLounge.com

The old, old Bryant's

2008-08-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

Before Bryant's was a cocktail lounge, it was opened as a beer bar. Story has it that Bryant Sharp opened Bryant's in 1938 in its current location as a beer hall. Sometime around 1941, he decided to give up beer and in order to serve only cocktails. In addition, he took out his jukebox and replaced it with a record player on which he only played only classical music. This was the birth of the first cocktail lounge in Milwaukee and, the story goes, the first cocktail lounge in Wisconsin. From here, Bryant's grew in to the swanky lounge it is today.

There are many stories that back up the timing of the establishment of Bryant's as a cocktail lounge. One of our purveyors who custom mixes some of our cocktail ingredients claims that we are their oldest customer, dating back to "around the 1930's". In addition, several people have told me their grandparents frequented Bryant's the cocktail lounge in the early 1940's. I am unsure of when Bryant's was remodeled in to a cushy lounge, but some old timers have told me they remember the swanky Bryant's in the mid 1940's.

We have two photos of Bryant's before it became a cocktail lounge. An educated guess dates these photos sometime in the late 30's or early 40's, probably during World War II. In the bottom photo, there is a recruiting poster on the wall that reads "Enlist Now!". Dating this photo in the late 30's or early 40's is also consistent with the stories of Bryant's being a beer bar between 1938-1941; three of the four years were during WWII. In addition, there is a posted notice in the lower photo from Wisconsin State Treasurer John Smith; an email to the current Wisconsin Treasurer's Office revealed that John Smith was in office from 1939 to 1947.

Both of these historic photographs reveal a lot about the early Bryant's. It appears that the lower photo is some sort of promotion of Miller Hi Life. In addition, these photos reveal that Bryant was likely a fan of baseball (note the trophies on top of the bar and the baseball photo above the restroom doors). This is consistent with stories past customers have told about taking the Bryant's shuttle between Bryant's and Milwaukee Braves games in the early 1950's. These photos also reveal that Bryant's served food prior to becoming a cocktail lounge. There is a sign above the bar that says "If your wife can't cook, eat here and keep her as a pet". I think keeping someone as a pet in the early 30's had a much different connotation than it does today.

These photos also bring up a lot of questions. If anyone knew the old, old Bryant's and has any information, stories, or the like, please email us . Looking at these photos, I wonder:

Who are the gentlemen in the photo? Someone told me that Bryant Sharp was one of the men with his feet up at the stove, but we don't know exactly which one is Bryant. Looking at the photos, it almost appears that Bryant is the bartender, which would also make sense.
When exactly was this photo taken and why was it taken?
Was this photo taken at 2:13 in the afternoon?
What is the significance of the the wing above the door to the ladies room?
Where was the old Bryant's bar? What was the configuration of the space?

These questions may never be answered, but it is definitely fun to speculate. One thing is for sure, Bryant Sharp had a vision that would lead to the establishment of one of the greatest cocktail lounges in America.

The "Old Bryant's"

2008-08-21T20:17:00.001-07:00

When visiting Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, most people comment on the atmosphere- they are amazed at how well preserved the interior is and they wonder why Bryant's survived when so many cocktail lounges closed during the vodka tonic years. Many people don't realize that the Bryant's they visit is the third (or possibly fourth) incarnation of Bryant's. The Bryant's you know and love was remodeled in to the dimly lit slice of heaven in 1971, after Bryant's suffered a devastating interior fire.

While some of our older patrons fondly remember the "old Bryant's", many people wonder what it was like in the 1940's, 50's, and 60's. We recently came across some historic photos of Bryant's and wanted to share them with you. Hopefully, if you remember the "old Bryant's" they will stir some fond memories; on the other hand, if you are too young to remember the old Bryant's, hopefully these photos will show you that Bryant's has ALWAYS been a cool lounge and yes, our parents and grandparents were probably a lot cooler than we thought.

The lower bar, circa Christmas 1968. Notice the signature window shades that can still be seen at Bryant's. The bar is a different shape, but the place is still all class.

The main seating area has always been booths. The layout was different and the vinyl was much lighter than it is today.

There was a spiral staircase that led to the velvet lounge. After the fire, the front entryway was added and the staircase was reconfigured. Notice the vintage cigarette machine, hat rack, and the wrought iron stair handrail.

Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour

2008-08-21T19:53:00.001-07:00

Every weeknight from 5 PM to 9 PM, Bryant's is having a traditional cocktail hour!

Stop in to Bryant's Cocktail Lounge and enjoy the best old fashioned in town at the best price in town- 1/2 price! In addition, several of our traditional small cocktails are only half price. Feeling adventurous? Try a Candlelight, Mona Lisa, or Kismet. Each is unique and the perfect accompaniment to early evening relaxation.

OnMilwaukee Article

2008-07-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

OnMilwaukee, Milwaukee's premier online magazine, recently wrote a great article on the return of Bryant's Cocktail Lounge. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you can access the article at:

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/bryantsisback.html

There are some great photos of Master Mixologist Evan Barnes and host extraordinaire Free Jazz Frank. If you have an opportunity, make sure to thank Julie Lawrence for keeping us informed of all the happenings around Milwaukee.

Cocktails on Credit

2008-07-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

While we have tried to keep Bryant's as authentic as possible, there are some things we had to change. One of the most important changes we made was to acquire the capability to take credit cards. So few people carry cash these days, it didn't make sense to take only cash. We contemplated an ATM, but unfortunately there is no such thing as a retro looking ATM (even though they used to be called Tyme Machines).

We now take credit cards and VISA/Mastercard debit cards. Feel free to charge to your heart's content.

See you soon!

Better than TV, by far.

2008-07-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

It is very surprising how many people wonder if we have a television or flat screen TV. Not saying we are not a fan of TV, but this is a cocktail lounge, and we are very proud to not have a television. We have found that a TV is always the center of attention, no matter what is on. Have you every been on a date and found yourself staring blankly at championship ice block riding on ESPN 36? Yeah, us too.

We are offering a TV replacement that will add to your conversation without being overbearing, while still offering a distraction for those awkward moments of silence:

Our aquarium, set up and maintained by Mike the Fish Guy, offers a glimpse in to a world of serenity and warmth- a perfect match to your Knob Creek Manhattan with three shakes of bitters and two cherries. Much better than television.

The first week...

2008-07-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

After being open a full week, we've noticed that people are very happy that Bryant's is back. Most surprising has been the number of people who drive by for old time sake, only to find the open sign on. Many of these people have stories of their parents and grandparents coming to Bryant's or fond memories of coming to Bryant's for cocktails with friends. We are excited to continue this tradition for the next generation.

By far, the most popular drink has been the Black Magic- a huge concoction of flavors and liquor that tastes something like grape soda from when you were a child. The best part- It is one of Bryant's drinks that comes to your table on fire.

Evan, one of the masters of mixology behind the bar

at Bryant's.

When you stop by, remember that Bryant's does not currently have a drink list. As far as we are aware, it never has. We can tell you that there are more than 450 options to choose from- from sweet and tall to strong and small. We are sure that Bryant's has a drink for every taste. And yes, we even have some beer and wine.

We have found that the best way to approach finding the right cocktail at Bryant's is to talk to your bartender or server, tell them what you normally like or are in the mood for, and they will come up with a cocktail that blows your mind. Do you like watermelon? The Frosty Melon may be in order. A fan of chocolate covered cherries? The Bavarian Cherry is just what you are looking for. A fan of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra? The Rat Pack, a tasty concoction of whiskey, gin, and juice, may suit your tastes. Feeling adventurous? You can order by color, strength, or texture.

One thing is certain, we serve drinks that you will not find anywhere else.

See you soon!

Bryant's is back in business!

2008-07-09T11:56:00.001-07:00

After 9 months, Bryant's opened its doors again yesterday at 5 PM. We had a great turnout and the three bartenders, Chad, Evan, and Scott made number of Bryant's classic cocktails. While the Brandy Alexander, Brain Buster, and Black Magic cocktails were the most popular, many people experimented with something new. In all, the crowd seemed excited that Bryant's is back and that everything is virtually the same.

We look forward to having more old and new friends stop by this week. We are quickly working out the kinks and are excited to bring this classic cocktail lounge back to Milwaukee.

Re-opening on July 8th!

2008-06-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been calling, leaving messages about how much you are missing your Brainbusters and Black Magics, we have great news. The end of the end is in sight and we will be opening again on Tuesday, July 8th. The upstairs lounge will open again in August, on our grand opening night.

While we have been doing some work, we have preserved the spectacular lounge feel of Bryant's, right down to the vintage stereo system. The fish tank is up, the star lights are glowing, and the drinks are ready to flow. We look forward to seeing some of our old friends, while making sure young Milwaukee realizes the value of the treasure they almost lost.

We invite you to stop by Tuesday through Saturday from 5 PM to 2 AM, or Sunday from 8 PM to 2 AM. If you have any questions, please call us at (414) 383-2620 or email us at bryants@wi.rr.com.

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge

2008-03-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, located at 1579 South Ninth Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is one of the best preserved cocktail lounges in America. From the velvet wallpaper to the slushy cocktail creations, Bryant's is what a cocktail lounge ought to be.

Open since 1934, Bryant's has a long tradition of providing guests with quality beverages in a unique atmosphere. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have been closed since September of 2007. We plan on re-opening on June 21st, 2008 to continue our long standing tradition of being Milwaukee's finest and oldest cocktail lounge.

Please check back often- we will be updating our progress frequently. If you have any questions, please email bryants@wi.rr.com.