Not only did I go out recently, I went with a friend--not just my husband (not that he's an enemy or anything)--and we hit two whole places. Well, admittedly, I still got home by 9 pm but I was out and that's the big deal.
And while out, I tried a new drink I liked very much and went to a Madison tapas bar that impressed me greatly with both its gin selection and the enthusiasm of the bartender for discussing cocktailiana.
First, the drink. I had this at a fairly new Madison piano bar which I'm afraid is going to suffer if its food selection doesn't expand to live up to its drink menu. The drinks offered are imaginative and well made, offering something for the cosmo crowd and for drinkers who aren't looking for a soda pop. But having only pizza, cheese bread and snack mix just isn't a draw for someone drinking a classic Manhattan while listening to good jazz piano. The drink I tried was, the owner told me, created by her and turned out to be a terrific summer cooler. Something of a riff on a Mojito, the Gingermint starts with some muddled mint leaves and adds ice, gin, then tops off with ginger beer. I think it's the first drink I've seen that uses ginger beer other than the Dark N Stormy and the counterpoint with mint and gin was refreshing, not too sweet, and light enough to start an evening off right. (And would be great with Coconut Shrimp or steamed edamame with sea salt.)
As much as I liked that, we moved on looking for more substantial food and ended up at Icon. I had this tapas bar recommended by several people and was pleased I finally stopped in. As I always do when I plop myself on a bar stool, I scanned the shelves for the gin section. Usually, if I'm really lucky, this will include Beefeater, Tanqueray, and both Bombay Sapphire and Bombay Dry. Really, really lucky and Boodles and Hendrick's will be there, too (though I'm not a Hendricks fan--cucumbers belong in salads and on eyelids). But at Icon, I saw all those plus Plymouth, Miller's and, allors, even Zuidam, a Dutch gin that I can't find at any liquor stores anymore and have never seen at a bar. I felt like Dorothy and was tempted to call my companion Toto for the rest of the evening but I think she would have taken it as an insult--can't imagine why. Of course, I ordered a Zuidam martini, straight up, very cold, and with olives but no more than two. The young man bartending sparked and said, "Absolutely. I've got frozen glasses ready to go" and proceeded to make the best bar martini I've had in Madison--or Chicago for that matter.
When my Cosmo drinking pal asked for my suggestions for drinks a little less sweet than her go-to but not too much like a real alcoholic drink, I suggested a Sidecar--that sugared rim keeps it a bit sweet while the citrus gives tang--and the bartender joined the conversation, agreeing with that choice and pointing out another drink on their menu that might also do the trick. Between the excellent drinks and the tapas--served one at a time as they should be--I'm putting Icon on my list of Madison places I most like to go for apps and cocktails, along with my old favorite, Magnus.
Maybe if I could find more places--other than my kitchen--that served innovative but not trendy drinks, well made by engaged bartenders (not engaged like that--I don't check marital status when I order), I might have more nights on the town: at least early evenings on the town.
