"Just Call Me Ben"

Benjamin Richardson, GM Whiskey Bar

 "Just Call Me Ben"

When asked to level on the great mixologist vs. bartender debate, Benjamin Richardson (the new GM of Whiskey Bar) proves his upstanding, personable character with his simple answer of call him by his first name. With ten plus years of experience under his belt, he is more than happy to share his vast knowledge of scotch, bourbons, and whiskeys and has tasted over 300 varieties! He also enjoys giving his input on creating the finest craft cocktail; his favorite customer line is “make me whatever you'd like – bartenders choice”. However, don't expect him to chat your ear off – this reserved man behind the bar is the ultimate professional and tends to share a great insight or story only at the appropriate time.

It all began for Ben when he was asked to temp bartend at the annual EAA in his hometown of Oshkosh. His passion for cocktails took flight and he began mixing on the side while he professionally balanced upscale restaurant & resort management and a personal training business. Eventually, people started to notice how good his drinks tasted and his career in the industry began.

Ben is familiar with how hard work pays off - he shared a personal memory of being the shortest and smallest kid on the 8^th grade basketball team who trained hard and succeeded at becoming the fastest and the strongest player. As a businessman, he is results driven and conscientious with an entrepreneurial twist, as proven by launching his own personal training business. He takes the same approach when creating a quality cocktail – the best ingredients, the right proportions, and the perfect presentation.

This Milwaukee-minded man loves his city and the hundreds of great bars and bartenders. He has set his own personal city limits and typically stays within the downtown boundaries of Bayview to the East Side. When he's not busy working, Ben is usually out enjoying a new restaurant with friends or re-creating favorite dishes in his home kitchen. “Milwaukee is way ahead of the game for a smaller big city” and Whiskey Bar will continue to be the beautiful, quality high-energy downtown bar perfect for the best Milwaukee night out.

Interview by #showmetheway

Sipping On Sunshine

the new cocktail line up on the 'testing bar'

Whiskey Bar is ready to give you an early taste of summer by launching a completely new, designed-from-scratch cocktail menu!  Over the past few weeks, general manager/head bartender Patrick and New York transplant barsmith Eric have experimented and invented new cocktails that will tantalize you with the perfect pairing of taste and presentation that is sure to satisfy the most querulous of cocktail aficionados!   

the gorgeous gem coloring of THE AMBERLINE

Featuring our classic high-end liquors combined with newly handcrafted simple syrups, purees and bitters; the menu will exhibit six completely diverse whiskey concoctions as well as seven new signature cocktails.  With this "new" old-school approach to designer drinks, surrounded by the classy chic design of the aptly named Whiskey Bar, it's easy to sip and savor the balanced taste of our handcrafted cocktails.   

a perfectly practiced pour, THE BROOKLYN

Prior to the new menu's debut, #showmetheway bellied up to the in-progress 'test bar'...

The first craft cocktail served at the taste-testing was presented with such sophistication, I felt a refreshing change of mind to my usual approach of an after-hours indulgence.  My long-time foodie and coffee bon vivant was awakened and fully tuned into the cocktail creation.  After a quick stir and strain, the sunshine-colored liquid of The Brooklyn, one of the new whiskey cocktails, neatly poured into a chilled rocks glass.  My tasting straw was poised and ready for the first tiny sip, but it wasn't quite ready yet...  a simple slice of orange garnish was twisted and flamed with a showy shower of sparks and a rejuvenating citrus orange oil scent.  Fire & Bourbon?!  I was instantly hooked!  With my first sip, I felt my palate tuning in to the distinct drink subtleties, it combined the elements of sweet, strong, citrus & sexy - an empire state of mind.  Savoring it while relaxing in the warm sun of the afternoon patio would be just as easy as sipping it inside the cool, sultry late night club scene.  Each cocktail I sampled was equally as unique: ranging from subtle bourbon complexities, to a distinct fruity fizz, a cleansing cucumber, to a granular sweet ginger.  Even the classics on this menu were completely re-invented and created with the finest attention to detail. 

the chic chaos of the test bar

Whiskey Bar's new cocktail menu will give you plenty of reasons to step out of your cocktail comfort zone and imbibe on a whole new level of tasting pleasure!  

#showmetheway

A FRESH COAT

Stop by The Belmont Tavern to see what we look like all spruced up!  
We've kicked off spring with a fresh coat of paint and a bit of redecorating but kept the incredible vibe and abundant selection of specialty drinks! 
(top secret: tap beer will soon be on the menu too)

Our drinks never go out of style...we've redefined happy hour with Cathedral Square's most extensive menu:

AFTER WORK PERK Mon-Sat 4pm-5pm:

1/2 off everything under $10!

 

HAPPY HOUR Mon-Sat 4pm-8pm:

$1 Off Domestic Beers & Wells

$2 Off Imports & Specialty Drink Menu

It is finally starting to feel like spring outside and we are the only bar on the block that's able to bring those bright, sunny days and refreshingly cool spring evenings inside with our completely open floor to ceiling front windows!  Stop by and stay awhile, you just might start to catch a bit of our spring fever!
#showmetheway

That Saturday Night Sound

The bird's eye view from Whiskey Bar's DJ studio booth is unlike anything I've ever experienced before: countless colorful flashing lights, infinitely spinning vinyl, thumping sound blasting from huge speakers, too many buttons dials and knobs to count, all set at the pinnacle of a packed dance floor of gorgeous people!  #showmetheway  was lucky enough to share the view and get up close and personal with the mastermind behind our Saturday night sound : DJ Steve Marxx

practiced hands mixing beats

For thirteen years, DJ Steve Marxx has perfected his sound all over the globe, exclusively using tradition hard turntables - that's right - everything you hear while you're shaking it on the dance floor is completely hand mixed.  (He even carries a messenger bag of physical records, just in case) This peppy open format style leaves Marxx complete freedom to mix, scratch and transition the songs he chooses.  And it is absolutely incredible to watch him at work - he is as active and entertaining as the beats he's spinning!  Marxx is in constant motion - from turntable to turntable to mixer to headphones and back, all while systematically planning the next brilliant song transition to super-charge the night's mood.  Expect to hear (the entire or just a second or two) of your favorite hits but don't be surprised if you get a peek at the future chart toppers, Marxx is passionate about staying on the forefront of music trends.  (Of the moment: his favorite pick to sample is "Pump Up The Jam (7" version) by Technotronic feat. Felly!  Check it out!) However, Marxx doesn't just play for himself, he leaves the control up to the crowd and mixes and matches to their mood.  If you're feeling the beats - SHOUT IT OUT! - not only is the he energized by your cheers but he gets insight on what you came out to hear.  Loud equals fun.  

a simple sketch of the confusion of hard tables

To set the mood for a perfect dance night, avariety of elements have to come together; I never realized just how much of the night's tone is set by the combination of right equipment, the right music, flawless transitions and a sharp minded, experienced DJ.  The DJ needs to know how to lead a crowd and how to follow a crowd and constantly play to the entire scene.  Nor did I realize just how intensely physical hard table hand mixing is, Marxx barely had time to chat!  I couldn't help but be moved by the energy and music Marxx was spinning - I often caught myself subconsciously shaking it while taking notes!  And I still have to look up definitions for bpm, mix, freq, res, delay, feedback, loop, cue, and hp filters...it's wayy more than just two turntables and a mixer!  The next time you find yourself out having an amazing time on the Saturday night dance floor - take a second to look up under the chandelier and give a moment's appreciation for the man behind the music DJ Steve Marxx !

#showmetheway

 

DJ Steve Marxx

        

Behind The Rack - the insider's guide to coat check

A topic almost as taboo as the great mixology debate- the etiquette question to check or not to check your coat? This past Saturday I spent an evening as Whiskey Bar's coat room attendant, here's the view from behind the rack...

rule number one - hold on to your ticket!

 As an unseasonably freezing cold evening for mid-March, a minimum of a medium-weight jacket was required for any length of time outside.  And sure enough, everyone was suited appropriately and looking fashionable and fabulous, ready for an evening downtown!  Quite a few lovely people stopped by the coat check immediately upon entering, paid a nominal fee and relieved their coats to my trusty protection - a few even checked their hats, gloves, and winter boots!  However, I was most surprised by the majority of people who opted not to check their coats - they preferred to carry around or even wear their obviously outdoor-intended jackets the entire night!  I was not the least bit insulted by the coat-carrying opting people, but wondered why they would choose the inconvenience over a simple solution.  What's the secret behind "coat-check anxiety" ?  My thoughts turned to the economy, maybe saving a few bucks was necessary for the coat-carriers...but why would a perfectly reasonable person easily dropping hundreds on a night out downtown then penny-pinch on hanging up his/her coat?  Typically only upscale places offer coat check and downtown on the weekend the golden standard is dressing to impress!  I though maybe it was a security issue - like Carrie's classic Sex in the City "a woman's right to shoes," an issue of keeping your beloved, expensive belongings with you at all times - but with recognizable Burberry, Loro Piana, and J Crew jackets mixed in with the North Face shells and Eddie Bauer down parkas, it didn't seem to be an issue of the value of the item.  A coat check concierge's sole responsibility for the night is to keep track of each personal belonging entrusted to them, label it with a number and return the belonging to the appropriate person via the ticket number.  Simple as that.  Except when someone requests to retrieve and return their coat after going out for a cigarette, when someone wants to hang two coats together to save a buck, or (the worst) when someone loses their number ticket!  I cannot express how many identical camel mid-length trench coats or black soft shell jackets look the exactly the same when hanging next to hundreds of other beautiful jackets!  The trick of the smart, seasoned coat-savvy checkers was to keep their ticket in their wallet, behind their drivers license - easy to remember, even after a few drinks!  Overall, I had a wonderful experience behind the rack but now realize how ridiculous it looks (from the outsiders perspective) to lug around or sit on a bulky bunch of coat all night, when a just few bucks gives your jacket a secure hanger and a watchful eye so you can focus on what you came out for in the first place - #showmetheway

I only hoped to look as forlorn and classy as Norman Rockwell's coat check girl

The Belmont Tavern's New Man In Charge

Wisconsin native Joel C. Harris is bringing skillful expertise and years of experience to his new position as the General Manager of The Belmont Tavern, one of Milwaukee's newest “built from scratch” premier bars. Joel sat down with #showmetheway and opened up to anything and everything that celebrates his career and reminds us of what makes going out for a drink so much fun in Milwaukee.

Anyone observing Joel behind the bar will instantly notice his trained hands, watchful eye, quick memory, and friendly laid-back demeanor – a combination of skills and personality that have been ingrained in him from a young age “I've been making old fashions and manhattans since I was 14 years old”. He “grew up in the business – in all aspects - worked my way from the bottom up”. His experience has included everything from starting out washing dishes, to taste tasting every liquor (yes, even the bad ones), to managing tropical beach bars, to opening and running his own bar – his favorite part of it all? He “enjoy[s] catering to the real side of people – when the tie loosens up... the after work, fun side of people”. Joel exemplifies the classic Milwaukee character: a family guy, jack of all trades handyman, humble almost to a fault, with a streak of adrenaline junkie (bungee jumping, skydiving, motorcycles, fast cars) and an immense passion for drinks and local nightlife.

Joel's history in the bar business is eerily rooted in the Cathedral Square, his very first (legal-age) bartending gig was at Park Bar, a predecessor in Whiskey Bar's current location. “When I first started was the time that Milwaukee Street had just been started”. He was big part of the action as Whiskey Bar's Assistant Manager when it first opened back in July 2009 and couldn't be happier to “return to the Whiskey Bar family, seeing that I love everyone here – great staff, great people, and it feels like home”.

Any new plans for The Belmont Tavern? Joel has many and wants to make sure “everybody enjoys their drink and have smiles on their face”. Simple and straightforward, a plan he will execute with the trifecta of “passion, perfection and presentation”. Joel can't wait for Spring/ Summer to “open up the whole bar” with the floor to ceiling windows that open up completely towards the street, keeping it friendly to live music, a mature after-work crowd, and amping up the late-night life. With his previous experience on tropical beaches in Naples, Miami and St. Lucia, his vision is “to just replace the sand with the streets” and redesign the happy hour scene in Milwaukee's downtown.

Joel is so extremely nice, easygoing and unpretentiously knowledgeable – a guy you'd happily go out and grab a drink with, a guy you'd fully entrust with making even your most persnickety friend's complicated cocktail and a guy you'd be happy to know is behind your favorite local bar. He makes everyone feel at home because this is his home - “I absolutely love the people of Milwaukee – the Midwest - everybody's nice and everybody gets along with everyone else”.

Be sure to stop by The Belmont Tavern sometime soon, stay for a drink, and start up a conversation with GM Joel C. Harris, the new man in charge.  #showmetheway

Whiskey Bar Voted BEST BAR in Cathedral Square

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Best Bar On / Near Milwaukee Street / Cathedral Square:
WHISKEY BAR

Editor's Pick: THE BELMONT TAVERN

"Whiskey Bar has created an upscale, casual atmosphere with diffused lighting, wide leather chairs, sectionals and sofas and -- as the name suggests -- a solid selection of whiskeys.  It's a great bar to see and be seen. "- quoted from OnMilwaukee.com's Your Picks for 2013's Best Bars article