Mixing Some Warm Winter Cocktails

Mixing Some Warm Winter Cocktails By Gaetano Marangelli

Last month, we looked at recipes for the species of drinks called holiday cocktails. This month, we look at recipes for the genus of that species—the genus known as winter cocktails.

All of us have our favorites. Those cocktails we settle into at the end of the day while nights are cold. They’re like a ritual. They offer us easy comfort and familiarity, like sleeves of an old sweater we tuck our arms into day after day.

But these recipes ask us to leave our old rituals behind us. They invite us to the promise of a new year. They’re worthy of becoming our new winter rituals.

Gaetano Marangelli is a sommelier and playwright. He was the managing director of a wine import and distribution company in New York and beverage director for restaurants and retailers in New York and Chicago before moving to Wauwatosa.

BRANCA MENTA STINGER

Dave Cornils, Bar Manager, Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, 1579 S. Ninth St. “One of my personal winter favorites is a slight twist on a classic cocktail that's been around since the late 1800s, the Stinger,” Cornils says. “Combining two parts brandy or Cognac with one part light Crème de Menthe, it's got that minty sweetness that draws people to classics like the Grasshopper, minus the heaviness of a cream or ice cream base. Rather than using Crème de Menthe though, I like to sub Fernet-Branca Menta to add depth to the cocktail without making it any more difficult to prepare. “Fernet-Branca is an Amaro that’s often referred to as “the Bartender’s Handshake” because a shot of Fernet-Branca is a commonplace service industry request. So, perhaps it's not that surprising that I would reach for a variety of Fernet-Branca when modifying this drink. Fernet-Branca Menta has the herbal complexity of the original, but it’s slightly sweeter, with, as its name suggests, more pronounced qualities of mint.” INGREDIENTS

2 ounces brandy 1 ounce Fernet-Branca Menta METHOD

Combine over ice in a rocks glass. Stir and enjoy!

POMME PUNCH

Jim Meehan is an acclaimed mixologist and author of Meehan’s Bartender Manual and The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender’s Guide. He began his bartending career while he was a student at UW-Madison. According to Meehan, his recipe “straddles the line between Dick Bradsell's modern Treacle cocktail and historic recipes tha t feature cider, such as the Stone Fence and Wassail. Compositionally, it's a classic five-ingredient punch, with aromatic pot-distilled rum, citrus, maple as the sweetener and cinnamon as the spice. Easy to prepare and refreshing, it can be made one drink at a time or batched and served from an insulated pitcher or warming unit.” INGREDIENTS

5 ounces (hot) Cloudy Apple Cider 1 1⁄2 ounce Banks 7 Golden Blend Rum 1⁄2 ounce lemon juice 1 teaspoon maple syrup METHOD

WINTRY IMPROVED OLD-FASHIONED

Ira Koplowitz, Co-founder, and Brandon Reyes, Research and Development Manager, Bittercube Bar & Bazaar, 4828 W. Lisbon Ave., Milwaukee. “We love making and drinking classic Old-Fashioneds any time of year!” says Koplowitz. “But they’re especially rewarding during the winter months. And this riff leans into classic winter flavors, with the rich maple syrup and warm, aromatic Alchermes. Plus, the cedar-smoked glass evokes an evening of sitting by the fireplace.”

INGREDIENTS

1⁄4 ounce Tapped Maple Syrup 1 1⁄2 ounce Old Grand Dad Bonded Bourbon 1⁄2 ounce Heirloom Alchermes Liqueur 2 dashes Bittercube Root Beer Bitters METHOD

Ignite a cocktail cedar, place the cedar on a fire-resistant surface, then place a Bittercube Cocktail Cedar Smoked Rocks Glass over the smoldering cocktail cedar, and let the smoke rest in the glass while building the cocktail.

Combine all the ingredients in a stirring vessel, add ice, and stir until softened.

Turn over the smoked glass, add fresh ice, and pour ingredients from the vessel into the glass.

Garnish with a lemon peel by expressing oils from the peel atop the cocktail then adding the peel.

A MOONLIGHT MILE

Joseph Kane, Beverage Director, Bacchus—A Bartolotta Restaurant, 925 E. Wells St. “This cocktail is a variation of a Black Manhattan, which is seldom ordered but delicious,” he says. “I try to incorporate wine into any of our cocktails because, well, Bacchus!” INGREDIENTS

2 ounces Far North Spirits Roknar Rye 1⁄2 ounce Nonino Amaro

1⁄2 ounce Luxardo Abano Amaro

1⁄2 ounce Malmsey Madeira Dash Angostura Bitters Dash Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters METHOD

Combine the ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice. Stir and strain over a coupe. Garnish and enjoy!

MILWAUKEE’S BEST

We won’t forget 2020. Many of us, our friends and family were exposed to the COVID-19 virus. The Democratic National Convention went virtual and, as we tabulated the finalists for this year’s Best of Milwaukee, we were aware that a few of them are no longer with us. However, all of the winners are still active, adjusting to the changes and continuing to make Milwaukee a great place to live.

The Shepherd Express also survived the shutdowns, pivoting to digital in March and returning to print in August with a new, revitalized format. The monthly Shepherd Express magazine has retained many features of the weekly newspaper that our readers counted on. One of those features returns this month with our Best of Milwaukee issue, our city’s original “best of.” Unlike some of its imitators, the Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee is entirely reader-generated, with winners and runners-up determined by voters living and working in the greater Milwaukee area.

The selections made by our readers testify to the diversity and richness of Milwaukee. Ours is a city with problems, but we can work together with greater determination than ever to finally address them. Our city’s nonprofits and businesses, its activists and entrepreneurs remained resilient and engaged through the year that just ended. We will be here a year from now with another Best of Milwaukee, honoring our city’s strength and progress.

Louis Fortis Publisher/Editor

David Luhrssen Managing Editor

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTING SPONSORS!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ART GALLERY (NON-MUSEUM)

Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel 130 E. Kilbourn Ave. | 414-276-8686

saintkatearts.com

If you’ve been wondering if there is a real Saint Kate, the answer is… Yes! This boutique arts hotel is named after Saint Catherine, the patron saint of artists. So, it follows that this is a hotel for artists and its gallery spaces have been the site of numerous exhibits filling the lobby and hallways. Hotel guests will even find art by local artists such as Todd Mrozinski, Christiane Grauert and Daniel Chung, among others, in their hotel rooms. (Harry Cherkinian) RUNNERS-UP: • Dream Lab • Inspiration Studios • James Steeno Gallery

ART MUSEUM

Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N. Art Museum Drive

mam.org

With its distinctive Santiago Calatrava design, the Milwaukee Art Museum has been an attraction for its form as much as its content. The permanent collection includes a bit of everything from many continents and epochs, and its galleries have long housed impressive touring as well as self-curated exhibitions. COVID has kept the museum closed for many weeks in 2020, although it reopened for several months with social distancing and restricted movements. In January 2021, the museum’s newly installed Curator of Community Dialogue, Kantara Souffrant, will begin work to extend the museum’s outreach. (David Luhrssen) RUNNERS-UP: • Haggerty Museum of Art • Museum of Wisconsin Art • Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

ART & CRAFT FAIR/MAKERS MARKET

Milwaukee Makers Market 414-765-9966

milwaukeemakersmarket.com

This monthly arts, crafts and makers fair can typically be found at Discovery World and features all manner of crafts people in many media. Participating artists can only sell what they themselves make. So prospective buyers get the chance to buy locally made products from area designers and artists, ranging from jewelry and clothing to leather goods, candles and more. Buy local and support local. (Harry Cherkinian) RUNNERS-UP: • East Side Makers Market • Holy Hill Art Farm • Washington Heights Artists Front

Yard Pop-Up

CHORAL GROUP

Kids From Wisconsin

kidsfromwisconsin.org

When they got started in the ’60s, the Kids From Wisconsin represented the counter-counterculture and were hailed as the squeaky clean representatives of the Dairy State. In recent years, they’ve gotten hipper and funkier, but they continue to provide emerging generations of talented young people with a unique forum for performance. (Morton Shlabotnik) RUNNERS-UP: • Aperi Animam • Bach Chamber Choir of Milwaukee • Master Singers of Milwaukee

CHURCH FESTIVAL

Greek Fest (Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church) For decades, the festival was held on the grounds of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Annunciation Church and introduced many Milwaukeeans to gyros, baklava and chicken souvlaki—not to mention Greek music and dance. The event grew so big that it was moved to State Fair Park. It was drive-thru in 2020. Hopefully it will go live again in 2021. (David Luhrssen) RUNNERS-UP: • St. Romans Annual Festival • St. Gregory the Great Parish Festival • St. Matthias Parish Festival

CLASSIC MUSIC ENSEMBLE

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 1101 N. Market St. | 414-291-6010

mso.org

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) had hoped to open the 2020-21 season in spectacular fashion at the renovated 1930 Warner Grand Theater, now renamed the Bradley Symphony Center. COVID-19, which has impacted nearly all performing arts groups, prevented that but is not the only factor. This summer, the building sustained basement flooding damage in a storm. The most overused word of 2020 must be “pivot,” and circumstances have forced the MSO to pivot. In August, MSO announced plans for an all-virtual season performed by scaled-down ensembles. (Rick Walters) RUNNERS-UP: • Aperi Animam • Concord Chamber Orchestra • Master Singers of Milwaukee

COMEDIAN

Charlie Berens

charlieberens.com

If you haven’t seen an episode of the “Manitowoc Minute” or any of Charlie Berens’ Wisconsin-themed comedy videos, you might not be living in Milwaukee. Chances are your aunt and uncle have shared one of Berens’ videos on their social media channels, and for good reason. The Midwestern charm bleeds through and is a constant theme in Berens’ work. He’s made a successful brand off of that as well, from hats, sweatshirts and even facemasks. We could be witnessing the birth of the next Larry The Cable Guy, Jim Varney or Jared Keeso, depending on how you look at it. (Griffin Bradley) RUNNERS-UP: • Dana Ehrmann • Pat McCurdy • John McGivern

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

DANCE COMPANY

Milwaukee Ballet

milwaukeeballet.org

The Milwaukee Ballet gained an international reputation after Michael Pink arrived as artistic director in 2002. While furnishing the stage with traditional favorites such as The Nutcracker, Pink brought an original take to such disparate literary sources as Dracula, Peter Pan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Working with stellar production teams, dancers and musicians, Pink is concerned with the contemporary resonance of the work performed as well as its technical execution. (David Luhrssen) RUNNERS-UP: • Catey Ott Dance Collective • Danceworks, Inc. • Wild Space Dance Co.

LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

Dori Zori (88.9FM)

radiomilwaukee.org

Say “88.9,” and the name Dori Zori immediately comes to mind—or to your ears. She joined 88Nine in August 2012, where she began co-hosting the morning show and eventually became assistant program director. That turned into a solo host spot, and she’s been on the rise ever since. Before the pandemic, she was out and about in the city with artist appearances and public events and was easy to spot with that award-winning smile. (Harry Cherkinian) RUNNERS-UP: • Mandy Scott (106.9FM) • Reggie Brown (100.7FM) • Sandy Maxx (96.5FM)

LOCAL TV PERSONALITY/ STAGE ACTOR

John McGivern (Milwaukee PBS)

johnmcgivern.com

Milwaukee’s most recognizable local stage actor (and a perennial Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee winner), John McGivern has been seen in popular movies (Disney’s The Princess Diaries); he won an Emmy and wrote a beloved comedic play (Shear Madness) while incorporating memories of growing up in Milwaukee into his charming one-man shows. His walking tours of Milwaukee and Wisconsin towns, “Around the Corner” on Milwaukee PBS, has won accolades and national attention. (David Luhrssen) RUNNERS-UP— LOCAL TV PERSONALITY: • Mark Baden (WISN-12) • Sheldon Dutes (WISN-12) • Shawn Gallagher (TMJ4) • Sandy Maxx (Milwaukee PBS) • Carole Meekins (TMJ4) • Ted Perry (FOX6) RUNNERS-UP—STAGE ACTOR: • Anthony Crivello • James Pickering • Andrew Varella

MILWAUKEE AUTHOR

John Gurda

johngurda.com

John Gurda is one of Milwaukee’s familiar faces for his collaboration with John McGivern on Milwaukee PBS’s longrunning “Around the Corner.” Before that, his book, The Making of Milwaukee, was transformed into an Emmy-winning PBS special that aired coast to coast. He continues to produce lavishly illustrated and solidly researched accounts of Milwaukee’s unique history, including Milwaukee: A City Built on Water and Milwaukee: City of Neighborhoods. It’s an honor, being defeated by Gurda as Best Milwaukee Author. (David Luhrssen) RUNNERS-UP: • Mikey Cody Apollo • Tea Krulos • David Luhrssen

MOVIE THEATER

Oriental Theatre 2230 N. Farwell Ave. | 414-276-5140

mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre

One of the things I missed the most during this year of shutdowns is watching movies at the Oriental Theatre. This 1920s East Side movie palace is an architectural mélange of Near East and East Asian motifs, and its three theaters have long been central to Milwaukee’s film culture, screening an array of foreign, independent and classic films. The lavishly appointed venue has also been the hub of the Milwaukee Film Festival, which will run mostly if not entirely virtually in May of 2021. (David Luhrssen) RUNNERS-UP: • Avalon Atmospheric Theater • Marcus Majestic Cinema • Marcus Ridge Cinema (New Berlin) • The Times Cinema

MUSEUM (NON-ART)

Milwaukee Public Museum 800 W. Wells St. | 414-278-2728

mpm.edu

With its dinosaur skeleton, the “Streets of Old Milwaukee” and panoramic displays of natural and cultural history—and more recently, its IMAX theater—the Milwaukee Public Museum has always been a destination for locals and tourists alike. With COVID, the museum reopened with new policies designed to encourage physical distancing, and it was then forced to close again. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Public Museum and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum announced plans to share a new facility to be constructed north of the Fiserv Forum. (David Luhrssen) RUNNERS-UP: • Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear • Discovery World • Jewish Museum Milwaukee

MUSIC EDUCATION

Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Multiple Locations | 414-276-5760

wcmusic.org

The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (WCM) is Wisconsin’s largest nonprofit music education institution serving over 16,000 students annually. Founded in 1891, WCM currently has a 100-member faculty that provides instruction on an individual, group and ensemble basis. Ages range from five and older with styles and genres taught including: