The bartenders featured in the movies “Cocktail” and “Coyote Ugly” dazzled their customers with bottle acrobatics. Flying back and forth and all around, their skills defy gravity, keeping the audience on edge anticipating a slip of the hand and the sound of crashing glass. Like all good showmen, the bottle never falls, and another drink is promptly served.
Known as “flair” bartending, these moves are much more fun to witness in person than on the silver screen. At a place called Madison’s Dining and Diversions, located at 119 King St., chances are you might see a flair show of your very own.
Head bartender Matt Cullen brought his flair show to Madison’s two and half years ago. At this time, he introduced the skill to recent UW graduate Hoffman Leung. “He took me under his wing,” Leung explains, “and the two of us worked well to make bartending more entertaining.”
Flair is not something you can pick up overnight. It takes practice, along with an occasional dropped bottle. “We would practice during happy hour or sometimes at home,” Leung elaborates, “you either get it or you don’t.”
Since rapid movement and spinning is a hallmark of this craft, the more bottles involved make for a better show. Perhaps the best drink in this regard is a Long Island Iced Tea.
“We get all the bottles in the air,” Cullen says, “but in the end, you are rewarded with a really good drink.” Served in 22-ounce glasses and priced at $5, Madison’s Long Islands are some of the best in the city.
One advantage Madison’s has over other bars, in terms of displaying showmanship, is the size of the bar itself. Behind the counter of the centrally located, u-shaped bar, the bartenders have the luxury of an unusually large amount of space. The last thing you want to see is people running into each other when they are throwing a bottle of Stoli in the air.
Unfortunately, not every bartender can make each drink with such flash, but Madison’s does offer a variety of fine cocktails.
A good starting point for the Madison’s newcomer is their Chocolate Martini. Made with Absolut, along with both dark and white Godiva and créme de cacao, this sweet-tasting drink is a liquid endorphin rush. Reasonably priced at $7, the Chocolate Martini is Madison’s most popular drink.
Other fun martinis are worth trying. The Turtle Martini is a variation on the chocolate concoction, but with an added burst of butterscotch. The Tartini features Stoli Razberi, Chambord, and lime juice.
The Island Martini is one of Madison’s more unique creations. It is mixed with Midori (which tastes like melon), Malibu rum, pineapple juice, and sweet and sour.
The martinis range in price from $6 to $8. If something a little less expensive is your preference, ask for a Colorado Bulldog, priced at $5.
According to Leung, this cocktail is a drink “every bartender should know.” Tasting like a root beer float, and poured over ice in a pint glass, this drink is made with equal parts Bailey’s, Kahlua, vodka and Coca-Cola.
Although there are nine beers on tap, Madison’s is primarily a mixed drink bar. Given its proximity to the Capitol, it draws younger professionals. A big draw for this crowd is Happy Hour. Monday through Friday, starting at 4 p.m. and ending at 7 p.m., the afternoon special is $1 off beer and rail drinks.
As the night moves on, the crowd has a tendency to get younger by the hour. According to Cullen, “The environment is a cocktail lounge with a party atmosphere.”
The combination of good drinks and fun entertainment is tough to beat. More than just a funny phrase in the movie “Office Space,” flair comes to life in the hands of the daredevil pros at Madison’s.
Bartime will saunter into BullFeather’s this weekend. Bullfeather’s is located at 303 N. Henry St. Cheers!
