Vintage Spirits offers classic cocktails, relaxed vibes

August 30, 2002

It is hard not to notice the loud purple building on the corner of University Avenue and Frances Street. Welcome to Vintage Spirits and Grill, the newest entry in the campus bar scene. With one step inside Vintage Spirits, formerly Sweeney’s Living Room, you find a lot more than just the exterior paint color has changed.

The change works well. Open, slick and surrounded by vintage bar memorabilia, owners Brittany Strohm, Trent Kraemer and Mark Kraemer have maintained the intimacy of the Living Room, while at the same time marking their own unique tastes. Chrome colors and black vinyl, juxtaposed with kitschy items such as a giant revolving Schlitz clock, odd-shaped ashtrays, and a neon Duff Beer sign, add to the character of the bar.

“No, we don’t offer Duff on tap, but we’re still evolving the style,” Strohm said, in line with one’s expectations of a new establishment.

The atmosphere is fun and relaxed. The laid-back attitude is best experienced outside, on the large patio. A great spot to enjoy the sunshine or nice summer evening, sipping a signature Patio Punch, the patio is one of the bar’s best features.

Harkening back to the old school, Vintage Spirits’ top seller is Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap. If PBR isn’t your thing, you can still travel back in time with a can of Blatz, Hamms or Schlitz. All of these beers are prominently offered as the Sunday night “Cheap Beer Special,” where each can be had at a paltry $1.25 a pop.

Keeping in line with the fun attitude, Vintage offers other unique specials nightly. Perhaps the most intriguing is its Thursday night “Spin the Wheel Special.” The premise is simple: every half-hour the bartenders spin a wheel with 10 different drink specials, which then are featured during the subsequent half-hour. Ranging from shots to mixed drinks, they are certain to keep your night interesting.

“We’re still trying to play around with the specials,” Strohm added. Given the bar’s relative infancy, I’d say it is off to a good start.

Thirteen different beers are offered on tap, ranging from staples like Miller Lite and High Life to local brews like New Glarus and Capital.

The cocktails are varied and well made. “We try to mix in some of the classics, like a Harvey Wallbanger, or Old-Fashioneds,” Strohm explained, keeping true to form with the bar’s name.

Also a restaurant, Vintage features an interesting menu. Desserts such as Eli’s cheesecakes are a tasty way to top an evening off. Sweets aside, I am a big fan of Vintage’s fried chicken strips, which work really well with a cold beer on a hot afternoon.

Vintage Spirits is hard to miss in the neighborhood. Don’t be shy — give the new kids a chance, and you’ll be satisfied.

Bartime is back. Kicking off our second year, we’ll be featuring some of Madison’s more interesting watering holes. We’ll visit places on campus and places further away in the city. They will be bars you know and bars you didn’t know even existed or could exist.

Regardless, the goal will remain the same as we try to discover one of life’s most perplexing questions through the smoky haze: What makes this bar tick?

I’ll save a seat for you . . .

With class around the corner, Bartime will head over to the after-school special known as F.A.C (Friday After Class), at Madhatter’s, Friday, Aug. 30, at 5 p.m. Madhatter’s is located at 3 University Square, on the corner of University Avenue and Lake Street. Cheers!

Vintage Spirits Patio Punch

Pour the following in a tall glass over ice.