Banana old fashioneds, ahi tuna salad and new restaurants

This old fashioned is bananas 🍌

By Beck Henreckson, social media and membership strategist

I’m a harsh critic when it comes to old fashioneds. When I can make a nearly perfect version of a drink at home with just some bourbon, bitters, sugar and maybe a fancy cherry, I don’t want to order it out and see you coming anywhere near me with your brandy and soda (is my Wisconsinite card revoked? whoops).

But if the base is solid, I enjoy a good riff on the classic. Plenty of fun variations are vying for the title of Madison’s Best during this year’s Old Fashioned Week, which kicks off tomorrow. If you’re looking for a classic, spirit-forward drink, I highly recommend Leopold’s Sherried Old Fashioned, Northside Lounge’s Smoked Old Fashioned, or Tasting Room’s TR Whiskey Cocktail.

Three different drinks feature blackberries and, unexpectedly, three incorporate banana. This is … not a flavor I naturally gravitate toward. I’m skeptical, but Cordial’s old fashioned, which puts banana into the foam topping the drink, sounds tempting, even to me. And if whiskey or typical brandy isn’t to your taste, try old fashioned options featuring rum, tequila and Pisco (a Peruvian brandy)…

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