Pink Heifer

Pink Heifer BBQ Saloon

After opening in Monticello a few years ago, Pink Heifer BBQ Saloon expanded to State Street this year. However, the new location doesn't have the full menu, full bar, ample dining space and charm of a historic building as the ...
Crazylegs race

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Beach Cocktails

Beach Cocktails: Pours, Drinks, Sips, and Bites

I recently vacationed in the U.S. Virgin Islands and enjoyed drinking fun, fruity cocktails throughout the week. Thus, I was happy to accept an offer to review Beach Cocktails: Pours, Drinks, Sips, and Bites ($21.99, Gibbs Smith), edited by Allyson ...
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Stillhouse

December 18th, 2016

20161211_194404I was first introduced to the Stillhouse brand of whiskey at its tailgate party before a football game this fall. Eager to try more after that experience, I accepted an invitation to sample two bottles.

Stillhouse, which is distilled in Columbia, Tenn., launched in February and comes in original, apple crisp, peach tea, coconut, mint chip and red hot. Wisconsin is one of the first states in which it’s sold, and it generally retails for $27.99.

You have to admit the bottle is really unique. The whiskey comes in a stainless steel red can that resembles an oil can. I have to imagine it’s easier to transport these bottles than glass bottles to, say, a tailgate.

“This is a crafted whiskey in an innovative package, and we will continue to be disruptive in everything we do,” Founder and CEO Brad Beckerman said in a release.

I’ve sampled several other moonshine (clear corn) whiskeys, and most of them too closely resemble rubbing alcohol. Fortunately, Stillhouse’s original version (80 proof) is much more enjoyable. In fact, it’s got a surprising smoothness, and it leans on the sweet side. I drank it neat, on the rocks and in a mixer, so it’s versatile in that regard.

Meanwhile, the red hot whiskey (all flavors are 69 proof) also did not have a harsh bite. The best way to describe it is whiskey with a dash a cinnamon mixed into it. It’s just fine all by itself.

***

Here are some recipes from Stillhouse:

Cran Apple Fizz
1 oz. Stillhouse Apple Crisp whiskey
2 oz. cranberry juice
2 oz. soda
Garnish with a lime wheel

Stillhouse Mule
2 oz. Stillhouse Original whiskey
3 oz. ginger beer
4 squeezes of lime
Garnish with a lime wheel

Pineapple Express
2 oz. Stillhouse Coconut whiskey
3 oz. fresh pineapple juice
Garnish with a pineapple wedge

The Thirsty Goat

December 11th, 2016

20161210_162719The Thirsty Goat replaced the former Casa del Sol in Fitchburg. The menu features typical American fare and some smokehouse items and reminds me of Tony Roma’s, which used to exist a few blocks away.

Although it’s not a destination restaurant, the Thirsty Goat does help fill the restaurant void in Fitchburg. According to a server, it will start brewing its own beer next year.

As expected with a smokehouse menu, your table includes homemade BBQ sauces. All four were essentially the same, but I found myself using the chipotle one the most. One way to try all the smokehouse items is the sampler platter ($22.99).

  • The meat came off the ribs easily and had enough flavor that it didn’t require any sauce.
  • On the other hand, the brisket was mild in flavor and a bit dry, requiring sauce.
  • The sausage was dense, had a good snap and had a slight heat.
  • You get one each of pulled pork, brisket and chicken in the smoked sliders appetizer ($10.99). The chicken really stood out by being moist and smoky.

20161210_162617The rest of the menu has burgers/sandwiches, entrees, salads and a Friday fish fry.

  • The Atlantic cod ($12.99) was a bit soggy–I prefer my fried fish crunchy. I’m glad I didn’t get the all-you-can eat version ($17.99).
  • The broasted chicken (2 pieces for $8.99, 4 for $12.99) perfectly combined crunchy and tender textures. It’s a hidden gem on the menu.
  • The salmon fillet ($16.99) was a pleasant surprise. The menu doesn’t describe it, but the salmon is heavily seasoned and was bursting with flavor.
  • As for the sides, the beans are slightly sweet and spicy but the red peppers overtook the flavor. There was good heat in the corn but it was otherwise bland. The corn bread was like spongecake and served at room temperature. The mac and cheese was creamy but average.

The Thirsty Goat is open every day for lunch, dinner and carryout.

***

See more photos in our Thirsty Goat Flickr album.

The Thirsty Goat Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sconniebar

December 4th, 2016

20161123_181359Regent Street looks a little different these days. Lucky’s moved down the street to the former Foreign Car Specialists building (yay! what an eye sore that was) and became Lucky’s 1313, while Sconniebar took over the building where Lucky’s was.

Sconniebar follows the trend of other bar and grills by focusing on what I term “better bar food.” (See my reviews of Augie’s Tavern and World of Beer for examples.) And that’s nice, because you’re likely coming here to fill up before or after a game at Camp Randall, the Field House or the Kohl Center, and you don’t want to eat just a plain burger.

Good selection of shareables. In addition to the expected chicken tenders, wings and nachos on the Bar Bites menu, you can a few unique items.

  • The jumbo walleye-stuffed tater tots ($9) are indeed huge. Some tots had more walleye packed into them than others. Without any seasoning they were bland, so you’ll need to use some ketchup or tartar sauce.
  • The zucchini fries ($8) are another unique appetizer. They look like mozzarella sticks, and because the zucchini flavor is not strong, the fried breading is what you will taste (not necessarily a bad thing).

20161123_181012Hope you like sandwiches. The rest of the menu contains pub sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers. There’s also a Friday fish fry and a few salads.

  • The cheese curds on the curd burger ($11) were solidified instead of melty/gooey, making for a fairly dense burger. The jalapeño ranch added a slight heat to this hearty burger.
  • Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Favorite burger ($9) is best described as a standard cheeseburger, making it a safe choice for non-adventurous eaters.
  • The Northern pike fish fry sandwich ($10) is surprisingly large, with the fish 25 percent larger than the bun. I appreciated that there was not too much breading, yet the fish was still crispy and moist. The lemon vinaigrette added a bit of sweetness.
  • Other items include the BBQ corn and cheese ($8) and the Sheboygan Badger brat ($6).

Sconniebar is open every day for lunch, dinner and carryout.

***

See more photos in our Sconniebar Flickr album.

Sconniebar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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