Featured bartender: Jamie Scott of Lee's Luxury Lounge

Jamie Scott has tended bar at Lee's Luxury Lounge since it opened nine years ago. (It was Evan's for a brief time prior to becoming Lee's). Up until last summer, she worked for former owner, Deanna Wecker, and today, works for Jay Anderson, who worked as a doorman at Evan's and bought the bar from Wecker last June.

"I've worked for two great people," says Scott. "They are both truly the best bosses I've ever had."

Scott says little has changed since Anderson bought the place, and that's a good thing. "We got some new TVs, but otherwise, nothing is different. We had no reason to change," she says.

OnMilwaukee.com recently did a shot of whiskey with Scott and talked about New Year's resolutions, bad drinking experiences and the ingredients of a rum punch.

OnMilwaukee.com: So what do you like about working here?

Jamie Scott: I actually like everything. But mainly, the people. There are so many regulars here. On any given night, I can name almost everyone in the bar.

OMC: What are your favorite drinks to make?

JS: I like to make Old Fashioneds a lot. And I'm pretty good at it.

OMC: Do you make them with brandy or bourbon?

JS: I'll make 'em however people want them, with a straight-up muddle. I also like making rum punch.

OMC: What exactly is a rum punch?

JS: It's a mix of all of the flavored rums with pineapple and orange juice and grenadine. It's the rum verison of a Long Island ice tea. It's the same amount of booze.

OMC: Yikes. I'll stick with beer. What do you have?

JS: We have 10 beers on tap, our bottles rotate a lot. We have a featured micro beer every weekend, and if it does well, it gets rotated in. All of the Lake Louie's beers are doing well.

OMC: What do you like to drink when you're sitting at the bar?

JS: Tellamore Dew whiskey. That's my flavor.

OMC: Is there any drink you have sworn off do to a bad experience?

JS: Tequila. July 2005. My cousin's wedding. I had way too much fun with Patron.

OMC: Thoughts on the smoking ban?

JS: I like it. It's annoying when you get home at 4 a.m. and have to take a shower. People b*tch when it's cold, and have to smoke outside, otherwise they don't care anymore.

OMC: Where did you work prior to Lee's?

JS: I grew up in Beloit, so my first job in the service industry was at a little hick bar. But I also worked at Damon's in Janesville, then in Milwaukee, Pieces of Eight and Barossa.

OMC: Have any New Year's resolutions?

JS: I'm doing a cleanse for two weeks and quitting drinking for 30 days. I did it in October. It makes you feel really good.

OMC: So are you starting that Jan. 1 or Jan. 2?

JS: Jan. 3! There's the Packers game and the Rose Bowl...Gotta eat and drink for that.

OMC: What's the worst pick-up line you've heard?

JS: I've heard so many, but what comes to mind is more of a classic scenario than a line. A guy will say he just broke up with his girlfriend, but then an hour or so later she'll show up and clearly they're still together.

OMC: Do you clean up puke?

JS: Never. It happens, but I'll throw up if I have to get near it. Someone else has always been kind enough to do it. If Jay's here, I'll say, "Hey, you're the owner, so ..."

OMC: What do you do when you're not at the bar?

JS: I'm a physical therapist's assistant. I also like to spend time with my nephew. And I live on Brady Street, so my house has a swinging door on it. A lot of people come over, crash over, because of where I live.

OMC: What bars do you like?

JS: I like the Nomad. It's next door. Vitucci's has been one of my go-to places for over a decade. I like Club Brady for a dive bar. But I like it here more than any other bar. I don't go out a lot on my nights off though.

OMC: If someone is drunk, how do you cut him or her off?

JS: I just put a glass of water in front of them and try to joke around about it. I keep it chill if I can.