Joe Sorge, who co-owns Swig restaurant and bar with his wife Angie, figured that if the slogan for his establishment is "something more," he had better live up to it.
In an effort to keep his 9-month-old restaurant fresh and fun, Sorge is introducing the "Milwaukee Martini Society" -- a monthly tasting and socializing event to take place in Swig's west lounge.
"It's something that other cities are doing, and it's a tasting of sorts," says Sorge. But instead of bar hoping like other martini societies do, Sorge will be handling the entire evening at Swig. "Guests will walk into the lounge to find tables set for the evening, but instead of the traditional place settings, there'll be three 5-oz. martini glasses."
Set up as a martini flight, each glass is labeled with the flavor it contains. Guests learn about and discuss each drink as they sample them.
But Sorge says that this is more than just a happy hour; it's also a learning experience for those who are interested in what makes a martini different from a cocktail. "We'll discuss things like the evolution of the martini from the drink of choice of men like James Bond to the cosmo craze of today that's been prompted by 'Sex and the City.'"
"We're bringing in vodka expert Tim Lowery from Pravda vodka as the presenter and bar chef for the evening." Much like a sommelier helps the everyman feel better about his or her wine choices, Lowery will be on hand to will demonstrate how different liquors and different ingredients affect a martini.
"This event will accomplish many things. Not only will it be something fun for people to do on a Wednesday night, but it will also hopefully make our growing list of martinis more accessible and understandable to the average drinker."
To help his guests learn how to pair their drinks with their meals, Sorge offers everyone their choice of one small plate menu item to nosh on during the tasting. Options include pan seared scallops with roasted red pepper sauce, asiago, spinach and artichoke dip, chef specialty veal and fresh pasta.
The Milwaukee Martini Society will also play a key role in selecting which martinis Swig will feature on its weekly Wednesday martini night, Sorge says. "We want our customers' input. We completely encourage people to bring their suggestions and new ideas to each meeting."
The Milwaukee Martini Society kicks off Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. The cost is $25. "Guests will be invited to become 'members' of the society and will be informed of upcoming events."
Sorge recommends reservations for the event, but notes that the bar and restaurant will still be open as usual throughout the evening. "Everyone is welcome to come for the Wednesday martini night, even if they don't wish to participate in the society."
Swig is located at 1227 N. Water St. The phone number is (414) 431-7944. The Web site for the Milwaukee Martini Society is swigmilwaukee.com/martinisociety.html
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
