Paulius Musteikis
The new rooftop bar at the Graduate Hotel, dubbed the Madison Blind, sits seven stories up above 601 Langdon St. From this perch it’s possible to see the city’s startling transformation — the Hub looms nearby, the Edgewater Hotel postures on Lake Mendota, and the Ovation rooftop peeks through.
The skyline is more urban than ever, and it’s a contemplative view enhanced by the Blind’s decidedly big-city look and feel — clean, mod and well designed. And the cocktails, too, are from Madison’s future instead of its past. While the cocktail list is not exactly “craft,” it’s certainly designer. For instance, there’s a seasonal, simple and well-made Cinnamon Old Fashioned that would normally be a mess dominated by spice. Here, it’s balanced with just a whisper of cinnamon. And it uses local Yahara Bay V Bourbon. In fact, all of the drinks except the Pancho Villa (above) use a local base spirit or wine — from Death’s Door Vodka to Fisher King Chardonnay.
But that Pancho Villa — made with jalapeño-infused tequila plus cucumber, watermelon and lime juices — is a smashing drink that manages to capture late summer flavors. What a welcome taste it is.