The United States is widely known as the birthplace of the cocktail, but in the early days, spirit quality often varied, so fruits and other ingredients were added to mask the unpleasant flavor of subpar spirits. This was especially true during prohibition, a time when creativity reigned, and imbibers found ways to skirt the laws through speakeasies and member only supper clubs.
Those who came of age in the mid- to late 20th century might remember their parents stopping for cocktail hour on road trips or the prevalence of post-dinner ice cream drinks. The bright green of a Grasshopper or the pink hue of a Brandy Alexander graced many a supper club table back in the day.
Nick’s Quorum Bar & Supper Club, located in Omaha’s downtown Hilton, offers a reimagined classic supper club menu accompanied by a curated list of classic cocktails. Details matter at Nick’s, from the heavy crystal double old-fashioned glasses to the custom gueridon from which tableside prime rib is served. Guests are welcomed into the cozy dining area with the quintessential first drink accompaniment—tiny individual relish crackers topped with smoked fish and pickled vegetables.
Whether deemed nostalgic, retro, or vintage, classic cocktails remain mainstays for their well-balanced flavors. Wisconsin supper clubs are famous for brandy old fashioneds, so naturally Nick’s mixes an elevated version of the classic featuring local Brickway brandy, sweet and dry vermouth, brown sugar simple syrup, and bitters garnished with a Luxardo cherry.
Gin-based cocktails include the Lemon Drop, a sweet and tart combination of Aviation gin, lavender simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice, garnished with fresh lavender and served in a coupe. The Bees Knees is another classic gin-based concoction made with Aviation gin, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice.
For a lightly-boozy after dinner treat, general manager Genero Adauto offers five dessert cocktails. The Brandy Alexander blends Brickway brandy with crème de cacao and rich ice cream. The creamsicle, featuring Brickway Vodka, evokes the summer childhood nostalgic ice cream treat of the same name, and the Golden Butterfly combines Bailey’s and Butterscotch Schnapps garnished with a peanut butter cup. Anytime is a good time to take a trip down memory lane by sipping on a class cocktail.
