Restaurant
Unclaimed profileGreenbush Bar
Madison, WI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The beverage program here is built around Italian aperitivo and amari, a wide bourbon backbar, and a cocktail list that mostly stays in the $10 to $13 range. The Greenbush Old Fashioned arrives with Elijah Craig Small Batch, Amaro Montenegro, amaretto, and orange, and sits alongside mezcal, brandy, and rum drinks. Wine is predominantly Italian, with house Pinot Grigio and Chianti at $10 a glass. Bourbon reaches into allocated territory, and Tuesday pours one bottle at cost.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Greenbush Old Fashioned, made with Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, Amaro Montenegro, amaretto, bitters, and orange. If you want something lighter, the Grapefruit Spritz or Lambrusco Spritz runs $9.50. The Amaro Espresso Martini is the most involved cocktail on the list, built on Rittenhouse Rye and brown butter washed amaros.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- People who want a bourbon list with allocated bottles and individual pour prices, and drinkers who prefer Italian aperitivo and amari to a standard cocktail roster. The $10 house wines and $9.50 spritzes keep the entry point low.
- When should I go?
- Tuesday is Break-Even Bottle Night, when one backbar bottle is poured at cost. That is the specific reason to plan a visit around a particular evening.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $10 to $13, apertivi are $9.50, and the Cellar Hand Shake is $6. Wine by the glass is $10 to $14, with bottles $30 to $55. Bourbon pours start at $7 and climb to $240, so the tab depends mostly on how deep into the backbar you go.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The combination of an Italian-leaning wine list, aperitivo-style drinks and amari service, and a bourbon list that includes Van Winkle, George T. Stagg, and WhistlePig expressions. Tuesday's Break-Even Bottle Night pours one backbar bottle at cost, which is an unusual way to open up the top of the list.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A broad cocktail list spanning apertivi, cocktails, dolce drinks, amari, oyster shooters, and a beer-shot combo. Spirit bases run from bourbon and rye to mezcal, brandy, and rum, with Italian aperitivo-style drinks and amari service built in.
Menu strengths
- — Eight named cocktails cover bourbon, mezcal, brandy, rum, and rye rather than repeating one base.
- — Italian aperitivo-style drinks and amari service are integrated into the list, including Grapefruit Spritz and Lambrusco Spritz.
- — Pricing stays between $10 and $13 for cocktails, with apertivi at $9.50.
Standout selections
- — Greenbush Old Fashioned, $10: Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, Amaro Montenegro, amaretto, bitters, orange.
- — Amaro Espresso Martini, $13: Rittenhouse Rye, Patron XO Cafe, brown butter washed amaros, espresso, flaky sea salt.
- — Door County Jack Rose, $12: Lairds Old Apple Brandy, Door County cherry syrup, lemon, lime.
- — We Built This City, $12: golden raisin infused Jefferson's Ocean Bourbon, spiced pear liqueur, Licor 43, bitters.
Pricing: Cocktails $10-$13; apertivi $9.50; Cellar Hand Shake $6; Spaghett $7.50; oyster shooters $12 for 2 or $20 for 4.
Wine
A predominantly Italian list with one Oregon Pinot Noir, organized across house wines, bubbles, whites and rosé, reds, and dessert wine. Both by-the-glass and bottle formats run through every section at moderate prices.
Menu strengths
- — The list covers house wines, bubbles, whites and rosé, reds, and dessert wine in both glass and bottle formats.
- — Italian regional range runs from Trentino and Piedmont to Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Sicily.
- — Glass prices hold between $10 and $14, with bottles $30 to $55.
Standout selections
- — Prosecco Superiore Brut, Adami Bosco di Gica, $12 glass / $36 bottle: Veneto celebration bubbles.
- — Etna Bianco, Alta Mora, $48 bottle: Sicily, bottle only.
- — Super Tuscan, Argiano Non Confunditur, $14 glass / $42 bottle: Tuscany, listed as a pizza wine red.
- — Moscato d'Asti Frizzante, Elio Perrone Sourgal, $13 glass / $39 bottle: Piedmont dessert wine.
Pricing: By the glass $10-$14; bottles $30-$55.
Spirits
A large bourbon, rye, and whiskey list with individual pour prices, reaching into allocated and limited releases. A weekly Break-Even Bottle Night on Tuesdays pours one backbar bottle at cost, and amari service extends to a $4 chilled house shot.
Menu strengths
- — The bourbon list carries individual pour prices across a $7 to $240 range, so both everyday and allocated bottles are orderable.
- — Allocated and limited releases include Van Winkle, George T. Stagg, and WhistlePig expressions.
- — Tuesday's Break-Even Bottle Night pours one backbar bottle at cost, rotating the featured spirit weekly.
Standout selections
- — George T. Stagg Bourbon, $55: allocated bourbon pour.
- — Van Winkle 15yr Family Reserve, $50: allocated bourbon pour.
- — WhistlePig Boss Hog Juggernaut, $148: whiskey pour.; Chilled Amaro Del Capo, $4: house shot with notes of orange, chamomile, licorice, juniper.
Pricing: Bourbon pours $7-$240; Chilled Amaro Del Capo $4.
How it sits with the food
A recent customer account notes a specific Old Fashioned alongside the food as a memorable part of the visit. The wine list includes a Super Tuscan described as a pizza wine red, and Gavi described as an appetizer sipper.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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