Wine Bar
Unclaimed profileSardine
Madison, WI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Sardine's beverage program moves across aperitifs, classics, and after-dinner drinks, with a dated wine list spanning white, red, rosé, orange, sparkling, and dessert wines. The cocktail menu names ingredients and prices for drinks like the Overproof Sardine Manhattan and Chartreuse Swizzle, while a Spiritless section covers non-alcoholic options. Absinthe Service lets guests choose their absinthe, and happy hour brings discounted wine, beer, oysters, and a featured cocktail.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Overproof Sardine Manhattan, built on Town Branch Overproof Bourbon with Amaro, orange bitters, and coconut at $17. The Reserve Old Fashioned uses Judson & Moore Red Corn Bourbon with Chinotto Liqueur and tobacco bitters at $22. For wine, the NV Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve is poured by the glass at $17 or bottle at $85.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Guests who want a full spread of aperitifs, classics, absinthe service, and after-dinner drinks will find plenty here. The dated wine list, with by-the-glass, half-carafe, and bottle options across several styles, suits those who want to compare regions and price tiers. The Spiritless section gives non-drinkers real cocktail choices rather than an afterthought.
- When should I go?
- Oyster Happy Hour and Last Hour Happy Hour in the bar area offer a featured cocktail at $9 along with discounted oysters, wine, and beer. The happy hour list includes Kronenbourg 1664 at $5 and Duvel 666 at $6, plus $7 house red, white, and rosé.
- What should I expect to spend?
- House cocktails range $13–$22. Wine by the glass runs $9–$22, with bottles from $35 to $375; house red, white, and rosé are $8 a glass, $21 a half-carafe, or $35 a bottle. Non-alcoholic cocktails are $12–$14, and other non-alcoholic drinks are $7–$10. Happy hour lowers several of these.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The bar menu runs from aperitifs and house cocktails through Sardine Classics, absinthe and pastis drinks, and after-dinner options. A distinct Spiritless section gives non-alcoholic cocktails their own named ingredients and prices. Absinthe Service is a choose-your-absinthe format, and the wine list is dated 8.20.26 with global selections across multiple price tiers.
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
The bar menu lists house cocktails, Sardine Classics, aperitifs, absinthe and pastis drinks, and after-dinner cocktails with named ingredients and prices. Spirit-forward choices include the Overproof Sardine Manhattan, Reserve Old Fashioned, and Chartreuse Swizzle, with the full range running $13–$22.
Menu strengths
- — Cocktail list spans aperitifs, classics, absinthe and pastis drinks, and after-dinner drinks.
- — Six named cocktails carry specific ingredients and prices, from the Overproof Sardine Manhattan at $17 to the Reserve Old Fashioned at $22.
- — A featured cocktail is offered at $9 during Oyster Happy Hour and Last Hour Happy Hour in the bar area only.
Standout selections
- — Overproof Sardine Manhattan — Town Branch Overproof Bourbon, Amaro, orange bitters, coconut — $17.
- — Reserve Old Fashioned — Judson & Moore Red Corn Bourbon, Chinotto Liqueur, tobacco bitters — $22.
- — Chartreuse Swizzle — Green Chartreuse, Velvet Falernum, pineapple, lime, bitters — $14.
- — Naked and Famous — Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, lime — $15.
Pricing: House cocktails $13–$22; featured cocktail $9 during Oyster Happy Hour and Last Hour Happy Hour in the bar area only.
Wine
The wine list dated 8.20.26 covers by-the-glass, half-carafe, and bottle formats across white, red, rosé, orange, sparkling, and dessert wines. Global representation and multiple price tiers run from $9 to $22 by the glass and $35 to $375 by the bottle.
Menu strengths
- — Dated wine list spans white, red, rosé, orange, sparkling, and dessert wines in three serving formats.
- — By-the-glass range of $9–$22 and bottle range of $35–$375 give broad price tiers.
- — Happy hour offers $7 house red, white, and rosé.
Standout selections
- — NV Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve — Champagne — $17 glass / $85 bottle.
- — 2024 Hondarrabi Zuri Ameztoi 'Primus' — Getariako Txakolina, Spain — $13 glass / $58 bottle.
- — 2021 Pinot Noir Mongeard-Mugneret — Bourgogne, France — $16 glass / $80 bottle.
- — 2019 Chante L'Oiseau Sauternes — France — $14 for a 3 oz glass pour.
Pricing: By-the-glass $9–$22; bottles $35–$375; house red, white, and rosé $8 glass / $21 half-carafe / $35 bottle; happy hour house wines $7.
Beer
Happy hour lists Kronenbourg 1664 at $5 and Duvel 666 at $6. Beer is part of the Oyster Happy Hour and Last Hour Happy Hour discounts alongside oysters, wine, and a featured cocktail in the bar area.
Menu strengths
- — Two named beers are offered during happy hour at $5 and $6.
- — Beer is included in the Oyster Happy Hour and Last Hour Happy Hour discounts.
Standout selections
- — Kronenbourg 1664 — $5 during happy hour.; Duvel 666 — $6 during happy hour.
Pricing: Happy hour beers $5–$6.
Nonalcoholic
A Spiritless section lists non-alcoholic cocktails with named ingredients and prices. Options include In the Meadow, Aperitivo Spritz NA, and Amaro Sour NA at $12–$14, plus Citronnade, Shrub and Soda, and Ginger Cooler at $7–$10.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated Spiritless section with multiple non-alcoholic cocktail options.
- — Non-alcoholic cocktails range $12–$14 and other non-alcoholic drinks range $7–$10.
- — Named non-alcoholic cocktails use specific ingredients such as NA Gin, NA Sauvignon Blanc, NA Aperitivo, and NA Amaro.
Standout selections
- — In the Meadow — NA Gin, NA Sauvignon Blanc, chamomile, ginger, lemon — $12.
- — Aperitivo Spritz NA — NA Aperitivo, NA sparkling wine, orange, cardamom — $14.
- — Amaro Sour NA — NA Amaro, lemon, mole, bitters — $13.
- — Ginger Cooler — Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher, grapefruit, lemon, ginger, honey, soda — $10.
Pricing: Non-alcoholic cocktails $12–$14; other non-alcoholic drinks $7–$10.
Spirits
The bar menu includes an Absinthe Service where guests choose their absinthe, a dedicated spirits-focused format.
Menu strengths
- — Bar menu includes an Absinthe Service where guests choose their absinthe.
Standout selections
- — Absinthe Service — choose your absinthe and the bar does the rest.
Pricing: Absinthe Service price not listed.
How it sits with the food
Oyster Happy Hour and Last Hour Happy Hour pair discounted oysters with wine, beer, and a featured cocktail in the bar area only.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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