Restaurant
Unclaimed profileTip Top Tavern
Madison, WI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Tip Top Tavern runs a compact but purposeful beverage program. The cocktail list leans on house and brunch standards, with the Rakish old fashioned built on Four Roses bourbon and the North & Commercial combining Citadel gin and Korbel brandy. Brunch drinks include a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Bellini and the coffee-and-Irish-cream Top of the Morning!. A separate non-alcoholic section covers Boom! Coffee, tea, soda and juice at modest prices. Customers describe the cocktails as well made and note the bartender's classic cocktail recommendations.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Rakish, a house old fashioned with Four Roses bourbon, fresh fruit, bitters and ginger beer. For a gin-and-brandy mix, the North & Commercial combines Citadel gin, Korbel brandy, fresh fruit juice, simple syrup and bitters. At brunch, the Top of the Morning! Pairs coffee and Irish cream with a side shot of Hellcat Maggie.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone looking for a straightforward cocktail list with recognizable spirits and a few brunch options. The non-alcoholic section makes it workable for groups where not everyone is drinking. People who appreciate a bartender who can steer toward classic cocktails will find that mentioned by customers.
- When should I go?
- The brunch cocktails—Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Bellini and Top of the Morning!—point to daytime visits. The house cocktails like the Rakish and North & Commercial are available as part of the regular drinks list.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $7 to $12, with the Rakish at $10 and the North & Commercial at $12. Brunch drinks are $7 to $9, and the Bloody Mary is $9 with a $1 PBR chaser option. Non-alcoholic drinks are $2.50 to $4.25.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The Rakish is a house old fashioned that specifies Four Roses bourbon and adds ginger beer. The North & Commercial is an unusual gin-and-brandy combination with Citadel gin and Korbel brandy. The brunch list includes a coffee cocktail, Top of the Morning!, served with a side shot of Hellcat Maggie.
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 compact cocktails section with house and brunch drinks. The Rakish and North & Commercial show specific spirit brands—Four Roses, Citadel, Korbel—while brunch covers Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Bellini and Top of the Morning!. Prices stay between $7 and $12. Customers call the cocktails well made and mention good classic cocktail recommendations from the bartender.
Menu strengths
- — Named house cocktails specify brands: Four Roses bourbon in the Rakish, Citadel gin and Korbel brandy in the North & Commercial.
- — Brunch cocktails include a Bloody Mary with an optional PBR chaser, plus Mimosa, Bellini and the coffee-based Top of the Morning!.
- — The cocktails as well made and note the bartender offered good classic cocktail recommendations stands out repeatedly.
Standout selections
- — Rakish — $10 — House old fashioned with Four Roses bourbon, fresh fruit, bitters variety and ginger beer.
- — North & Commercial — $12 — Citadel gin, Korbel brandy, fresh fruit juice, simple syrup and bitters variety.
- — Top of the Morning! — $8 — Coffee, Irish cream liqueur and a side shot of Hellcat Maggie.
Pricing: $7–$12
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated Non-Alcoholic Mornin' Drinks section covers coffee, tea, soda and juice. Boom! Coffee is $3, tea is $2.50, and juice comes in orange, grapefruit, pineapple or cranberry at $3.25 small or $4.25 large. It is a straightforward, priced list rather than an afterthought.
Menu strengths
- — A named non-alcoholic section with coffee, tea, soda and juice, all priced between $2.50 and $4.25.
- — Coffee is sourced from Boom! Coffee, and juice offers four flavors in two sizes.
Standout selections
- — Coffee (Boom! Coffee) — $3 — Non-alcoholic coffee.
- — Juice — $3.25 small / $4.25 large — Orange, grapefruit, pineapple or cranberry.
Pricing: $2.50–$4.25
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