EPISODE · Feb 24, 2026 · 13 MIN
How Midwest cocktails measure up against the East Coast
from Lake Effect Spotlight · host WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR
What’s your go-to cocktail order? Well, if you’re in Milwaukee or somewhere in Wisconsin, there’s a good chance it’s a brandy old-fashioned. But even where the old fashioned reigns, Milwaukee has a strong cocktail bar scene where you can get endless combinations of cocktails. For cocktail writer and author Robert Simonson, Wisconsin has always held its own in the cocktail world – even when he moved away from home to be a writer in New York City for decades to cover cocktails. Simonson recently returned home to Milwaukee where he will continue to write about food, drink, history and regional culture. To share more about his experience and how the Midwest compares to the East Coast in its cocktail culture, Simonson joins Lake Effect's Audrey Nowakowski.
What this episode covers
What’s your go-to cocktail order? Well, if you’re in Milwaukee or somewhere in Wisconsin, there’s a good chance it’s a brandy old-fashioned. But even where the old fashioned reigns, Milwaukee has a strong cocktail bar scene where you can get endless combinations of cocktails. For cocktail writer and author Robert Simonson, Wisconsin has always held its own in the cocktail world – even when he moved away from home to be a writer in New York City for decades to cover cocktails. Simonson recently returned home to Milwaukee where he will continue to write about food, drink, history and regional culture. To share more about his experience and how the Midwest compares to the East Coast in its cocktail culture, Simonson joins Lake Effect's Audrey Nowakowski.
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How Midwest cocktails measure up against the East Coast
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