Rainy day pick-me-up: The Gun Smoke at Madison Street

Bryan Dayton is gearing up to rewrite the vodka martini-heavy drink list at Madison Street, and we can't wait to see what the bartender has in store. In the meantime, there's at least one cocktail already on the roster that we hope he considers keeping (and if he is going...

By Laura Shunk

May 11, 2011

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Bryan Dayton is gearing up to rewrite the vodka martini-heavy drink list at Madison Street, and we can't wait to see what the bartender has in store. In the meantime, there's at least one cocktail already on the roster that we hope he considers keeping (and if he is going to nix it, we want to get our fill before it's gone): the Gun Smoke.

A blend of chile-infused 30/30 tequila, mezcal, lime and agave, this drink packs both smoke and heat. The woodiness of the mezcal plays nicely against the sweet agave and tart lime, and the chiles were so hot that we actually had to order the dirty chips -- fried potatoes smothered in cheese fondue -- to kill the burning sensation in the back of our throats.

It made us sweat, making it a perfect mid-week warm-up on a rainy Wednesday afternoon -- especially since this might be the last rainy Wednesday you'll see it on the menu.

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Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.

Contact: Laura Shunk

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