Ice, Ice, Baby

This weekend kicks off summer entertaining in Shorewood. Get stocked and ready at these great locations. Plus, find out here what new beverage everyone is talking about!

Ice is plentiful in Shorewood — you can pick up a bag at the gas stations (Citgo, Mobil, BP) and also while you’re shopping at Wick’s Liquors, Hayek’s, Sendik’s and Pick’n Save. Just remember to add the ice while you’re checking out — and pick it up too. 

Shorewood has beer, wine and liquor for sale in all four corners. Each place has a flair for something a little different.

Wick’s Liquor Store is the place to some cold beer fast. At Shorewood’s only liquor store, formerly Kensington Liquors, the beer selection ranges from newly-minted local beer to cases of the old favorites.

“They want it cold, and they want it now,” said co-owner, Tim Wick, who says “99 percent of our business is cold beer.” 

Here, that means walls of refrigerated beer that is kept below 30 degrees to ensure cold arrival at your party destination.

“They park, they grab what they need, and are back to the party with a really short turnaround time," he said.

A little-known fact is Wick also has an Amphicar you may see in the 4^th of July parade in Shorewood. Find it here.

Hayek’s is not just for maladies and candy any more. Not just the source for ice cream bars (a case of them, starting as low as 66 cents for a chocolate éclair and retro candy for ten-cents that will bowl you over with nostalgia), but also beer and wine running neck and neck at Hayek’s already this summer. After a tip from Barb Xistris of Shorewood, I checked out their Vodka supply and found a few other gems as well. According to owner Matthew Hayek, they sell a lot of Labatt Light from Canada.

“It’s hard to find and no one carries it,” he said.

Best selling wines at Hayek’s are the Little Penguin Chardonnay and Tisdale Chardonnay. These are not sold cold, so you’ll need to buy in advance and chill before the party. Hayek’s sells cold beer, featuring local favorites like Riverwest Stein and Sprecher Amber.

Sendik’s is known for its wine selection. If you catch the wine manager, you can benefit from advice on the quality selection. It is also a good place to stock up on fresh flowers for the hostess or fresh fruit for making sangria or cocktails.

Pick ‘n Save has a large selection of cold beer (including cold non-alcoholic varieties), wine and liquor, making it “convenient – a one-stop shop,” according to Linda Murphy, of Shorewood. One can stock an entire family reunion’s worth of food and beverages in one trip at this local grocery store. There are some gems in the liquor department besides cold beer including Capital Brewers, New Glarus, Lakefront (interesting factoid - the owners are Shorewood residents), Big Bay and Point Central Waters. In the harder stuff, Capital Husting Liquor distributor, Peter Maugas, knows what is hot this summer and recommends the Rehorst brand for its quality and local flair.

“Everything they make has good flavor and doesn’t burn," Maugas said. "It is made by hand and in small batches. Their vodka is made with citrus and honey, while their gin has basil and ginseng.” 

Maugas paused dramatically, held up his hand, looked me in the eye, and said.

“Do you want to know the one thing I can’t keep in stock anywhere," he asked. "Everybody asks for 'that drink that tastes like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.' It's Rumchata. And it's from Pewaukee!"

A mixture of a handcrafted horchata with rum, this new entry into the beverage market is breaking all records.

According to Maugas, this people-pleaser does not have any one type of customer, and it is in demand across all demographics.

“People of all ages, of all cultures, everywhere, want this stuff," he said."They love it because it’s local, too.” 

The drink is not stocked at the Shorewood's Pick ‘n Save, but if there were pressure, it is likely the store could get it. The beverage has its own cult following on Facebook and Twitter, with updates daily featuring new recipes ranging from simply on the rocks to a version of the White Russian to the "Yumchata sundae."

And, a final word of advice.

Don’t wait til 8:45 p.m.

Don’t find yourself breathless and running through the aisles of Pick ‘n Save at 8:59 p.m. on a Saturday night, as all liquor sales are over at 9 p.m.. This fact has stuck with me since our first night in Shorewood when we didn’t make it and had a house full of people with no beer, and a sleeping baby that we couldn’t drag to a bar. Be prepared, and Shorewood will provide you with plenty of celebration libations!