In the heart of Downtown, there are plenty of places you could belly up to the bar before a concert or game at Fiserv Forum. None, however, will likely have as many bottles of Jameson behind the bar as Oak Barrel Public House, 1033 N. Martin Luther King Drive. 

If you didn’t know, the Irish whiskey is kinda their thing – and you’ll see that as soon as you step foot in the door. From the signage around the two-level bar to the rows of bottles on display between TVs, it’s the sort of place a whiskey drinker can feel more than welcome. I sat down with bartender Emily Lepisto over a signature Jameson Mule to hear about some of her favorite clientele over her years at Oak Barrel.

“Last summer, when we had the Harley Homecoming, obviously there were a lot of people in Milwaukee from out of town,” she said. “We met some vendors from the festival who were there selling smoked meat, and they were telling us all about it over a few drinks. Lo and behold, a few weeks later, we were surprised when they sent us pounds of meat sticks to use for our Bloody Marys! They were a big hit with everyone here.”

The Jameson Mule is also a big hit at Oak Barrel, with just the right alternative to the traditional Moscow Mule:

• 1 lime wedge
• 1 orange slice
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 2 ounces of Jameson whiskey
• Fill with ginger beer
• Served in a copper mug (of course!) 

You can definitely try your hand at making your own mules at home – but for the full effect, it’s recommended that you take in the atmosphere of Oak Barrel the next time you're Downtown. Pre-game or post-game, there’s a Jameson Mule in a copper mug waiting for you at the bar.