Wisconsin Supper Club Ice Cream Drinks: A Tradition Worth Savoring

There's a moment near the end of a proper Wisconsin supper club dinner when the plates disappear, the table gets a little quieter, and somebody leans in like they're about to let you in on a secret about Wisconsin supper club drinks.

That's the whole game. Dessert at a supper club is more than a traditional dish. It's a drink, thick with ice cream, spiked with something that'll put a little color in your cheeks.

At Red Circle Inn in Nashotah, WI, we've had a lot of practice perfecting the perfect Wisconsin supper club ice cream drink, since 1848 to be exact.

The ice cream drink didn't show up here as a trend. It grew alongside a state built on dairy, liquor, and a stubborn refusal to rush a good time.

Where Wisconsin Supper Club Ice Cream Drinks Come From

In a state known for its dairy traditions and supper club culture, combining ice cream and spirits feels almost inevitable. What began as a novelty eventually became a beloved after-dinner ritual. Today, no Wisconsin supper club experience feels complete without one—and at Red Circle Inn, we wouldn’t let you leave without at least considering it.

Here’s how some of our favorite ice cream cocktails are made:

The Pink Squirrel

The Pink Squirrel, one of the most famous examples, traces back to a Milwaukee bar in the 1940s. It’s a blend of:

• Crème de noyaux

• White crème de cacao

• Vanilla ice cream

  
  

Whipped together until it's thick enough to eat with a spoon. That pale pink color comes straight from the Crème de noyaux, an almond-flavored liqueur that gives the drink a marzipan sweetness underneath all that chocolate.

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The Grasshopper

The Grasshopper’s roots run back to 1918, when the recipe first appeared in French Quarter bars. From there it spread into supper clubs across the country, where Midwestern bartenders started blending it with ice cream instead of shaking it with cream.

That's the version you'll find at Red Circle Inn, blended thick with:

• Crème de menthe

• Crème de cacao

• Vanilla ice cream

  
  

The result is a bright green, minty, chocolatey dessert in a cup. The mint and cacao balance each other out, so it never tips into tasting like straight candy. And we finish it with real crème de menthe rather than an artificial mint syrup, because we believe the devil is in the details.

The Golden Cadillac

Less famous than the other two, but worth tasting, is the Golden Cadillac. The story goes that a bartender invented it in 1952 for a newly engaged couple who wanted a drink to match their new gold Cadillac. It's a California original, but it found a second home in Wisconsin supper clubs. It combines:

• Galliano, a bright yellow Italian herbal liqueur with notes of vanilla and anise 

• White crème de cacao

• Vanilla ice cream

  
  

The result is a lighter, more herbal drink than a Grasshopper, with a golden color that looks as good as it tastes. Order one at Red Circle Inn and you'll get it blended properly, not just poured over ice, so the Galliano's anise and vanilla notes actually come through instead of getting buried.

Pair Ice Cream Cocktails With the Rest of the Night

An ice cream drink works best when it caps off a meal built the same way. The perfect supper club night goes a little something like this:

• Start with a proper Old Fashioned at the bar, and sip slowly.

• Saunter to the main dining room and enjoy the relish tray.

• Order a classic dish with a twist from our dinner menu. 

• Close the night out with the ultimate Wisconsin supper club experience, where dessert gets sipped slowly because the evening isn't over until you say it is.

  
  

Ice Cream Cocktails Made Right: Sip the Difference

The Wisconsin supper club ice cream drink tradition lives on in every creamy pour. Each one of our drinks is blended fresh to order with real ice cream, never a premade mix, for a rich, velvety texture that stays smooth to the very last sip.

Enjoy yours at our historic bar, where the drink is only part of the story.

Make a reservation and treat yourself to Wisconsin’s finest.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Wisconsin ice cream drink? It's an after-dinner cocktail made by blending ice cream with liquor and liqueur. Classic versions include the Grasshopper, the Brandy Alexander, and the Pink Squirrel, and they're treated as a dessert course.

Are ice cream drinks available at all times at Red Circle Inn? Ice cream drinks are a bar offering, so they're available whenever the bar is open, starting at 3 p.m. daily and running until close. 

Do I need a dinner reservation to order an ice cream drink at Red Circle Inn? The Red Circle Inn bar is open daily starting at 3 p.m., so you're welcome to stop in for a drink without booking a table for dinner.

What pairs well with ice cream drinks? Savor your ice cream drink at the end of the meal rather than the start, since the sweetness works best after a savory dinner. A classic supper club spread, a relish tray, a steak off the dinner menu, and a slow-cooked entrée, sets up the ice cream drink as the natural finish. Some guests also like a light dessert alongside it, such as the Chocolate Torte, for an even richer close to the night.

What are Red Circle Inn's hours? We're open Monday through Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. The bar stays open until close every night.