{"id":14365,"date":"2019-05-24T13:58:47","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T18:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebozho.com\/?p=14365"},"modified":"2019-06-03T13:05:44","modified_gmt":"2019-06-03T18:05:44","slug":"know-your-bartender-devan-friedl-merchant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebozho.com\/know-your-bartender-devan-friedl-merchant\/","title":{"rendered":"Get to know your local bartender: Merchant’s Devan Friedl"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes the best of part of a bar is the person behind it. In this series, we\u2019re visiting bartenders who make your drinking experiences memorable. Have a Madison bartender in mind? Email us at tips@thebozho.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/span>\n

Don\u2019t let Merchant<\/a>\u2019s upscale vibe fool you. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem like a neighborhood bar,\u201d says Middleton native Devan Friedl, \u201cbut it really is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friedl is a long-time assistant bar manager at the combination restaurant, bar and night spot located just off the Capitol Square. It\u2019s known for its craft cocktails, and she helps to develop them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think people don\u2019t realize our cocktails are a little expensive,\u201d Friedl says. \u201cThey\u2019re like $10 to $15,\u201d so she suggests newcomers take advantage of the $6 dealer\u2019s choice special on Sunday nights. \u201cFor someone who doesn\u2019t know about cocktails or doesn\u2019t know where to start, it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the following interview, Devan left her position at Merchant this spring to travel. She still lives in Madison and says she\u2019ll pick up shifts again soon.<\/span><\/span>\n

\"Devan
All photos by Chris Lotten<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/span>\n

What\u2019s your title at Merchant? And do you bartend elsewhere?<\/h3>\n

Merchant is my full-time and only job. As the assistant bar manager, I help with cocktail development for new menus. I also help with \u201cpre-batching\u201d a lot of our cocktails, and I help make a lot of syrups which we also have to pre-make. And I do a lot of weird extra cleaning and also work shifts.<\/span>\n

I knew I wanted to work behind a bar when…<\/h3>\n

I was in high school. I thought it would be a really cool and fun job to have. When I was a sophomore at UW-Madison, so 2009-ish, I became friends with a girl who asked if I wanted a bartending job. I said yes and did it all through college. Then, I did a sales job for about a year and a half and it was OK, but I went back to bartending because I knew I loved it. When I started working at Merchant, I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d be here long; I thought it\u2019d be a three-month or one-year kind of thing. But I loved working here so much, and I\u2019ve been here for four years.<\/span>\n

\"Devan<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Define the perfect cocktail…<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a cocktail that\u2019s balanced.<\/span>\n

I can\u2019t mix drinks without…<\/h3>\n

A jigger. In order to make good, balanced drinks, I need to make precise measurements.<\/span>\n

My proudest accomplishment behind the bar…<\/h3>\n

It was when my boss turned to me and said, \u201cThis is a good cocktail.\u201d We change our cocktail menus seasonally at Merchant, and the bartenders submit cocktail ideas in hopes that they\u2019re good enough to make the menu. Actually, all of our employees are involved in making our menus. So I had to learn a lot very quickly, but I was proud when I started making cocktails that were menu-worthy.<\/span>\n

I find inspiration in…<\/h3>\n

My peers. I love working alongside my coworkers because everyone approaches cocktails differently. We all learn from each other, share ideas, and see each other grow and change in our work.<\/span>\n

My least favorite thing about working behind a bar…<\/h3>\n

Finding the right footwear. I\u2019m on the constant search for the best shoes to wear at work.<\/span>\n

And my most favorite thing…<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s the social and positive learning atmosphere. I love socializing and interacting with people and friends, and bartending allows me to do that as my full-time job.<\/span>\n

\"Devan<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

If I had a superpower, mine would be…<\/h3>\n

Clairvoyance. It may seem boring but knowing every single detail about what is going on in your bar is very important knowledge to have.<\/span>\n

My desert island drink is…<\/h3>\n

La Paloma. This cocktail is so light and refreshing that I could drink it every day. In addition, we make our palomas with 1.25 ounces of fresh squeezed grapefruit and lime juice, so I would get the nutrients I need while stranded on the island.<\/span>\n

What do you like to do outside of work?<\/h3>\n

I used to play soccer a lot at Keva<\/a> [Sports Center in Middleton] and that was the best. I don\u2019t do that anymore because I tore my ACL for the third time a while ago, so I can\u2019t go back to that. But I like biking around the lake.<\/span>\n

If I weren\u2019t bartending, I\u2019d be…<\/h3>\n

Working for Planned Parenthood<\/a>. I love what they do for people.<\/span>\n

\"Devan<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

At the end of my shift, I pour myself…<\/h3>\n

A water, haha. I drink a lot of water and don\u2019t drink much while working. Shortly after I\u2019ll pour an IPA or light beer. I actually mostly drink beer because I\u2019m tasting cocktails all day, so usually I don\u2019t go for a cocktail. I\u2019m very basic; I drink a lot of Hopalicious and Moon Man.<\/span>\n

Chris Walker contributed to this story.<\/em><\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite Madison bartender? Who should we visit next? Send your suggestions to tips@thebozho.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sometimes the best of part of a bar is the person behind it. In this series, we\u2019re visiting bartenders who make your drinking experiences memorable. Have a Madison bartender in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5154],"tags":[9887,113,128,5147,9888,2232,28,9889,8300],"yoast_head":"\nGet to know your local bartender: Merchant's Devan Friedl - The Bozho<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Don't let Merchant's upscale vibe fool you. 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