May 17, 2020 – West Bend, WI – “We are a bourbon bar,” said David Casper, owner of the new Oaken Hogg in downtown West Bend. “We’ll be focused on that spirit and all things associated with what comes out of a bourbon barrel.”
Casper and his wife Nicole have had their eye on opening an establishment for a few years. His wife’s family had restaurants and taverns in the Kenosha area. Casper’s background is advertising and alcohol promotions, as well as a love of bourbon.
“I’ve been a bourbon; I hate to say ‘connoisseur’… it’s just one of those things that just came together. We figured it complimented what West Bend already has to offer,” he said.
The Oaken Hogg will serve all types of alcohol and cocktails but bourbon is the focus.
The couple are currently remodeling the former Café Soeurette location, 111 N Main St, West Bend.
Casper said the Oaken Hogg will open in phased implementation. “This isn’t going to be a restaurant,” he said. “We’re opening the bar first and offering charcuterie for the time being. Then we are looking to open a restaurant in 10 to 15 months to coincide with the Riverwalk because we do have space on the riverfront.”
In 2018-19 the City of West Bend redeveloped the east side of the Riverwalk. Adding a new retention wall, decorative paved sidewalk, white bridges, and trees.
The project to redevelop the west side of the Riverwalk is currently in a fundraising/planning stage.
The Caspers have lived in West Bend seven years. “We love the community,” he said. “For a very brief period we looked at some surrounding areas but West Bend is the place.”
Casper believes “any community can be a bourbon community.”
“It’s a quintessential American spirit, very versatile, and it has grown significantly in the last decade; it’s not your grandfather’s drink anymore,” he said.
Bourbon, according to Casper, also appeals to more women than ever before.
“Our goal is to introduce it to those who may not have considered bourbon a drink they would try and make it accessible to people.”
Casper said his flavor of choice is Maker’s Mark. “They are so many good bourbons out there. I have tried hundreds of them and the best one is always the one in the glass in front of you,” he said.
The initial plan was to have a soft open July 1, however the Caspers said they are playing it by ear right now.