Despite being a newer addition to Virginia's thriving dining scene, Laura Lee's is no spring chicken. Under ownership of restauranteur extraordinaire Kendra Feather, Laura Lee's is set to take southside Richmond by storm. While Laura Lee's summons a number of inspirations for its concept and ambiance, the real magic lies in the execution of its bar menu and offerings.

You can thank Kacie Shortridge for Laura Lee's delightfully unique and honest cocktail menu. A veteran of another Kendra creation, the award-winning Roosevelt, Kacie brought her expertise and creativity to develop Laura Lee's bar program. In a world full of a million iterations of Manhattans, Kacie isn't afraid of being more an Uptown Girl... or an Uptown Squirrel, which coincidentally is a cocktail right off her menu.

Tell us about yourself…

I'm Kacie, and I head up the bar program at Laura Lee's, Kendra Feather's newest restaurant in Forest Hill.

How long have you been bartending?

I've been bartending for over a decade. At first, it all happened by just helping friends out that were in a bind at different dive bars here and there. Initially, I liked the money that came from it and the crazy environment that surrounded it all. Later, I found an appreciation for making a solid cocktail and expanding my knowledge of the history that comes with being a bartender.

What’s your favorite thing to drink? Any guilty pleasure drinks?

I love a good Negroni. They are perfectly bitter and make me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. My guilty pleasure? A Bigroni - that's a double Negroni.

Outside of work, what do you find yourself doing?

I spend most of my time striving to be as loving and excited about life as my dog Nico.

Tell us about your bar…

The bar at Laura Lee's is very feminine and warm. That was Kendra's vision from the start, and that is what inspired me to be a part of it. She envisioned a modern-day version of the fern bar.

For those of us who aren't so hip, what's a fern bar?

The "fern bar" was a movement that started in the late 1960s and continued well into the 1980s. Fern bars looked like someone's living room and had a much more laid-back atmosphere than their preexisting counterparts. The standard decorations in fern bars were beautiful Tiffany lamps and, as the name suggests, live ferns. Beyond just the ambiance, the fern bar was important because, for the first time in modern American culture, women were joining men behind the bar. As a result, women slowly trickled in as customers as well.

Why were fern bars so important in bringing women into the bar and cocktail scene?

Prior to the rise of fern bars, it was illegal in most states for women to bartend, and women weren't welcome in the local pubs. I used to bartend while I lived in California, where women were officially barred from "pouring whisky" as late as 1971. If women weren't barred from the bar scene legally, they were socially at least. Once fern bars brought women in and behind the bar, the newly introduced feminine energy began to balance out the bar scene.

Along with the change in clientele, there was an addition of new, fruity cocktails to the menu. This is where classics like the Harvey Wallbanger and the Lemon Drop originated. These new options were easier on the palate and not so boozy, and began the movement of breaking away from Prohibition Era speakeasies and the dark taverns that preceded them. Fern bars still had scotch and whiskey, but they offered a lighter alternative to drinking.

What’s the vibe at your bar?

Even though we are a new addition to the area, we have a lot of fantastic regulars already. We have a lot of good-looking groups of ladies coming in to grab a drink, so it's great to see the fern bar feel is thriving. And where there are good-looking ladies, the rest will follow... Seriously though, it's been great to see that our bar is a welcoming environment across the board.

What’s the neighborhood and bar crowd like?

I live in this neighborhood and I love it over here! There are a lot of young families and a huge artist community here that some folks don't know about. Everyone is really involved with the community and cares about what's happening. Our bar has attracted a lot of neighborhood folk who are likeminded and laid-back. They all are lovely to talk with and they have been so supportive as we settle in and get our bearings.

Another interesting part of fern bar history - because the atmosphere of the fern bar was brighter and more welcoming, it became the first of the "neighborhood bars", where there was something for everybody. All of this history heavily inspired and influenced the program at Laura Lee's. Through the bar program, I have a little something for everyone and try my best to make the menu approachable and light.

What’s your favorite part about working there?

I'm happy to be a part of something new for this neighborhood. People have seemed very receptive and excited, and that makes me want to work as hard as I can to keep things fresh and interesting.

Back to you…

What are your thoughts as a woman working now in the modern bar and cocktail culture? Are things different?

Women have most definitely made a strong name for themselves behind the bar, and there's no going back. In my own experience, women bring nurturing attitude and fluid energy behind the bar, more so than men alone. Of course, my absolute favorite is a mix of both masculine and feminine energies working together. When a man and woman can hold down a bar together, I feel like everyone instantly becomes more relaxed. There is something for everyone's comfort level and it eliminates that feeling of disparity between the two.

Women patrons have also been a huge part of the current cocktail movement. Today, you'll always find women right there in line to taste the next boozy concoction you've crafted and they are more than willing to tell you if it's balanced or not. It's awesome to see women take ownership over that knowledge and to become experts in the field.

As far as some people still living in the past, I've pretty much heard it all over the years. Sexist comments still get made and I don't think it's going away anytime soon. If it's in our society, it's going to be in our bars as well. Not too long ago, a man said to me, "You make a pretty good bourbon drink for a woman." Um... thanks?

Not only is your cocktail program pretty fantastic - it’s also intelligent and quippy. How do you go about naming your cocktails?

There's a few inside jokes here and there that I like to slip in, but most of the cocktails were named right before we opened the doors. I had thought about all of the cocktail recipes for so long, I forgot about actually naming them. In a delirious state, Michael Smith, the General Manager, and I named them. He has helped me ever since.

What personality traits or skill sets make for a great bartender?

I honestly think that a welcoming and warming smile goes a really long way, no matter what. I will still tip really well on a bad drink or slow service if the bartender has an awesome personality. When I'm behind the bar, I just try to be friendly and do my best to help them unwind. If there was one thing that I've always wanted to be better at, it would be to tell a killer joke. I just can never remember the punchlines to save my life.

What is it like developing a cocktail program for a brand new bar?

Developing a cocktail list for a brand new bar was intimidating and a lot of fun at the same time. I would definitely say that the hardest part of the process was not getting our ABC license until the day before we opened the doors. I had so many ideas that had to magically come together at the last minute. No sleep, lots of drinking, and nerves galore...

Name two things that are staples found on your bar.

Gold spray paint and Gumby. One's useful, one is for good luck.

Can you share a Belle Isle creation with us?

My Belle Isle cocktail is called the Dirty Bird. It's a play on a drink that came out of the 70s called the Jungle Bird. Instead of using rum, I used Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee and I spiced up my simple syrup with some ginger! When I first tried it, I fell in love with it for the combination between bitter and tropical flavors.

The Dirty Bird

Ingredients:

2 oz. Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee
1/2 oz. Campari
2 oz. pineapple juice
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. ginger simple syrup*

Preparation:

Shake all ingredients, strain into a hurricane glass over ice, and garnish with your choice of tropical fruit.

Recipe by Kacie Shortridge

*Ginger simple syrup:

Allow 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup peeled and chopped ginger to simmer for 30 minutes, then strain.

Photos by Joey Wharton

Happy Hour with Awl Snap

November 9, 2016Happy Hour WithBrandon Day2 Comments

When Erin McRoberts graduated with her Fine Arts degree in Painting, she asked the question many of us have often echoed, "What the hell am I going to do next?" It wasn't until she found herself sitting with a pile of leather scraps that all of the pieces started coming together. Of course, things don't just happen overnight. However, that hasn't stopped Erin from rapidly expanding from part-time crafter to a leader and collaborator among Richmond's art and entrepreneur scene.

The Belle Isle team stopped by Awl Snap's workshop to chat with Erin and her team on their success thus far, where they're headed next, and, most importantly, what they like to drink. Then we did what we do best - we had ourselves a Happy Hour together.

Tell us a bit about your company.

Awl Snap is a leather goods crafter that has been around for about 3 years now. We're based in Richmond, VA and have a wide array of different products, ranging from custom backpacks and bags to wallets and eyeglass cases. We also do a number of custom projects and collaborations for folks both local and abroad.

How did you get started up?

It all sort of began in 2009 as a part-time moonlighting thing I was doing while working at a marketing company. I had very little creative outlet through my full-time job, and I needed to have projects that kept me busy and engaged. One day a friend of mine gave me a bunch of scrap leather, so I decided to make a bag out them. I had never worked with leather before; in fact, I have a Fine Arts degree in Painting, so that was really my forte. It took a lot of trial by error, but I was pretty proud of the bag I ended up making. And a lot of people really liked it, too! I had tons of friends saying they would definitely buy one.

I started making just a handful of bags with the leather I could get my hands on. After all my friends got theirs, I decided to throw them up on Etsy. All of my bags sold out in a week. It just lighted a fire in me and I kept going and going. I really lucked out in that sense, just by getting such a positive reception and support from the get-go. I kept making leather good part-time for another four or five years, until I came to a point where I had to decide: do I keep doing this part-time or make the big jump and do this full-time? I had just recently got a promotion at my other job and bought a house, so it was a nerve-racking decision to make. But I made it, and that’s what set me on the path to where I am now.

How did you get your name?

I used to be called the Mean Tambourine, which was a reference to a night of karaoke where it was made very apparent that I can’t sing, so instead I played the tambourine and the joke stuck around with my friends.

I decided to change the name to make it less about myself and more about the products; also, no one could spell tambourine! So I spent a while trying to think of a new name, and one day I had all my tools out on my kitchen table. I walked away and when I came back, I realized I had an awl next to a pile of snaps, and that’s where it clicked - Awl Snap! I love a good pun. My roommate thought it was catchy funny, so with at least one approval I settled on it.

What are the products that Awl Snap offers?

Originally, I just started with a couple leather goods I had designed, mostly bags made for women. As I started expanding and adding more designs, especially ones that were considered to be more unisex, I became a little more versatile with what I could offer. I got a few inquiries from local companies and from people internationally saying they liked this one product I had, but wanted to know if I could customize it, brand it, etc. I love taking on new, challenging projects and that’s really where we are at now: a mix of creating our staple designs and tackling custom projects.

As for the materials we use, most of my leather comes from Northern California and upstate New York. Almost all of the materials we use are byproducts of the food industry, so that makes us and customers happier. I try to be as responsible and ethical as I can, which boils down to doing research into the distributors and companies I work with. A majority of the leather I use is sourced from the United States, which is great to help fuel that local business piece. I also try to keep all of my hardware American-made as well.

What's something you're working on now?

One of my favorite projects right now is an order of custom glasses cases for an optical shop in Belgium. Getting to also do projects with local companies will always be a passion of mine; being a part of the community here has always been the best piece of what I do. Those personal relationships that I’ve developed are invaluable to me, and that’s not something I could have done from behind a desk.

What is your mission or dream for your company?

It’s so funny, because it changes continuously just through the nature of what I do. Every time we take on a new custom project, it makes me rethink the operation of how I do things. Three years ago, I never thought I would be doing what I am now. So that makes me a little hesitant to make some grand plan for myself or Awl Snap, because I know that things could easily change and probably will. That being said, I’d love to grow and add more people to the team but still keep it a somewhat small and local operation. I’d love to stay grounded in Richmond and in the community that I started with. As far as products go, who knows! I’ll probably keep my staple designs but I love the flexibility of being able to do different pieces, so I don’t know if I’ll ever forgo that part of who we are.

At the end of the day, I want this company to be an extension of who I am. By that, I really just want it to be approachable and not something stuffy or on a pedestal that you can’t relate to. We don’t have a motto per se, but if we did it would center around keeping ourselves and our company fun, down to earth, and genuine.

Tell us about your space.

When we found this space, we fell in love with it for a couple of reasons. All of the tables in the main workroom were built in already, because it used to be an elevator repair workshop. Because they were making and repairing elevator parts, there are tons of electrical outlets installed throughout the whole place. That made this place a gold mine for anyone working with electrical equipment. On top of that, the space had all of these smaller pocket rooms running off of the front entrance.

Initially, it was just me and another jewelry artist who occupied the space and we knew we wanted to bring in other artists. These other rooms were the perfect opportunity to bring others in and expand our network of creators and crafters, and that really made it feel like home. Another cool feature about this space is that everyone here is a woman artist, so there’s this sort of inclusivity and support that’s fostered by being around people with the same experiences and interests as you. It was awesome to be able to buy this space, and kind of turn it into something more than just a workshop. Sometimes I think about having my own space, but the support and inspiration that these other artists give me is invaluable and I don’t know if I could ever leave that.

What does your company do “off the clock?”

Even when we’re not “off the clock”, we double as a doggy daycare. Well not officially, of course. We always have at least one dog running around here, which is awesome. We occasionally hold community events here, just some laid-back opportunities to hang out with our friends. Outside of this space, we all love to spend time outdoors and go down to the river.

We’re big fans of a good happy hour, and that can be a downfall when working with six other artists who all run their own schedules. We’re so easily tempted to just wrap up early and all head out for a drink, especially during the summer when we can relax and unwind somewhere around town! Richmond has an amazing food and bar scene, and we have a bunch of friends that work at or own places all around. We can easily stay busy just trying out whatever new places are popping up next.

You’ve been in Richmond for about a decade now. What are your favorite ways of connecting to this community?

As much as this is a cliché or buzz phrase, I love just networking with people around Richmond, not so much so I can push a product on them but just to ignite those little flames of collaboration, which sometimes grow into really awesome projects. I’m part of Boss Babes, which is a local collective of other women who are all entrepreneurs or creatives in Richmond, so that has been an awesome way of connecting with people doing cool things in the community.

What’s on your bar or what do you typically drink as a team?

To be honest, I’m a such a wino. But our friend Pete Konrad at Southbound, who you guys featured not too long ago, makes some damn good cocktails. So anything he puts in front of me, I’ll drink. We like spicy and boozy drinks, flavors that excite and energize you! That’s actually pretty descriptive of us as a whole.

That leads us into our final question! If your company was a cocktail, what would its ingredients be?

With a few years under our belts working together, we've figured out the just how to keep things rolling smooth. We take our work serious, but at the same time know it's vital to stir things up once in a while. We're equal parts straightshooters and go-getters, but like to keep things fun and fresh. We're full of bad jokes over here - I told you I like puns! I think that means our signature drink would be something bold, just slightly sweet, and maybe with a surprise kick of heat at the end!

How about something like this?

Hot and Heavy

Ingredients:

1 oz. Belle Isle Honey Habanero
1/2 oz. Belle Isle Ruby Red Grapefruit
1/2 oz. Aperol
Lime wedge
Club soda

Preparation:

Combine first three ingredients into a glass. Add ice, and top with club soda. Squeeze the fresh lime wedge over top, then optionally add to the glass for more citrus flavor.

Recipe by Gregg Brooks, created for and named by Awl Snap

Behind the Bar: Beau Butler / Star-lite

October 19, 2016Behind the Bar, RichmondBrandon Day1 Comment

In our line of work, we meet a wide variety of brilliant and renown bartenders, each who bring their unique talents and personalities to the table. While most bartenders we know have built their credibility and clout behind the bar, one Richmond bartender has a legacy that followed him there instead.

Enter Beau Butler, formerly known as the hype man/cheerleader of Richmond's very own Avail. And while it's been close to a decade since Avail last took the stage, Beau's magnetic energy and garnered following within the local and national punk scene hasn't faded one bit. We stopped into Star-lite, Beau's stomping grounds for the past 13 years, to hear more on how his turbulent experiences have shaped his current status as one of Richmond's most quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and beloved bartenders.

Tell us about yourself…

I’m the head bartender at Star-lite in the Fan. Back in the day, male tattooed bartenders weren’t a thing, so it took me a really long time to get behind a bar. Star-lite is the first bartending gig I’ve ever had, and I have been here 13 years. This is it, this is what I know.

What got you into bartending?

I honestly had no real interest in doing it, but I came in as a barback and that’s where you really have to bust your ass and learn things quickly. After that, it was just a natural progression of mastering one thing and moving on to learning another. As I came to find out, bartending played really well into the skills I naturally have - being able to talk with people. That’s one of the biggest parts of the job for me.

What’s your favorite thing to drink? Any guilty pleasure drinks?

Drink of choice is probably Chopin vodka. I really enjoy that. The two guilty pleasure drinks come right from my dad, and they’re the worst things ever. The first is Kahlua and soda, it’s really good. And the other is Malibu and Diet Pepsi. I’ll drink the hell out of those.

Outside of work, what do you find yourself doing?

About 9 years ago, I had a kid. Since then, I’ve basically become a soccer dad. I go to hockey games, gymnastics practice, BMX races, and the list goes on. If I’m not here, I’m with my kids and wife.

Tell us about your bar…

Star-lite has changed over time, and that’s because the neighborhood has also changed in recent years - some will say for better, some will say for worse. There’s a lot more bars and restaurants around us now, so more competition for business. Bartenders don’t really see it as a competition per se. Everyone wants to have a busy night and a full bar, but not at the expense of someone else.

The drinking culture in general has changed, and that’s impacted our area. There’s less focus on “bar stars” these days. People used to go to a bar for a specific bartender they liked or that was popular - now it’s not as much that. It’s the other things a bar might offer, like drink specials or a DJ.

Who do you typically find coming in for a drink?

Star-lite’s customer base is still very neighborhood-centric. A lot of people like the fact that they can just walk right over and sit down for a drink. Tons of VCU and U of R students are in here as well. It’s not a place downtown, where you’re there to be seen, but it’s not like a deep neighborhood bar where you’ll get frowned at for not being from the area.

It’s the weirdest combination of downtown and Southside, all blended in with families in the Fan. Even my kids come in here and hang out all the time. My 4 year-old thinks scooping ice into a glass is the coolest thing in the world. Fingers crossed she like, goes to college or something, and finds some more interests.

You’ve been at Star-lite for a while now. What’s kept you here?

Consistency. The guy that hired me was really into consistency in every meaning of the word. For better or worse, I’m one of those guys who, once they get the job they want to do, I’ll keep doing it until I can no longer do the job or get fired - or hit the lottery and quit.

You know, I like to say I learned a lot by traveling around or from school, but I really didn’t. I spent my life in bars, it was always that thing you could come back to. This is what I do - it’s what I know. That little piece of consistency is cool, and it’s fun to still get to run circles around 22 year-olds. It keeps you young.

What’s an average night for you look like?

Every night is sort of different, Mondays are typically have like a laid back, punk vibe. We’ll play like punk rock, metal, and hardcore and whatever all night. Tuesdays are crazy busy with our highball drink special, we’ve got a DJ, people dancing, that stuff. Thursdays, laid back too. And Fridays are Fridays, so you know how that goes. I definitely get to talk more trash to people on busier nights, I get to tell a lot of stories.

Now back to you - with November right around the corner, we’ve got to talk about your infamous mayoral bid. Any updates on your platform?

So here’s the thing - I was doing a lot of this in jest, but a lot of people were like “these are great ideas.” Which is crazy, because who would’ve thought banning Crocs and turning Carytown into a pedestrian-only district would resonate so much with people. Vice picked up on it, which was insane. Some random lady in Maryland from a radio station interviewed me. I don’t think it ever made it to air, because I talked a lot of trash.

Out of all the stuff I said, the funniest thing I think I proposed was doing an official campaign launch outside Star-lite, but it would be hosted by all of my stripper friends. Nothing sets the tone for a mayoral campaign like a bunch of dude and lady strippers blocking off Main Street. Granted, it never came to fruition, but there’s always another election. I thought about starting at the school board level, but I would be the guy who says the wrong thing and gets my kid kicked out of school.

Another one of your popular antics - your pre-shift Facebook posts. They’ve developed this cult following among bartenders and folks in Richmond. Where did all of that come from?

It stemmed from a few things - initially it came from my absolute disdain for people who post things like, “Hey, I’m at the back bar tonight.” or “Come visit me and say my name at the door.” Shit like that. All I could think was that if people don’t already know you’re working there, they aren’t going to come see you. If they do know you work there, that post isn’t going to make anyone want to come. Your job as a bartender is to be able to make drinks, make them quickly, and have banter. That’s where my posts came from, that extension of having banter with people.

So I started posting about who I’m working with and the drink special, but I’ll throw in whatever I want to say on top of it. It’s not something I plan out ahead, I just write something on the walk over and while I’m eating before I get behind the bar. The reason I think they got popular is because there’s always going to be that one person that says whatever they want to, whenever they want. But if they can get it to sound funny and a little insulting, that’s even better.

Not a lot of people can do that, you know, that gift of gab. Starting out here at Star-lite, I was anomaly. Here was this punk guy covered in tattoos, and no one really knew what to expect. They definitely weren’t expecting me to be as outspoken as I am. I think those posts give people a sense of who I am, and I guess they think it’s funny. It’s become a thing now - people come in, they feel like they know Beau, and they want to hang out. That goes back to the whole thing of consistency. I’ve been here forever, and people like to walk in and already know who’s going to hand them a drink.

Is that strange - to be a bartender but have an extended public persona along with it?

Yes and no. People think that they really know me, and to some extent I guess they do. I don’t change who I am when I get behind the bar and serve someone a drink. But I’m not as angry as people think I am! Do I dislike a lot of shit? Yeah… I dislike a lot of things. But am I really that angry about any of it? Not really. I’m a laid-back dude. At the end of the day, I’m just another guy propping my beach chair up with the rest of the moms on the soccer field so I can watch my kids play. I just happen to be covered in tattoos and work at a bar.

Can you share a cocktail or two with us?

I'm a simple guy. I don't mind craft cocktails, but I'm not going to wait around 20 minutes for one. A good drink is a good drink no matter what, but it's even better when you can whip it out quickly. That's the inspiration behind these two Belle Isle drinks.

The Dude Abides

Ingredients:

2 oz. Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee
1 oz. Milk (or cream)

Preparation:

Combine ingredients with ice, shake. and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

Recipe by Beau Butler

The RVA Bloody

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Belle Isle Honey Habanero
4 oz. Texas Beach Bloody Mary Mix

Preparation:

Fill a pint glass with ice. Pour in Belle Isle Honey Habanero, top with Bloody Mary mix. Stir lightly, and garnish with a lime wedge.

Recipe by Beau Butler

Photos by Joey Wharton

Behind the Bar : Mike Rodi / Rapture

October 5, 2016Behind the BarBrandon Day

You hear the words "gastropub" or "pub house" thrown around often when discussing restaurants and bars. Yet, few places go the distance in actually offering up public space through their bar or restaurant, one that is truly open and accessible to all. Enter Mike Rodi, owner of Rapture in downtown Charlottesville, whose hot spot located on the bustling downtown mall has worked to entertain and satiate since 1998.

Since the beginning, Mike and Rapture have been supporters of the craft cocktail movement, working to offer not only locally sourced items on the dinner menu, but behind the bar as well. We headed up to Charlottesville to chat with Mike on how he created such an enticing venue and managed to support local brewers and distillers so early in the movement.

Tell us about yourself…

I’m the owner of Rapture in Charlottesville, which means I get to do a little bit of everything, though not so much actual bartending these days. I do get to create cocktails, and I consider that one of the perks of the job. After 18 years, it’s one of the things that actually keeps being a bar owner fresh and fun.

How long have you been bartending?

Oh-oh. Time to reveal my age! I got behind my first bar in 1991. I was waiting tables at a restaurant in New York, paying for college, and had to work as my own service bartender. At the time, I knew next to nothing about cocktails, and personally liked my liquor straight. Of course, in those days the state of cocktails was pretty abysmal.

What do you do when you’re not bartending? Any hobbies/side jobs/secret identities?

I spent years playing guitar in a band, recording, touring, and songwriting. I geek out over electronics and circuitry. I have an amazing family, so I when I’m not at the restaurant, I spend a lot of time doing stuff with the kids. I still DJ on occasion.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

Even though I own Rapture, a pool hall, I’m actually a terrible pool player.

What’s your favorite thing to drink? Favorite classic cocktail? Favorite thing to drink when no one’s looking?

My go-to's are Jameson, neat; Martinis (these days Strange Monkey Gin, a healthy drop of vermouth, lemon peel); and Sixpoint Brewery’s Sweet Action, preferably in a can. Now that we're entering some cooler weather, I love a Sazerac. My favorite rye for Sazerac duty is Copper Fox. When no one’s looking, I drink water.

Tell us about your bar…

Rapture is a pool hall, a music venue, and dancing spot… so it’s pretty casual, with a strongly old Southern city feel - think French Quarter. It has antique mirrors, wrought iron gate, and the front surface of the bar and kitchen line are repurposed church doors. It’s a bit gritty for some folks, but for us it has real soul.

The vibe at Rapture changes over the course of the week and over the course of the night. Wednesday nights, for example, are very craft-beer driven; the bands that we tend to book for our weekly showcase bring out the IPA drinkers. Saturday evenings are dominated by specialty cocktails, until late night, when the drinks get simpler, sweeter, and cheaper… and way more of them go out. At that point, it’s not really about the drinks anymore. Oh well.

What’s the neighborhood like?

It’s the Downtown pedestrian mall…when it’s hopping, it would give Bourbon Street a run for it’s money. Street vendors and performers, all ages, colors, and creeds, and a restaurant/bar every few feet! I’d say the Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall is one of the coolest things about the city.

What makes your bar unique?

We’re kind of the elders of the local scene. We opened in 1998. We had craft beers on tap even back then, when almost no one in the area did. We embraced craft cocktails and local distilleries before the cool kids were doing it, ha ha. But really, we’re kind of schizophrenic: we have great food, locally and sustainably sourced but unpretentious; we have a bustling late night scene but we have our quiet sensitive side, too!

What’s your favorite part about working there?

Our Chef, Chris Humphrey, is an ongoing joy to work with. His food is consistently delicious, and he constantly raises the bar for everyone around him.

What’s a good night look like for you? What are people ordering?

Whatever makes them happy. I guess it’s great when other people love what you love, but really, if they’re having a good time and pleasing their taste buds, then we’re doing what we’re here to do.

What’s your favorite menu item / cocktail pairing?

We have a gin cocktail — Strange Monkey gin, muddled basil, limoncello — that goes down easy with a plate of fried green tomatoes with topped with Chesapeake blue crab succotash. Our menu changes seasonally, as do several cocktails, but that’s been a good one this summer.

Can you share a Belle Isle creation with us?

It’s called The Sun & The Moon: the sun because of the tomatoes and grapefruit, which obviously are hot weather fruits, and bright and acidic ones, which make them especially delicious when the sun is shining… and, well, the the Moon because, you know, shine…

This cocktail has more culinary than libational inspiration; I’ve worked for many years with Chef Chris Humphrey, and I sometimes I find his ways of thinking rubbing off on me. Every year at the height of tomato season we do a Tomato Dinner. One year, he made a Scallop Crudo with tomatoes and grapefruit, and the flavors were brilliant together. Another year he did a dessert with a tomato tart and a pink peppercorn ice cream. Again, the flavor pairings definitely stayed with me as I developed this cocktail.

By the way, this cocktail, though it’s really easy to make once everything done, really gave me a hard time! I had a hard time getting the right balance between the smoke, the tomatoes, and the grapefruit. It was easy for the grapefruit to overwhelm the other flavors; increasing the shrub in the mix, however, made for a cocktail that was too sweet for what I wanted. In the end, I needed both better tomatoes from later in the season than were available when I started making it, less sugar in the shrub, and I needed to really intensify the flavors in the shrub. I ended up cold smoking white wine vinegar ice cubes, hot smoking the tomatoes, combining with about 1/4 cup of pink peppercorns and a tablespoon of black for good measure. Then I add more smoke to the mason jar before sealing it for 4 days. I don’t strain it after that—I add sugar (about a cup per ice cube tray, or 1.5 cup of vinegar), bring it to a boil, let it cool all the way down. Then, finally, I strain it.

The Sun & the Moon

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Belle Isle Ruby Red Grapefruit Moonshine
1 3/4 oz. Smoked Tomato & Pink Peppercorn Shrub
1/4 oz. Lillet Blanc

Preparation:

Chill a coupe or martini glass. Fill shaker with ice, add all ingredients, shake or stir, then strain into glass. Garnish with a candied/dehydrated grapefruit slice, or rim glass with tomato powder.

Recipe by Mike Rodi

Photos by Ost Haus

Behind the Bar: Anna Schulte / Baker's Crust Hilltop

September 21, 2016Behind the BarBrandon Day

Baker's Crust Artisan Kitchen is what you might call a Virginia staple. With locations in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, and Williamsburg all open from breakfast until dessert, it really is a one-stop shop for all things delicious. Even with such impressive growth over two decades, Baker's Crust has still retained its integrity and history as a European-style artisan bakery by keeping everything including the breads, pastries, and desserts, made from scratch.

We went back to the start of it all, at Baker's Crust's Hilltop location in Virginia Beach to meet with Anna Schulte, the Assistant Manager and beverage developer behind Baker's Crust's newest expansion into the craft cocktail scene.

Tell us about yourself…

I'm the Assistant Manager and Mixologist of Baker’s Crust Hilltop, our flagship location. I've been bartending for 13 years now. I first got behind the bar while living in Florida at the age of 18, yes 18... My General Manager at the time took a chance on a young girl from Wyoming and promoted me from server to bartender, it was there that I learned traditional bartending skills.

It wasn’t until about 22 that I really became involved and began to build a passion for mixology. I have been working at Baker’s Crust for 2 ½ years, and when hired I was given the opportunity to become the beer, wine and liquor developer for all six of our locations. So when my passion and hobby really turned into a full time job, it was a dream come true. I love the craft cocktail world, I find it exciting and there is always a challenge. The best part is it has exploded and it isn’t slowing down! I want to bring all of the new and impressive things happening into Baker's Crust in an accessible and intentional way.

What do you do when you’re not bartending? Any hobbies/side jobs/secret identities?

I enjoy spending my free time with my husband, friends, and my three dogs. I love cooking, DIY projects, the beach and entertaining people in our home. But somedays I really enjoy spending time on my deck just relaxing listening to music and playing with the dogs.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

I am from Wyoming and I played ice hockey throughout my high school and college career. Can't do much of that in Virginia Beach!

What’s your favorite thing to drink? Favorite classic cocktail? Favorite thing to drink when no one’s looking?

It depends on my mood but when I can’t decide, a Moscow Mule of any kind is my go-to. Favorite classic cocktail is an Old Fashioned, but when making them myself I love adding modern twists, like playing around with different styles of bitters, infused simple syrups, and variations of oranges. Each combination always gives a unique elevation to the drink!

Favorite thing to drink when no one is looking... I really have no shame in my cocktail game. It might be an ice cold PBR, bourbon on the rocks, or a big glass of red wine, just depending on how long the day has been.

Tell us about your bar…

Our bar is very welcoming, fun and relaxing; our bartenders are more than just “drink slingers”. You’ll always have good conversation, a lot of laughs and pure entertainment with them! Over the past five years our brand has evolved, we are an artisan kitchen and we pride ourselves on our authenticity and integrity.

What’s the neighborhood like?

Hilltop has a great local feel to it. The beach is right around the corner, everything you need is nestled in the area, and there are a lot of great local restaurants, shops, and boutiques.

What makes your bar unique?

There is a cocktail for anytime of the day! We like to refer to them as brunchtails, daytails, and cocktails. We've got some fantastic drinks lined up for our fall menu, like our new daytail, the Spiced Honey Paloma featuring Belle Isle Grapefruit, and an amazing Smoked Rosemary Manhattan for the evening.

What’s your favorite part about working there?

I am proud of what Baker’s Crust offers, I love the fact that I am working for a local company and that my passion of craft cocktails is now a huge role in my career! I also love that we have a lot fun, even though it sometimes can get crazy there is always smiles and laughter, without my staff we would not be Baker’s Crust Artisan Kitchen!

What’s a good night look like for you? What are people ordering?

A good night for me is when we are busy, when I walk through the restaurant and bar area I love seeing people enjoying Baker’s Crust, we want every guest to have a great time. That is why we are here, to give them an experience that leaves a great impression! But I really love seeing cocktails on the tables, of course!

What’s your favorite menu item / cocktail pairing?

My favorite menu item is defiantly the Quattro Formaggi. We use crushed tomato sauce, mozzarella, fontina, pecorino, gorgonzola and our house made oven-roasted tomatoes. This pizza is exploding with rich and complex flavors from the cheeses, nice acidity from the crushed tomato sauce and subtle acidity with a touch of sweetness from the oven roasted tomatoes. My favorite cocktail pairing with this pizza is our Torched Cherry Sangria. The Torched Cherry Sangria offers a subtle dryness from the merlot and pomegranate juice, a bright and rich cherry flavor from the Bacardi Torched cherry and a very clean ginger flavor from the Domaine De Canton.

Can you share a Belle Isle creation with us? What inspired it?

I fell in love with Belle Isle products from the first time I tried them. I loved how clean of a product it was. I knew from that moment that it would soon be something I was obsessed with. I am a huge bourbon drinker and I love the Belle Isle Honey Habanero, so naturally I needed them to meet one another! Then the brainstorming began.

Bite the Bulleit

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Belle Isle Honey Habanero
1 oz. Bulleit Rye
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
¼ oz. Lime Juice (not sweetened)
Sugar and Cayenne Blend for Rim (1 cup sugar + 1 tsp cayenne pepper)

Preparation:

In a Boston shaker combine all ingredients, fill completely with ice. Shake cocktail for 10-15 seconds, or until ice begins to form on the outside of the shaker. Using sweetened lime juice, rim the glass with sugar/cayenne mix. Strain cocktail into the martini glass, garnish with an orange wheel.

Recipe by Anna Schulte

And since we're all about cocktails for any time of the day, I've got another one! This one is the perfect addition to your weekend brunch.

Everything Mary

Ingredients:

1 ½ Ounces Belle Isle Honey Habanero
3 Ounces Ashburn Sassy Mary Bloody Mix
Garnish:
- 1 piece of Applewood Bacon
- 4 Pepperoni Slices
- 1 Green Olive
- 1 Pickle Spear
- 1 Cucumber Slice
Everything Rim (1 tbs of all of the following: caraway seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic, and ½ tbs of kosher salt)
Sweetened Lime Juice

Preparation:

Using sweetened lime juice and everything rim, rim the glass. Fill glass completely with ice, add Belle Isle Honey Habanero and Sassy Mary. On a pick, add olive, bacon, pepperoni, and cucumber. Set the garnish across the top, add the pickle spear behind the everything pick.

Recipe by Anna Schulte

Photos by Joey Wharton

Happy Hour with Join or Die Knives

September 14, 2016Happy Hour With, RichmondBrandon Day

At Belle Isle Craft Spirits, we understand and uphold the value of locally sourced, individually crafted, and handmade goods. While our craft takes the form of premium moonshine, we're lucky enough to cross paths with plenty of other talented folks crafting up their own exceptional pieces and products.

Not too far from us lies Join or Die Knives' workshop, another prime example of handcrafted goods coming out of Richmond, VA. We made the short trek over to hang out with Brent Stubblefield, founder of Join or Die Knives, to learn more about the process behind his one-of-a-kind knives. Quick disclaimer: No moonshine was consumed while operating any heavy machinery.

Tell us a bit about your company…

I founded Join or Die Knives in Richmond last year. We produce a range of different handcrafted knives and similar tools. I handcraft each and every knife, but I get to seasonally employ shop helpers who are great and bring a lot to the workshop.

We take our name from Benjamin Franklin's original woodcut published in his Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754. The message was simple: unite against a common foe or fail. Our goal is to bring back traditional skill, lore, and craft as the foundation for a new economy.

What do you do and why?

Join or Die Knives exists to provide useful, beautiful and meaningful items. We work with clients to produce knives that can be family heirlooms and gifts worthy of life events. We often use materials provided by clients because of their significance, such as wood from a family property, hunting trophies or any meaningful item. We have been able to create some truly one-of-a-kind pieces thanks to the fantastic materials provided to us.

Tell us about your space.

Our space is a shared warehouse in the Shockoe Valley of Richmond. The community environment here fosters an atmosphere of creativity and cooperation. There’s a lot of great creators here doing a wide range of things. We regularly engage with other tenants here by hosting events such as pop up shops and concerts. Although it is a world shop, we have put some personal touches to make it feel like a creative and inviting space.

If your company was a cocktail, what would its ingredients be?

If Join or Die Knives were a cocktail, the ingredients would be equal parts tradition and modern performance with a garnish of subtle embellishment - just to make it a bit fancy.

What does your company do “off the clock?”

We are pretty involved in the Richmond music scene, ride motorcycles and are connected with our local faith community. We’ve met some great people through our community that help fuel our creativity.

The whole point of working as an independent craftsman is to fulfill this need for something more than can be found in a factory or big box store. Community is the difference between life and death for small makers, and I’m grateful to have supportive people around me.

What’s on your bar?

The small shop bar consists of the mini-fridge under the counter, which usually contains beer for after hours work and play. When we can get it, we go for a sipping bourbon and a nice pipe tobacco.

Photos by Alex Kreher

Behind the Bar: Vanna “V” Hem / Balliceaux

September 7, 2016Behind the Bar, RichmondBrandon DayComment

While you may have found yourself wandering off the side streets of the Fan into Balliceaux for an electronica dance party, Turkish folk concert, or to check in with their running roster of Richmond DJs, the true gem hidden in this Richmond treasure is their diverse and ever-growing cocktail program.

With a bar staff as diverse and ecclectic as the patrons and décor that surrounds them, Balliceaux boasts an equally colorful bar experience. After a long day at the office, we stopped in to Balliceaux to catch up with bartender Vanna Hem, but you can call him V for short.

Tell us about yourself…

I’m a bartender and a student of the craft at Balliceaux, but you may have also seen me at Vagabond. I like to think of myself as just a panda trying to do his thing behind the bar.

I haven’t thought about this in a while, but I’ve been bartending for 12 years at this point. I started off at kind of a dive joint called the Corner Bar and Grill where I planted my roots. I bartended and managed there and went on to Can Can. I stayed on at Can Can for about 8 years and met some awesome bartenders there that made me appreciate the bar game even more so. I did a lot of cool cocktail dinners there and let my wings spread so to speak. After that, I landed at Curry Craft and Postbellum for a stint. Now being at Balliceaux and Vagabond is great. They both feel like home to me. I'm back to my cocktail roots, creating and crafting again. Feels good to have that freedom to be creative again.

How did you get into bartending?

Well, that’s a loaded question. I didn’t really get into bartending as much as I kind of fell into it. My father was a bartender when I was growing up and I swore never to be in the business. A series of events happened and I landed my first bartending gig and realized I had inherited my father’s skills behind the bar. That was it. I fell in love with being behind the bar and never looked back.

What do you do when you’re not bartending? Any hobbies/side jobs/secret identities?

It’s no secret that when I’m not bartending I am most certainly either reading comic books or doing something with the comic book world. I am a HUGE comic book geek. Honestly I’m just a big kid. I have taken out whole teams of people at comic book trivia by myself. I like to think that as an accomplishment. I always take off from bartending on the Thursday before a comic book movie release as well. I still do the whole midnight release thing. I love it. Besides that I’m always thinking about the next cocktail.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

Some people might actually be real surprised that not only was a wrestler and football player but I was also a male cheerleader. Yeah, that happened. Let’s not speak of that again.

What’s your favorite thing to drink? Favorite classic cocktail? Favorite thing to drink when no one’s looking?

My favorite will always be a glass of good whiskey on the rocks. A shot of Fernet or Cynar 70. Probably both. Needless to say, my favorite classic is a Manhattan. It’s above the other classics like the Negroni or Corpse Reviver, but I still got mad love for those cocktails too. My thing has always been “to each their own” when it comes to drinks. It’s all about preferences. When no one’s looking, I will always have a piña colada. Love that stuff. I like getting caught in the rain.

Tell us about your bar…

Balliceaux is sexy. You walk in and it’s dimly lit and the music’s just right. It’s got an almost like Chicago or Seattle feel to it. You could be one-on-one with someone at the bar or with your homies getting it in for the night. It’s great in the fact that it is so versatile.

What’s the neighborhood like?

Let’s be real. The parking around the neighborhood sucks. It’s the Fan. The neighborhood itself is quite eclectic. There are college students bustling from class to class. Then you have your young professionals in their suit and ties just trying to make it, and then you have your families just walking their dogs and hanging with their kids. It’s a great neighborhood in general. It’s beautiful to walk around.

What makes your bar unique?

The variety of the beers we always have rotating and the rotating cocktail menu. If you have trouble finding something to suit your needs our bar staff is very knowledgeable and can usually just whip something up in a whim based off of what you’re feeling at the moment. Just like our menu, we have an eclectic rotating bar staff from all walks of life. I feel it’s exciting to go in and maybe see Scott behind the bar and see what off-the-wall cocktail he’s concocting at the moment, or I can walk in on a Tuesday and turn up because I know Sarah Mullarney is there. Bottom line - we like to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable.

What’s your favorite part about working there?

My favorite part of the job is the freedom I have to create and freely think about cocktails. Nothing is taboo behind the bar here. The sheer amount of different people that walk through the door is amazing as well. The décor is on point. The atmosphere is totally up my alley.

What’s a good night look like for you? What are people ordering?

The bar is packed. People are talking and having a good time. It’s the buzz of the room and the feel of bar being somewhere you want to be. Somewhere you belong. You walk in and the bar is where it’s at. The flow of the conversations between people is wafting around the room. People are ordering shots for their friends or just grabbing a cocktail. What ever they’re drinking, they’re enjoying it with their friends.

What’s your favorite menu item / cocktail pairing?

The combination of the Russian Market cocktail with the Grilled Pork Shoulder and Cabbage Three Ways is killer. It’s the epitome of South East Asian food!

Can you share a Belle Isle creation with us? What inspired it?

Yeah absolutely! This was based on my wanting to create an original tiki flip. What came out was even better than I imagined honestly. The inspiration though was from the classic ways of making old school punches. I infused coconut cream with kaffir lime leaves and then washed the Belle Isle Premium Moonshine with it. Letting it all sit for about 5 hours and then coffee straining, which leaves the moonshine imparted with the flavors without all the cloudiness and mess. It’s quite deceiving because tasting it by itself, it taste like coconut water.

Belle Vie

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Kaffir/Coconut Cream-washed Belle Isle Premium Moonshine
1 oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
½ oz. Lemon Juice
½ oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
¼ oz. Demerara Syrup
1 Egg White

Preparation:

Chill a coupe glass. Combine all the ingredients, excluding the egg white, into a shaker tin. Wet shake for about 20-30 seconds. Strain the contents into a smaller shaker tin. Dump the ice. Add an egg white and dry shake for about 50-60 seconds. Empty out the chilled coupe and strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish. Voila. Water of life.

Recipe by Vanna "V" Hem

Photos by Joey Wharton

Behind the Bar: Tyler Hoppel / HK on the Bay

August 31, 2016Cocktails, Behind the Bar, ConversationBrandon Day1 Comment

Getting ready to celebrate its 10th anniversary in December, HK on the Bay is nothing new to Hampton Roads and Chic's Beach residents. Popular among Virginia Beach locals and garnering the attention of the thousands of tourists that flock down annually, HK on the Bay is one of the few great places in the area where you can stroll in off the beach in your bathing suit and sit down to enjoy a high-quality meal and cocktail using local, fresh ingredients.

We took a trip down to Chic's Beach off Shore Drive to find out more about why HK on the Bay has become such a popular stalwart among locals. When we arrived, Tyler Hoppel, General Manager at HK on the Bay, treated us to an abundance of knowledge and one extremely refreshing cocktail.

Tell us about yourself…

I am the General Manager at HK on the Bay, located on Chic's Beach in Virginia Beach. This will come as a shock to most people, but I actually don’t have any bartending experience! I began my restaurant career as a server right here over 8 years ago. Over the years, I just learned by doing. I worked my tail off to learn my new craft.

What do you do when you’re not managing? Any hobbies/side jobs/secret identities?

Side job while being a restaurant manager? That’s just crazy! But hobbies, definitely anything outdoors. Camping with my fiancé and step-daughter is something I love. I also homebrew and am a huge Baltimore Orioles Fan.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

I used to own a clothing company called Redemption Brand and tour with a band from Richmond called Conditions. I lived in Church Hill for a year while touring.

What’s your favorite thing to drink? Favorite classic cocktail?

Favorite thing to drink when no one’s looking? My go-to is a Session IPA. My favorite classic cocktail is a Manhattan. And no shame here, I’ll never turn down a Mojito or a jumbo Margarita.

Tell us about your bar…

The vibe at HK on the Bay is casual, but refined. Our bar guests consist of mainly regulars. HK on the Bay is cozy, timeless, and almost cottage-like. When you walk in you’ll see old school pictures on the wall of a time in 1977 of when the Chesapeake Bay froze over, or the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on April 15, 1964. We want to show the history of our storied neighborhood and building.

What’s the neighborhood like?

Our neighborhood is filled with a large mix of people. This place is our home. We like to say that we are just stewards of this building, as it was built in the 1930s. Our guests expect a casual setting but know they can get a $28 hand-cut all natural ribeye while they sit at the bar in their bathing suit.

What makes your bar unique?

We want you to drink better and, if possible, drink local. I wrote an article last September called “Rethink Your Drink”. The studies show that when you drink liquors with fewer impurities, you are more likely to not feel as bad the next day; compared with drinking the same amount of “bottom shelf” liquor. We recommend you have one or two nicely prepared cocktails and enjoy the depth of flavors we create. We know you’ll pay a little more for the “higher end” spirits but you’ll thank me when you’re not as hungover the next day. We carry the same concept through to our menu as well by serving all natural, steroid free, humanely treated beef, poultry, and pork. We know when you eat and drink better, you will feel better.

What’s your favorite part about working there?

Our guests and our employees. Our guests are truly the best. I know it’s cliché, but our staff and our guests are our family. Our Service Manager Matthew Pere and our Chef Danny Hughes work really hard to provide a truly unique experience every day, not only to our guests, but to our team as well. I love walking in the door and knowing that it is going to be different than yesterday. There are thousands of restaurants in Virginia Beach and our guests chose HK on the Bay? They pass easily 20 to 30 others on their way here. Literally, I’m humbled every single day.

What’s a good night look like for you? What are people ordering?

We sell a lot of craft beer. I wouldn’t call us a craft beer destination, but we do have over 30 craft beers and over half of them are local. On the spirit side, we sell a good amount of whiskey and vodka. I personally love visiting with tables and learning about who are guests are! Guests could have had a crappy day at work and when they come into our restaurant, we want to turn their day around before heading home.

What’s your favorite menu item / cocktail pairing?

My personal favorite foods include pizza and burgers. Our sister restaurant, The Butcher’s Son cooks a mean rare Prime Rib and pair that with a Manhattan, I am in heaven! On our menu I can’t get enough of our new Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf. Our chef really knocked it out of the park with this one! We grind all of our beef in-house, so it’s homemade in the truest form. We make a chipotle ketchup that tops off the meatloaf that just enhances the total experience.

Can you share a Belle Isle creation with us? What inspired it?

We wanted to use a locally made spirit on our last cocktail list. We chose Belle Isle Ruby Red Grapefruit Moonshine because of the bright flavor of the grapefruit. We wanted to enhance that experience by pairing it with pomegranate to create the ultimate cocktail to beat the summer heat.

Ruby Red Shine

Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz. Belle Isle Ruby Red Grapefruit Moonshine
1/2 oz. Cointreau
1/2 oz. Pama Liquor
1/4 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
Splash of Soda Water

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients except for soda into a shaker tin with light ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass and top with a splash of soda water.

Recipe by Katie Frank

Photos by Joey Wharton

Behind the Bar: Pete Konrad / Southbound

August 24, 2016Behind the Bar, Richmond, CocktailsBrandon Day1 Comment

If you've been in Richmond long enough, you've probably heard it called "the biggest small town you’ll ever see.” With an abundance of opportunities that exist in this vibrant community, folks have the opportunity to try new things or to become a master at their skill set. Enter Pete Konrad, the Bar Manager at Southbound, who knows a bit about just how close-knit this "big small town" seems to be and what it is like to grow alongside your community.

Pete invited us Behind the Bar for an afternoon to teach us more about his eclectic background that led him to where he is and how he is bringing his craft with cocktails to yet another beloved Richmond neighborhood.

Tell us about yourself...

I've been bartending a little over 10 years now. I started really bartending when I took a job as a bartender at Gallery 5. After about a year, Nick Crider and I built a bigger bar at the Gallery and I began taking over the duties as bar manager there.

After several years of doing that, I passed the torch on and picked up a bartending gig at Portrait House. Those couple years at Portrait House were probably some of the best times in my life and made lifelong friends while working there. From there I moved to Metzger Bar and Butchery, where my drink game went from shooters to craft cocktails. Big shout out to Kjell Anderson for teaching me the ways. Now I’m the Bar Manager of Southbound.

What do you do when you’re not bartending? Any hobbies/side jobs/secret identities?

I enjoy home brewing, which set into motion the interest to earn my degree in Chemistry at VCU. I recently graduated this past Spring. Starting this Fall semester, I will be a teaching assistant for one of VCU’s newest courses on brewing, yeast, and fermentation. The science behind the drinks we serve is very intriguing to me.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

I served 6 years in the Coast Guard. I also was a tower crane installer/tester for a few years. There are several other jobs I have done, but way too much to list them all. Through most of them though, I’ve always been a bartender at night.

What’s your favorite thing to drink? Favorite classic cocktail? Favorite thing to drink when no one’s looking?

My favorite thing to drink is probably a Rittenhouse rye with one big cube or an All Day IPA. As far as classics go, I would say a Boulevardier is my favorite. Something I drink when no one's looking would be a nice Beaujolais.

Tell us about your bar…

I would describe the atmosphere at Southbound as casual fine dining. I want people to be able to sit at the bar have a fantastic meal and try some new drinks. As a bartender, I want to know my neighborhood and I feel that this is very much the neighborhood bar of Bon Air. Our neighborhood is a pretty neat part of town. I’ve had a lot of friends move out here in recent years. I like the rural suburbia feel of it.

What makes your bar unique?

I think we have the perfect amount of variety of selections of different beverages without that feeling of being overwhelmed by choices. It's nice have a large inventory of different spirits not only for guests, but for me as a bar manager. It allows me to be creative and come up with new things all the time. I was lucky when I picked up this position to have such a wonderful staff as well.

What’s a good night look like for you? What are people ordering?

A great night for me is a full bar, but not super fast-paced. I like to be able to have a conversation with someone who sits down at the bar. I also love to be able to introduce people to new things, so that takes time getting to know them and their interests.

What’s your favorite menu item / cocktail pairing?

I personally think we have some of the best wings in town. If I were to pair it with one of my cocktails, I would pair it with the “Long Drag”.

Can you share a Belle Isle creation with us?

Sure thing. I've actually got two that we're serving up at Southbound.

Bobcat’s Yoohoo

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Belle isle 100 Proof
1/2 oz. Champion Megalodon vinegar
1 oz. Coconut milk
1/4 oz. Demerara syrup

Preparation:

Shake and strain into a rocks glass with a big cube, garnish with shaved bitter chocolate bar.

Recipe by Pete Konrad

MI9

Ingredients:

2 oz. Belle Isle Premium Moonshine
3/4 oz. Cocchi Americano
1/2 oz. Dolin Blanc
Laphroaig 10 yr. rinse

Preparation:

Rinse chilled coupe with Laphroaig 10yr. Stir and strain into rinsed coupe garnish with lemon peel.

Recipe by Pete Konrad

Photos by Joey Wharton

Happy Hour With Mother Shrub

August 18, 2016Happy Hour With, RichmondBrandon Day4 Comments

While Belle Isle Craft Spirits traces its premium moonshine legacy back to the Civil War era, moonshine itself has a much deeper history. Dating all the way back to the early Colonial period, moonshine has always been an integral part of Virginia and American culture.

Much like moonshine, shrub (or drinking vinegars) trace their history back just as far. After running into Meredyth Archer at our local farmers' market, we learned a little more about shrub and just how closely connected the history of moonshine and shrub seem to be. We were able to spend a gorgeous afternoon outdoors for a Happy Hour with Meredyth, the founder of Mother Shrub, and learn more about the revival of some of America's earliest delicacies.

Tell us a bit about your company…

Mother Shrub was established in September of 2015, when I threw away all of my excuses. Encouraged by friends and family who were telling me to start a business, I finally listened. After a lifetime of living and working among artists – husband Fielding is a painter, furniture designer and woodworker who designed the Mother shrub label, sons Julien, Eli and Henry design, photograph, and play music – I took the skills I acquired working as a consultant to creative entrepreneurs to create and build her own business.

What is shrub?

Derived from the Arabic word sharab meaning beverage, the name shrub has evolved over the years from the very similar Turkish beverage, sherbet, to what we know today as shrub - a non-alcoholic combination of fruit, vinegar and sugar; a drinking vinegar. It was popular as a soft drink and cocktail in colonial times. Mother Shrub is a modern take on this colonial classic.

How did you first start making shrub?

While looking through a stack of old cookbooks I inherited from my grandmother, I came across a recipe for raspberry fruit vinegar. Curious, I made the vinegar and started experimenting and researching, remembering that she always drank a sweetened vinegar mixture and encouraged us to drink it too. Years and many experimental batches of shrub later, Mother Shrub was born.

We do more than make shrub. We provide the medium for people to easily become creative with what they drink. Mother Shrub is about opening someoneʼs eyes to possibility, to trying something new. Itʼs so much fun having someone try our shrubs for the first time and seeing their reaction to the unconventional taste. Lots of “wow!”

Where did the name Mother Shrub come from?

Mother has so many meanings. Vinegar is created by an organism called “the mother". I am the mother of three boys, inspired by my grandmother and always encouraged by my own mother. The name Mother just seemed fitting.

If your company were a cocktail, what would its ingredients be?

Mix equal parts curiosity and approachability with a shot of irreverence. Serve over ice.

What does your company do off the clock?

We are always creating something! But we do love to take advantage of the outdoors - cycling, paddle boarding and floating down the James. Oh, and we also love sharing shrub cocktails with friends!

Whatʼs on your bar?

We have a well-stocked bar – Ruby Red, Honey Habanero and Premium Belle Isle Moonshine, vodka, gin and shrub of course! – Grapefruit, Cranberry and Black Cherry along with other flavors weʼre experimenting with.