by Melissa Howsam | Oct 30, 2023 | Eat, November 2023
Spy Raleigh Magazine’s Best Bartender nominees—then vote.
’Tis the season to be jolly—and getting our spirits high this season is our cast of 2023 Best Bartender nominees. These top 10 ’tenders have no doubt earned their bar shakers—but only one will earn the crown. You be the judge.
As part of our annual Best Bars Issue in February, one of these crafty cocktailiers from our highly curated cast will take 2022 Bartender of the Year Colby Kress’ trophy (the highly coveted prize gets passed to the champ a la Stanley Cup). Voting for Best Bartender (and Best Bars across a range of categories) is open through Dec. 15. Meet these top mixologists—and get a taste of their talent—on Nov. 18 as the noms mix up 10 riffs on classics (think Old-Fashioned, Negroni, martini) in tandem with a top-shelf liquor brand at our inaugural Cocktail Classic presented by The Exchange Raleigh at Killjoy. The grand tented layered affair will serve up unlimited ’tails, tastes and tunes weaving through the entire space into Killjoy, where you can reserve a front-row seat at the bar to watch your favorite bartender in action—not to mention a themed afterparty on-site.
Grab your tickets before they’re gone and raise a glass to the city’s best bartenders of 2023—then rock the vote and stay tuned for our February Best Bars Issue. cocktailclassicraleigh.com
One Rule: Spread the love across the bar community! You cannot repeat the same bar more than three times. If the same bar is voted on in more than three categories, the entire vote will be disqualified.
Voting closes at midnight on Dec. 15, 2023.
Reese Hailey, Aunty Betty’s: Tom Collins + Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka
Connor Cooke, Clockwork: Old-Fashioned + Southern Star Bourbon
Christian Gibbs, The Haymaker: Daiquiri + Outer Banks Distillery Silver Rum
Serena Thurston, Dram & Draught: Mint Julep + Woodford Reserve
Ian Murray, Foundation: Gold Rush + Cook’s Mill Whiskey
Zoe Palmer, Fox Liquor Bar: Penicillin + Johnnie Walker Scotch
Will Bryant, The Parlor at Heights House: Margarita + Adictivo Tequila
Kelly Lynch, Watts & Ward: Negroni + Sutler’s Gin
Ingrid Folkers, Whiskey Kitchen: Cosmopolitan + Deep Eddy Vodka
Clovis LaCour, William & Company: Gin Martini + Durham Distillery Conniption Gin
![Shaking Up Bloc[83]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMDgwIDY3NSIgd2lkdGg9IjEwODAiIGhlaWdodD0iNjc1IiBidi1pbWctdXJsPSJodHRwczovL3JhbGVpZ2htYWcuY29tL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDIzLzEwL0luY2VuZGlhcnkuanBnIj48L3N2Zz4=)
by Anna Beth Adcock | Oct 30, 2023 | Eat, November 2023
Incendiary Brewing now open—with cocktails
New DTR brewery with cocktail bevs? Bet. Highly anticipated Winston-Salem-based brewing biz Incendiary Brewing Company recently opened its doors to the public at its new Bloc[83] locale—and beyond the lineup of 24 rotating draft beers and an array of wine selects, the sip spot also touts a mixed-beverage permit (!). Translation: Cocktails will also be on offer for your non-beer-drinking buds.
“We have a specific brand and have translated that from our original location to Raleigh,” says co-founder/operator Brandon Branscome. “We’re extremely excited about being here and the Bloc[83] area in particular. We’ve been exploring the Raleigh area for years and feel like we have definitely found a home where we fit.” Belly up to the Bloc for a sip-sational time and a slew of boozy bevs and spirits—complete with a private patio. …We’ll drink to that!
by Anna Beth Adcock | Oct 30, 2023 | November 2023, Stuff
Fine Bikes recently launched in Raleigh—and it’s simply off the chain.
“It’s like riding a bicycle.” … Find Charles Thompson fabricating, welding, brazing and painting road, gravel and mountain bikes built to communicate coolness and elicit a higher-quality ride via Fine Bikes, now available at Oak City Cycling. The Raleighite initially pedaled into bike maintenance as a passion project that quickly blossomed into more thanks to a mixture of mechanic experience and an extensive background riding bikes “as hard as possible.”
“I grew up around bikes,” shares Thompson. “My mom and brother worked at a bike shop when I was in my early teens, and it was a shared interest in our household.” However, after a BMX-related concussion at age 15, the biking enthusiast walked away from the sport—that is, until he moved to Raleigh during his mid-20s and returned to biking as a means of transit.
“That snowballed, and I found myself working at a bike shop part-time—and, eventually, I committed to full-time,” he explains. In 2016, he left that shop to make his way to DTR’s Oak City Cycling, with Fine Bikes marking OCC’s first-ever brand launch.
After taking a frame class with Steve Garn of Brew Bikes in 2020, Thompson slowly developed his process by making bikes for himself, his partner and his co-workers—all while garnering increased interest from the community.
“Due to getting asked many times over, I got my legal and insurance [stuff] sorted out, and I made a bike for my first ‘real’ customer earlier this year,” says Thompson. “I’m still working at OCC, and, through the shop, we are able to offer custom frames, paint and high-quality builds for those who are seeking more out of their bike.”
There’s no question that Raleigh’s bike culture is booming—and this local cycle biz only serves to further showcase the ever-burgeoning cycle culture, whether you’re zooming around the city or taking your two wheels off-road. Let’s get spoked! @fine_bikes
by Kara Scott | Oct 30, 2023 | November 2023, Stuff
Lace up your shopping shoes and raise your glasses to these sip + shop experiences in Raleigh.
’Tis the season for holiday shopping—and taking the festivities up a notch is the sip and shop trend. Like happy hour and retail therapy rolled into one, this fad entails strolling through your fave shops to check everyone off your holiday gift list, all while savoring delicious drinks. Now that sounds like the kind of holiday shopping we can get behind (!). Here, five Raleigh hot spots that will make your spirits—and your shopping bags—bright this holiday season.
Trig Modern
Retail has a new buzzword: refinement. Kick back on a plush couch with a sophisticated cocktail in hand and drink in the ambience of this Dock 1053 midcentury-modern furniture store. The bar up front—pouring both wine and cocktails—guarantees your high-end shopping experience will be anything but dry. trigmodern.com
Unlikely Professionals
Saddle up for a wild retail ride! It’s unlikely you’ll have a bad shopping experience with a brew or a glass of vino from the saloon-style bar at this trendy shop serving urban menswear, outdoor gear, cool accessories and more—all perfect for the men in your life. edgeofurge.com
Hunky Dory
If music is what makes you merry, splurge on classic vinyls—for both yourself and your music-loving friends/fam!—while savoring unique local brews, with a heavy focus on IPAs, at this *dank* record shop in Seaboard Station. Records spinning, beers flowing and good vibes throughout… name a better trio—we’ll wait. hunkydorydurham.com
Fox & Bailey
A sparkling experience that’s worth its weight in gold (and diamonds!), Bailey’s watch shop offers top-shelf bourbons to enjoy while exploring luxury timepieces. Find the perfect piece of jewelry for that special someone—and while you’re at it, treat yo’self to that bling you’ve been eyeing all year. baileybox.com
Atlantic Gardening
Plant-powered shopping never tasted so good. Peruse myriad flora and fauna—or BYO bouquet!—in a lush setting while enjoying rotating local brews, wine and flavored mimosas (Dragonfruit! Mango! Lychee!) at the signature Garden Bar, which also hosts workshops and events like yoga. atlanticgardening.com
by Heidi Reid | Oct 30, 2023 | November 2023, Stuff
The gifts that keep on giving
This just in—subscriptions aren’t just for streaming services or magazines anymore (although we can think of at least one mag subscription you probably need—*wink wink*). If getting a package gives you the same high as Christmas morning, you’re gonna wanna get in on the subscription box trend, delivering blissful gifts monthly. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed fashionista, a cocktail connoisseur or a foodie, there’s a box out there for you. Here, we delve into four you’ll definitely want to try.
Shaker and Spoon
Ready to shake it? Each box includes all the ingredients for 12 cocktails—syrups, bitters, garnishes, mixers and citrus—all you need to do is add the alcohol of your choosing. Recipe cards and how-to videos will take your home bartending skills next-level. Bottoms up!
From $59/month, shakerandspoon.com
Lata
Lat us introduce you to this NYC-based company founded by four friends who bonded over “the vermut”—aka a pre-meal event in Spain where friends and family share the likes of olives, tinned fish and vermouth, naturally (think of it like Italians’ aperitivo). Lata delivers that ideal to your doorstep, curating the fishiest picks of gourmet tinned seafood—NTM the coolest tins (!). Sorry, but fish definitely are food, not friends. From $29.99/month, lata.shop
Nuuly
This box is ideal for anyone with an out-of-hand shopping addiction and a small closet (you are not alone). Instead of overspending on clothing you’ll only wear a few times, this retail resource ensures you’re dressed to the nines by sending six rental pieces handpicked by you every month. Featured brands include Anthropologie, Free People and Levi’s. Strut your (rental) stuff!
$98/month, nuuly.com
Vinyl Me, Please
Step aside, Spotify—there’s a new monthly music subscription in town. Choose your records from the staff’s monthly picks in genres like rock, hip-hop, classics, country and other essential categories. Or handpick your tunes from a deep-dive into the 250+ album selection featuring exclusive and colorful pressings of all genres and artists, from big names like Fiona Apple to local Raleigh bands such as Truth Club. Rock on! From $46/month, vinylmeplease.com
