by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 17, 2025 | Eat, October 2025
Now raising the bar at RDU Airport is Durham Distillery’s new Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine.
Durham Distillery’s highly anticipated RDU Airport restaurant and bar Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine has officially taken flight—and it promises to quell your pre-flight jitters, layover boredom and touchdown hankerings… and then some. “Our goal is to really be a place unlike any other at RDU—and offer something really unique for the entire country,” says Durham Distillery co-founder and CEO Melissa Katrincic.
An intimate space to land amid the airport bustle, the new all-day Conniption outpost—the second-largest at RDU behind Crawford’s Genuine—boasts an elevated escape with ample lounge seating and a full bar for travelers looking to treat themselves, whether it’s 4am or 9pm.
Naturally, Durham Distillery’s spirits take center stage—showcased in a range of cocktails, some familiar to fans of the distillery’s Durham Conniption Bar & Lounge. Think signature sips like margaritas, French 75s, old-fashioneds and seasonal G&Ts; brunch bevs like bloodys, mimosas, slushies and upgraded boozy coffee; and a tempting world-class ’tini lineup: subzero gin (served straight from the freezer), dirty, or espresso with coffee liqueur. “Our goal is to have the best airport martini in the country,” emphasizes Katrincic.
The crafty concoctions are complemented by refined brunch and all-day Southern-inspired fare—from wraps, egg bites, yogurt bowls, and fresh beignets with espresso caramel sauce to small plates like pimento cheese, sliders and a cheesy flatbread, plus entrees including Cobb + Caesar salads, a chicken sandwich, house burger, and steak frites.
“This is not only a great opportunity for us to get new people interested in the brand and distillery—but really this is about trying to establish a sense of place throughout the entire Triangle,” muses Katrincic. All told, it’s an experience worthy of a delay—or even a cancellation. Happy travels, indeed. durhamdistillery.com
In the Spirit
Further raising spirits, Durham Distillery just dropped its new Damn Fine Mocha Bourbon Cream and Damn Fine Vodka—crafted with distilled, purified water for a clean, crisp finish and that trademark “simplicity with quiet confidence.” Now that’s damn fine.
by Lauren Kruchten | Jul 25, 2024 | 2024, Eat, July 2024/August 2024
Scott Crawford’s new concept at RDU has taken off.
Scott Crawford’s latest restaurant has opened at RDU, but it won’t feel like you’re at the airport at all. And, odds are, you might find yourself hoping for a delay to experience it.
Tailored to travelers while boasting the same top-notch hospitality for which Crawford’s restaurants are known (think Crawford and Son’s James Beard nod for Outstanding Hospitality!), Crawford’s Genuine—located in Terminal 2—will offer “that classic North Carolina dining experience, just like you would expect at one of our restaurants,” says the namesake chef. “We’ve put a lot of effort into the design, for instance, even creating an ‘outdoor patio.’”
The menu is also designed with travelers in mind, catering both to those who have time to waste between layovers and those hurrying to their gate.
“I’m not sure anyone realizes how much I love this type of casual-but-upscale bar and grill food,” he adds. “I’m really excited about our menu and what we’ll be offering at Crawford’s Genuine. It’s fun, delicious food, and has all the hallmarks of Crawford Hospitality’s attention to detail and refinement.”
Catering to an all-day affair, breakfast, lunch and dinner items are on offer, running the gamut from morning selects like sweet and savory bowls (think short rib and eggs, baked French toast, and yogurt with granola) to lunch/dinner fare like smoked chicken wings, crispy shrimp lettuce wraps, mushroom cavatelli and a classic smash burger, alongside additional apps, salads, sandwiches and entrees—to pair with cocktails, beer and wine.
And for victims of ridiculous connection times, Crawford’s Genuine will also have a dedicated grab-and-go case of prepared foods, as well as a dedicated counter for ordering from the to-go menu, which includes items like smoked trout dip, kale Caesar and a chicken salad sandwich.
“This new venture means a lot to our company and community,” emphasizes Crawford. “I’m especially thankful we have found a partner like Grove Bay Concessions for this project. We’re excited to reach a broader audience with our cooking and our brand. It’s an incredible opportunity to introduce visitors and residents to Crawford Hospitality. It’s also exciting—and an honor—for us to be elevating the food, beverage and overall hospitality at RDU Airport.”
by Lauren Kruchten | May 29, 2024 | Eat, June 2024
Durham Distillery’s RDU location is prepping for takeoff.
Promising to quell any pre-flight jitters—and/or get the vacay started from the gate (!)—enter long-awaited Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine at RDU Airport, the latest extension of the Durham Distillery brand.
Offering a Zen refuge to avoid the stressful buzz typical of traveling through the airport, the stylish restaurant and lounge space isn’t your average airport bar. Slated to bow this fall in Terminal 2 by gate D8, the spirited new concept from America’s highest-awarded gin label promises to be a game changer for terminal time that’ll “make you forget you’re in a terminal,” boasts Durham Distillery co-founder, CEO and President Melissa Katrincic.
“Our goal is to create a haven amid the bustling terminal where both newcomers and aficionados can savor the distinctive flavors of Conniption cocktails,” adds Katrincic. “This new venue is designed to offer a delightful respite where travelers can relax and enjoy the very best we have to offer—even on a tight schedule.”
Drawing inspiration from Conniption bottle designs and DD’s on-site cocktail bar in Durham, the chic soothing outpost will also feature a batch of innovative gin cocktails (natch), high-end draft cocktails, and frozen martinis like the distillery’s signature Subzero Purple Rain feat. its fan-fave shade-shifting purple Kinship gin. The crafty concoctions will be complemented by elevated breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings—because when at the airport, time doesn’t exist. Martini at 9am? No judgment.
While the final food menu is still being fleshed out, Katrincic is toying with such delectable draws as popular Corpse Reviver staple marinated olives, spiced nuts, small plates and salads. Single-serving naan flatbreads are likely fodder as well, and the Conniption queen nods to one topped with roasted broccoli, Gruyere and mozzarella, caramelized Meyer lemon slices, and hot honey—which she says the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority particularly loved. There will even be a kids’ charcuterie plate—think of it like an upgraded Lunchable.
“Being chosen for this opportunity by the RDU Airport Authority is a great honor, and we’re eager to introduce Conniption to travelers from around the world,” emphasizes Katrincic. “Recognizing the unique demands of airport dining, we’re dedicated to ensuring quick service without compromising the exceptional quality our guests experience at our distillery’s cocktail bar in Durham.” Looks like you just may find yourself hoping for a delay to dine, drink and destress. Happy travels, indeed. durhamdistillery.com
