Meet over 20 Virginia distillers as you eat, relax, and indulge in unique Virginia-made distilled spirits at the 2nd Annual Virginia Spirits Showcase. This year's Showcase will be even more exciting than last year's event, which was the first of its...
Rise and shine, folks! Today we’re going to discuss the topic of infused spirits and the value of authentic infusions versus chemical-compound infusions. I recently sat down with few of Virginia and Washington, D.C.’s most talented bartenders to...
Founded in 2005, Chesapeake Bay Distillery’s mission is to create spirits of exceptional quality featuring local ingredients and provide value to their patrons. Looks like their mission has already been accomplished; the distillery produces an...
At 14 in a town just south of Boston, Massachusetts, Chef John Critchley began his culinary career by ditching his paper route for cleaning pots and pans. Since then, he’s built a resume that reads like culinary poetry...
A leader in the craft distillery movement, Rick Wasmund is the man and Master Distiller behind Copper Fox Distillery. Rick opened for business in 2005 at his first Copper Fox Distillery location in Sperryville, Virginia. After much success, he...
William “Mac” McCormack is throwing out some serious Virginia spirit and elevating the way Richmonders drink one tipple at a time. By a landslide, he carries the largest selection of spirits in the Commonwealth, with 2,300 bottles of spirits at...
For over four centuries, our forefathers have been producing fresh whiskey in the hills of Virginia. In the last 30 years, however, this once elusive drink is available for all to enjoy. “I’m preserving a piece of America and having fun doing...
Melissa Smith is the enthusiastic Bar Manager for what the Wall Street Journal affectionately calls “One of the Best Oyster Bars in the Country”, Rappahannock Oyster Bar inside Union Market in Washington, D.C. Local products are an integral part...
Dry Fork Fruit Distillery in Patrick County makes moonshine that is completely legal, with a touch of renegade thrown in. Learn more about how partners Vince Puccio and Tom Willis produce moonshine at Dry Fork Fruit Distillery and why it is so...
Helping us celebrate September #VaSpiritsMonth are some of the coolest #VaSpirits Tastemakers in Virginia and Washington DC, sharing how they show their Virginia Spirit! All of our Tastemakers are cutting edge food & beverage professionals and have...
“Distilling the American Spirit” is the slogan for Williamsburg newest culinary installation, Williamsburg Distillery. Now open, but three years in the making, Dr. Bill and Yvonne Dodson own and operate the colonial themed micro-craft...
At Simple Eats Virginia Beach, Eddie and Sandy Schmidtmann believe that supporting local farmers and producers is the best way to serve up simple, delicious food. Their menu even proclaims, “Where local people gather for local food,” before...
Did you know Comfort Restaurant in Richmond has a 100%-inspired #VaSpirits cocktail list? Michael Hanbury, Bar Manager explains “Our entire cocktail program is based off of spirits made here in Virginia. We do a weekly drink special that is also...
As the first distillery in Charlottesville city limits to broadly distribute its products Vitae Spirits is stirring up A LOT of excitement. The restaurant community and consumers alike can’t stop talking about Vitae’s Platinum Rum, Golden Rum...
Leah Peeks is the talented Bar and Events Director for The Whiskey Jar, Charlottesville, VA. The Whiskey Jar is a Southern-sourced restaurant and bar where everything tastes like mamma’s love; that is, if your mamma loves you enough to give you...
Who says wine people can’t talk cocktail shop? They’re just as geeky (if not more) than most mixologists. Maurice “Mo” Cherry is the Wine Director for the highly acclaimed Ripple in Washington, D.C. and a consummate supporter of all things...
If you’re a fan of learning more about new and unique Virginia farmers and producers, then following Va Foodie on social media is a must! @VaFoodie is the love child of a group of marketing geeks who are self-proclaimed food aficionados at Water...
Helping us celebrate September #VaSpiritsMonth are some of the coolest #VaSpirits Tastemakers in Virginia and Washington DC, sharing how they show their Virginia Spirit! All of our Tastemakers are cutting edge food & beverage professionals and have...
The spirits menu at Southern Efficiency is curated by Bar Manager Paul Taylor and features an eclectic mix of whiskies that range the full gamut, from traditional bourbons and whiskies to craft spirits made right here in our backyard. His...
Founded in 2009, Catoctin Creek is Loudoun County’s first legal distillery since prior to Prohibition, producing both organic and kosher spirits entirely from scratch. Scott Harris is the enthusiastic co-founder/general manager and husband to...
We recently sat down with the folks from Filibuster Distillery to talk about how they approach making whiskey in Virginia. Located in the beautiful setting of Mauretown in Shenandoah Valley, the facility is about an hour drive from Washington DC on...
Thomas “T” Leggett has been slinging drinks as the Bar Manager for Richmond’s holy grail of southern-culinary-culture, The Roosevelt since it's opening in 2011. For those not familiar with The Roosevelt, it’s a ”must taste” destination...
Based in Washington D.C., Drink Company is an empire that is, simply stated, helping all of us to drink better. Drink Company is headed by cocktail and spirits expert Derek Brown, who is a steward of Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic foodshed. As he...
Alec Spidalieri is the modest man behind the bar at Charlottesville’s The Local and soon-to-open Junction. The Local focuses on (you guessed it: local) home-grown traditional American cuisine, with some Asian, French, and Italian influence. Having...
Stop on by Maple & Pine Signature Restaurant inside of Quirk Hotel in Richmond's Arts District during September #VaSpiritsMonth and ask for the "W.W. Pool!" Here's the story behind the drink: the drink pays tribute to one of Richmond’s urban...
Helping us celebrate September #VaSpiritsMonth are some of the coolest #VaSpirits Tastemakers in Virginia and Washington DC, sharing how they show their Virginia Spirit! All of our Tastemakers are cutting edge food & beverage professionals and have...
After two and a half years of planning, building, testing, and sampling, KO Distilling opened its doors to the public on September 12, 2015. They became the first distillery to produce spirits inside the borders of Manassas, VA, since Prohibition...
Nick Farrell of Iron Gate talks about how eating and drinking fosters a sense of community, and there's nothing more communal than what's local. And how having a relationship with the people producing the things we consume helps us understand where...
Spirits don’t get much more Virginian than those flowing from the River City’s very own James River Distillery. Consider the award-winning Commonwealth Gin, which is made with Virginia-grown organic corn. Head Distiller Dwight Chew says, “We...
Patrick Evans-Hylton is a trained chef and award-winning food journalist; chronicling the way Virginians eat and drink through print, radio, television and more since 1995. Most recently he became the publisher and founder of his own statewide food...
Mattias Hägglund is the beverage maestro at Heritage Restaurant, in Richmond, VA. He blends blends modern day mixology with classic techniques and local flair...
Helping us celebrate September #VaSpiritsMonth are some of the coolest #VaSpirits Tastemakers in Virginia and Washington DC, sharing how they show their Virginia Spirit! All of our Tastemakers are cutting edge food & beverage professionals and have...
Christian Johnston is the Bar Manager for Tavola Restaurant and a mad genius. Don’t believe me? Look at the level of detail he put into his cocktail recipes for September #VaSpiritsMonth. Christian’s career started out by working as a sous chef...
Kelli Lemon never has idle hands! When she’s not busy managing Mama J’s Restaurant, she’s working as an on-air personality for Radio One Richmond. Oh, and she also hosts her own show, Coffee with Strangers, which features original and...
“Respect the past. Look to the future.” That’s the Ironclad rule. Their name pays tribute to the Civil Way story, the Battle of the Ironclads. Today in an historic warehouse with the old battle site in view, that 154-year-old story still...
Columbia Room is one the most compelling bars in the nation’s capital. We recently sat down with JP Fetherston, Head Bartender for Columbia Room, to talk about life, how he approaches making craft cocktails, and why it’s important to support...
Will Dawson, owner of E. Wright & C. Wallace Distilleries, gets candid about how he approaches making whiskey in Virginia. His distillery is located in Carroll County in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
Helping us celebrate September #VaSpiritsMonth are some of the coolest #VaSpirits Tastemakers in Virginia and Washington DC, sharing how they show their Virginia Spirit! All of our Tastemakers are cutting edge food & beverage professionals and have...
Without hesitation, it’s easy to say Chef David Everett has paved the way for Williamsburg, Virginia, to become a culinary destination. He owns and operates Blue Talon Bistro, The Trellis Bar & Grill, DoG Street Pub, The Blackbird Bakery and Hair...
Laura Wood Habr of Crocs 19th Street Bistro in Virginia Beach reflects’ “Virginia’s spirit” in everything she does! She has been waving the local flag long before people realized the value in Virginia products (i.e., before it was hip). In...
The folks at Harper’s Table show their ”Virginia spirit” year-round. That’s why we picked them as featured Tastemakers for September #VaSpiritsMonth. Executive Chef and Owner Harper Bradshaw has a deep respect for local traditions; and the...
Virginia Distillery Company is taking time-tried traditions of single malt whisky production and blazing the trail for American single malt. With an uncompromising attitude towards quality, they give rise to whisky that’s theirs and theirs alone.
Paul Kirk is the rockstar Bar Manager for Richmond’s very own Rappahannock Restaurant. When he’s not busy cameoing on PBS’s Mobile Feast with Chef Dylan Fultineer, he can be found whipping up cocktails and concoctions utilizing local...
Don’t know Beth Dixon, Richmond’s resident mixologist maven and shrub specialist? Then make it a point to stop by soon to see what she’s doing from the ”garden to Pasture.“
The entrance to one of the best restaurants in Virginia is a modest one. Stroll down an unassuming alley in Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Mall, and you will find a lamp which marks the entrance to 2015 James Beard Award finalist for “Best...
Helping us celebrate September #VaSpiritsMonth are some of the coolest #VaSpirits Tastemakers in Virginia and Washington DC, sharing how they show their Virginia Spirit! All of our Tastemakers are cutting edge food & beverage professionals and have...
