Restaurant
Unclaimed profileBurtons Grill & Bar
Charlottesville, VA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Burtons Grill & Bar runs a beverage program with clear structure: a Classics cocktail list anchored by a Burtons Old Fashioned and Espresso Martini, Spritzes and Creations that rotate with seasons, and a wine list that spans sparkling, rosé, whites, and reds by glass and bottle. Draft beer leans on Virginia breweries, and the non-alcoholic section is more than an afterthought. Happy hour discounts extend across cocktails, wine, and drafts, making the pricing approachable without cutting corners on named selections.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Burtons Old Fashioned, built on Redemption bourbon with vanilla brown sugar and two bitters. For something lighter, the Mai Tai uses Appleton Estate rum and house-made orgeat. If you're avoiding alcohol, the Passion Berry combines passion fruit, blackberry, lemon, and tonic.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Guests who want a recognizable cocktail list with seasonal changes, a broad wine selection by the glass, and local draft beer will find plenty to work with. The non-alcoholic options are substantial enough for those skipping alcohol.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour is the value play, with $6 mixed drinks and $10 specialty cocktails. Wine Wednesdays offer half-priced bottles at select locations, and the fall and Halloween cocktail menus run for limited windows.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $14-$16, wine by the glass $11-$20 and bottles $40-$115, draft beer $7-$8, and non-alcoholic drinks $6-$10. Happy hour lowers mixed drinks to $6 and specialty cocktails to $10.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The beverage menu is unusually broad for a grill and bar, with a dedicated non-alcoholic cocktail section, a rotating seasonal cocktail list, and draft beer that includes several Virginia breweries. The Halloween cocktail promotion adds a time-limited set of themed drinks.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A deep cocktail list organized into Classics, Spritzes, and Creations, with seasonal fall and Halloween additions. Named drinks span bourbon, tequila, gin, rum, and vodka, and happy hour pricing is clearly defined.
Menu strengths
- — Classics section includes Burtons Old Fashioned, Espresso Martini, Margarita, French 75, and Mai Tai, each with specific spirit and modifier detail.
- — Spritzes and Creations add range beyond the classics, with ingredients like blackberry cucumber, hibiscus, and house-made orgeat.
- — Seasonal rotations include fall cocktails such as Milan to Jalisco and a Halloween set available October 1-31.
Standout selections
- — Burtons Old Fashioned: Redemption bourbon, vanilla brown sugar, angostura bitters, spiced cranberry bitters, $15.
- — Espresso Martini: vanilla vodka, Belle Isle cold brew coffee moonshine, coffee liqueur, Irish cream float, $16.
- — Mai Tai: Appleton Estate signature rum, orange liqueur, lime, pineapple, house-made orgeat, $14.
Pricing: Classics $14-$16; Spritzes and Creations $14-$15; Halloween cocktails $14; happy hour mixed drinks $6 and specialty cocktails $10
Wine
A broad wine list with sparkling, rosé, whites, and reds available by the glass and bottle. Varietals cover multiple regions and styles, from Prosecco and Albariño to Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux Supérieur.
Menu strengths
- — By-the-glass and bottle formats across all major wine categories, with prices that span from $11 to $20 per glass and $40 to $115 per bottle.
- — Varietal range includes Prosecco, Rosé, Moscato d'Asti, Riesling, Albariño, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Super Tuscan, Merlot, Malbec, Bordeaux Supérieur, Red Blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- — Wine Wednesdays offer half-priced bottles at select locations, and happy hour takes $2 off wine by the glass.
Standout selections
- — La Marca Prosecco Rosé: Prosecco Rosé from Veneto, Italy, $12 per glass or $44 per bottle.
- — Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $115 per bottle.
Pricing: Glass $11-$20; bottles $40-$115; happy hour $2 off wine by the glass; Wine Wednesdays half-priced bottles at select locations
Beer
Beer is organized into Bottles, Cans, and Drafts, with a draft lineup that includes several Virginia breweries. The bottle and can lists cover standard domestic and imported brands, plus non-alcoholic and gluten-free options.
Menu strengths
- — Draft selection includes Basic City The Sixth Lord IPA, Virginia Beer Co Cold Drinking Beer, Alewerks Superb Hazy IPA, and Devil's Backbone Vienna Lager, alongside Stella Artois.
- — Cans include Guinness, High Noon Seltzer, Sun Cruiser Classic Iced Tea, and Athletic Run Wild IPA.
- — Happy hour offers $2 off draft beer, and pricing is straightforward across formats.
Standout selections
- — Basic City The Sixth Lord IPA: draft, $8.
- — Basic City | The Sixth Lord IPA — 8 — Draft
Pricing: Bottles $5.5-$7; cans $6-$8; drafts $7-$8; happy hour $2 off draft beer
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated non-alcoholic cocktail section lists three named drinks, plus two non-alcoholic beer options. The cocktails use fruit, agave, and house-made hibiscus lemonade rather than relying on a single token option.
Menu strengths
- — Three non-alcoholic cocktails—Passion Berry, Paloma Pura, and Berry Sparkler—are each priced at $10 and include specific ingredients.
- — Non-alcoholic beer options include Heineken 0.0 and Athletic Run Wild IPA, both $6.
- — The section is presented as its own category on the beverage menu, not buried among other drinks.
Standout selections
- — Passion Berry | Non-Alcoholic: passion fruit, blackberry, lemon, tonic, $10.
- — Berry Sparkler | Non-Alcoholic: blueberry, house-made hibiscus lemonade, bubbles, $10.
Pricing: Non-alcoholic cocktails $10; non-alcoholic beer $6
Spirits
There is no standalone spirits list with named bottles or pours.; Happy hour mixed drinks are priced at $6 and cover six spirit categories: vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, scotch, and rum.
Menu strengths
- — Happy hour mixed drinks are priced at $6 and cover six spirit categories: vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, scotch, and rum.
- — Spirits are available across multiple cocktails and happy hour mixed drinks, providing a functional range for mixed-drink orders.
Standout selections
- — Happy hour offers $6 mixed drinks with spirits including vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, scotch, and rum.
Pricing: Happy hour mixed drinks $6
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