Wine Bar
Unclaimed profileInspire Wine Bar
Kingsport, TN · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Inspire Wine Bar pairs a broad wine list with flights, whiskey by the ounce, house-made cocktails, craft beer, and non-alcoholic options. The wine program spans red, white, sparkling, rosé, and orange from global and regional producers, with Southeastern labels from Biltmore, Childress, Château Morrisette, Shelton, and Tennessee Valley. Five flight formats—Dry, Sweet, Red, White, Bubbly—each pour four 2oz tastes, and a Build Your Own flight lets you choose any four wines. Whiskey flights and a dozen by-the-ounce pours round out the selection.
- What should I order?
- Start with a wine flight—the Bubbly Flight for sparkling variety or the Build Your Own to pick any four wines. For whiskey, the $20 flight pours Post Modern Single Malt, Old Forrester BIB, Knob Creek Rye, and Basil Hayden Toast. The Espresso Martini and Old Fashioned anchor the house-made cocktail list.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Guests who want to compare several wines without committing to a bottle, whiskey drinkers who prefer by-the-ounce pours, and anyone seeking non-alcoholic options beyond soda. The flight format suits curious drinkers; the by-the-ounce whiskey list suits those who know what they like.
- When should I go?
- Wine flights and the by-the-ounce whiskey list make a natural early-evening stop. The monthly World Wines Happy Hour with B&B Package Store is a ticketed event worth checking for.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Wine by the glass runs $6–$13; bottles $24–$62, with Moet & Chandon at $110. Flights are $15, Bubbly $20, Build Your Own $25. Cocktails $8–$14; whiskey by the ounce $2.5–$15, flight $20. Beer $5–$9; non-alcoholic $2–$10.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The Tri-Cities' first wine bar, located in the historic Telephone Building, with a wine list that deliberately mixes global labels and Southeastern regional producers. The Build Your Own Wine Flight and the whiskey by-the-ounce program give drinkers unusual flexibility for comparison.
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 house-made cocktail list covering classics and flavored variations: Espresso Martini, Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Flavored Whiskey Sour in blue citrus, strawberry, blood orange, or raspberry, Bombay Gin & Tonic, Lime Margarita, Spicy Margarita, and Flavored Margarita. Spritz options include Aperol, Hugo, and Limoncello. Seasonal specialties rotate, and canned options are available.
Menu strengths
- — House-made cocktails span classics and flavored variations, with spritz and seasonal options alongside.
- — Prices from $8 to $14 cover a broad range, with the Bombay Gin & Tonic at $9 and Lime Margarita at $8 at the low end.
Standout selections
- — Espresso Martini — house-made, $12; Old Fashioned — house-made, $14
- — Espresso Martini — 12 — House-made cocktail; Old Fashioned — 14 — House-made cocktail
Pricing: House-made cocktails $8–$14; spritz $12; canned cocktails $9.
Wine
A broad wine list covering red, white, sparkling, rosé, and orange from global and regional producers, with Southeastern labels from Biltmore, Childress, Château Morrisette, Shelton, and Tennessee Valley. Five flight formats—Dry, Sweet, Red, White, Bubbly—pour four 2oz tastes each, and a Build Your Own flight lets you choose any four wines. Organic/no sugar added wines are available.
Menu strengths
- — Flights in five curated formats plus a Build Your Own option make comparison easy.
- — Regional Southeastern wines feature alongside global selections, giving the list a specific local identity.
Standout selections
- — Bubbly Flight — four 2oz pours: Pascual TOSO Brut, Biltmore Blanc De Blancs, Sparkling Brut Rosé, Freixenet Cava Brut — $20
- — Build Your Own Wine Flight — choose any 4 wines — $25
- — Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Reserve — Champagne, bottle only — $110
Pricing: Glass $6–$13; bottles $24–$62; Moet & Chandon $110; flights $15–$25; sangria $12.
Beer
Craft beers from $5 to $9 cover a wide style range: Burial Lightgrinder Porter, Hutton & Smith Igneous IPA, Resident Culture Lightning Drops Hazy IPA, Untitled Art Dubai Chocolate Bar Stout, XUL Betty's Blackberry Cobbler, and more. Ciders, sodas, and hard kombuchas round out the list, including Diskin ciders and Walker Hard Kombucha.
Menu strengths
- — A dozen craft beers span porter, IPA, sour, lager, pale ale, brown ale, and stout.
- — Non-beer options include ciders, sodas, and hard kombuchas in multiple flavors.
Standout selections
- — Burial Lightgrinder Porter — 5.8% ABV; Untitled Art Dubai Chocolate Bar Stout — 8% ABV
- — Fruited IPA; Burial Lightgrinder Porter — Craft beer, 5.8% ABV
Pricing: Craft beers $5–$9; ciders, sodas, hard kombuchas $5–$7.
Nonalcoholic
A non-alcoholic list that goes beyond soda: De Soi Adaptogen Rich Aperitifs in St. Moritz Mule and Haute Margarita, Fre De-Alcoholized Wine by the glass or bottle, Oskar Blues Dale's NA Pilsner, Bero NA West Coast IPA, and sweet or unsweet iced tea. Prices run from $2 to $10 per glass.
Menu strengths
- — Covers aperitif, wine, and beer categories in non-alcoholic form, not just one token option.
- — De Soi aperitifs contain Lion's Mane, Reishi Mushroom, and L-Theanine.
Standout selections
- — De Soi Adaptogen Rich Aperitifs — St. Moritz Mule or Haute Margarita — $8
- — Fre De-Alcoholized Wine — various varieties — $10 glass / $40 bottle
Pricing: Aperitifs $8; de-alcoholized wine $10 glass / $40 bottle; NA beers $5; iced tea $2.
Spirits
Whiskey is the focus: 12 selections by the ounce from $2.5 to $15, including Basil Hayden Toast, Old Forrester BIB, Knob Creek Rye, New Riff Sour Mash Single Malt, Old Soul Tintype #1 Special Release, Post Modern Single Malt, and Traveller Whiskey. A $20 whiskey flight pours four 1/2 oz tastes: Post Modern Single Malt, Old Forrester BIB, Knob Creek Rye, and Basil Hayden Toast.
Menu strengths
- — Twelve whiskeys by the ounce allow sampling across bourbon, rye, and single malt styles.
- — The $20 flight offers a structured four-pour tasting at accessible pricing.
Standout selections
- — Whiskey Flight — four 1/2 oz pours: Post Modern Single Malt, Old Forrester BIB, Knob Creek Rye, Basil Hayden Toast — $20
- — Old Soul Tintype #1 Special Release — 120.5 Proof, by the ounce — $15
- — New Riff Sour Mash Single Malt — 114.5 Proof, by the ounce — $12
Pricing: Whiskey by the ounce $2.5–$15; Whiskey Flight $20.
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