Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileLocal 22 Kitchen & Bar
Durham, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Local 22 Kitchen & Bar runs a beverage program built around named cocktails, a broad wine bottle list, and a full spirits and aperitifs section. The brunch and dessert cocktail menus are the centerpiece, with drinks like the Local Bloody and Tetanus Shot citing local North Carolina spirits. Wine spans Bubbles, White, Rose & Orange, and Red categories, with several orange and natural bottles plus dessert and fortified wines by the glass. NA Bev and coffee round out the list. It is a complete, well-priced drink program rather than a narrow specialty bar.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Local Bloody, a brunch cocktail built on local jalapeño vodka and Distillery cucumber vodka with celery bitters, local bloody mix, spiced candied bacon, poached shrimp, house pickles, and a pimento cheese stuffed olive. The Brekky Old Fashioned, with local orange-vanilla whiskey, maple syrup, fresh orange juice, black walnut bitters, and a candied bacon cherry, is another solid brunch order.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone looking for a full drink list that covers cocktails, wine, spirits, and nonalcoholic options in one place. The brunch and dessert cocktail sections are especially useful for groups with mixed preferences, and the wine list has enough range for those who want a bottle rather than a mixed drink.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Brunch cocktails are $12–$14; dessert cocktails are $10–$14. Wine bottles run $40–$104, with dessert and fortified wines by the glass at $6–$12. Spirits and aperitifs are $7–$18, and nonalcoholic beverages are $2–$6.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail list is unusually long for a single venue, split into brunch and dessert sections with named drinks like the Local Bloody, Brekky Old Fashioned, Il Toro Spritz, and Tetanus Shot. The wine list also stands out for its orange and natural wine bottles and a deep by-the-glass dessert and fortified selection.
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, named cocktail list split into brunch and dessert sections. Drinks like the Local Bloody, Brekky Old Fashioned, Il Toro Spritz, and Carolina Pimms draw on local North Carolina spirits. The dessert section adds options like the Tetanus Shot and Bittersweet Umami. Prices sit in a moderate range for the category.
Menu strengths
- — Twenty named cocktails across brunch and dessert sections, including Local Bloody, Brekky Old Fashioned, Il Toro Spritz, Espresso Martini, Carolina Pimms, Elevator Lady Cobbler, Tetanus Shot, and Bittersweet Umami.
- — Recipes cite local North Carolina spirits such as Conniption gin, Distillery cucumber vodka, Method & Standard vodka, and Muddy River rum.
- — Brunch cocktails are priced $12–$14 and dessert cocktails $10–$14.
Standout selections
- — Local Bloody — $14 — Local Jalapeno Vodka, Distillery Cucumber Vodka, Celery Bitters, Local Bloody Mix, Spiced Candied Bacon, Poached Shrimp, House Pickles, Pimento Cheese Stuffed Olive.
- — Brekky Old Fashioned — $12 — Local Orange-Vanilla Whiskey, Maple Syrup, Fresh Orange Juice, Black Walnut Bitters, Candied Bacon Cherry.
- — Il Toro Spritz — $14 — Conniption American Gin, Aperol, Lemon, Oleo Saccharum, Notterossa Sparkling Rosé, Crushed Ice.
- — Tetanus Shot — $14 — Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt, Drambuie, B&B, Black Walnut Bitters.
Pricing: Brunch cocktails $12–$14; dessert cocktails $10–$14
Wine
A broad wine list organized into Bubbles, White, Rose & Orange, and Red bottle categories. The selection includes Prosecco, Cava, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, Chardonnay, orange wines, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dessert and fortified wines by the glass cover ports, sherry, chinato, and ice cider. Bottles run $40–$104.
Menu strengths
- — Wine section spans Bubbles, White, Rose & Orange, and Red bottle categories with named bottles including Col Vetoraz Prosecco, Famille Hugel Riesling, Anthill Farms Pinot Noir, and Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon.
- — Several orange and natural wines are listed, including Visuals "Illuminate the Sky" Natural Pink Wine, Biancofongoli Orange Wine, and Maloof "Where Ya PJs AT?" Orange Wine.
- — By-the-glass dessert and fortified wines include ports, sherry, chinato, and ice cider, priced $6–$12.
Standout selections
- — Visuals "Illuminate the Sky" Natural Pink Wine — $64 — Natural pink wine listed in the Rose & Orange bottle section.
- — Biancofongoli Orange Wine — $56 — Orange wine listed in the Rose & Orange bottle section.
- — Anthill Farms Pinot Noir — $86 — Red wine listed in the Red bottle section.
- — Quinta Do Infantado Colheita 2010 Tawny — $11 — Port by the glass listed on the menus page.
Pricing: Bottles $40–$104; dessert and fortified wines by the glass $6–$12
Nonalcoholic
An NA Bev section with a wide range of sodas, juices, teas, and lemonade, including Cheerwine Soda, Green Man Root Beer, Berry Lemonade, Shirley Temple, and Ginger Beer. Coffee drinks cover drip coffee, espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Prices run $2–$6.
Menu strengths
- — Broad non-alcoholic beverage list including sodas, juices, teas, lemonade, and root beer, with items such as Cheerwine Soda, Green Man Root Beer, and Mexican Coke.
- — Coffee drinks including Drip Coffee, Espresso, Latte, and Cappuccino.
Standout selections
- — Berry Lemonade — $6 — Non-alcoholic beverage listed in the NA Bev section.
- — Shirley Temple — $4 — Non-alcoholic beverage listed in the NA Bev section.
- — Ginger Beer — $4 — Non-alcoholic beverage listed in the NA Bev section.
Pricing: $2–$6
Spirits
A spirits and aperitifs section focused on amari, herbal liqueurs, and fortified or dessert spirits. Named bottles include Fernet-Branca, Cynar, Amaro Montenegro, B&B, Grand Marnier, Drambuie, Ouzo, Romana Sambuca, Green Chartreuse, Yellow Chartreuse, and Tuaca. Prices run $7–$18.
Menu strengths
- — Spirits and aperitifs section lists Fernet-Branca, Cynar, Amaro Montenegro, B&B, Grand Marnier, Drambuie, Ouzo, Romana Sambuca, Green Chartreuse, Yellow Chartreuse, and Tuaca.
- — Named selection includes amari, Chartreuse, and fortified/dessert spirits.
Standout selections
- — Green Chartreuse — $18 — Spirit listed in the spirits and aperitifs section.
- — Yellow Chartreuse — $16 — Spirit listed in the spirits and aperitifs section.
- — Fernet-Branca — $9 — Spirit listed in the spirits and aperitifs section.
- — Amaro Montenegro — $9 — Spirit listed in the spirits and aperitifs section.
Pricing: $7–$18
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