Restaurant
Unclaimed profileThe Boro Restaurant & Bar
Swansboro, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Boro pairs a broad cocktail menu with a wine list that has earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence every year since 2018. Cocktails are grouped into Rum Cocktails, Tequila Cocktails, Mules, and Boro Favorites, with named builds like the Boro Painkiller and Maestro Old Fashioned. A Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch list runs roughly 30 spirits deep, and an on-site canning machine lets guests take home a pint of craft draft or cocktail.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Boro Painkiller — Blue Chair Coconut Rum, pineapple, cream of coconut, orange juice, and fresh nutmeg under a Kraken Rum floater. For a spirit-forward pour, the Maestro Old Fashioned uses Maestro Dobel Anejo with orange bitters and Toschi cherries. On the wine side, Opus One 2018 or Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame Brut 2006 anchor the top of the list.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Guests who want a full cocktail menu and a serious wine list in the same seat, plus whiskey drinkers who will find the Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch list worth reading. The take-home canning option suits anyone who wants a pint of craft draft or a cocktail to go.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- An on-site canning machine lets guests take home a pint of craft draft or cocktail, which sets the bar apart from a standard restaurant drink list. The wine list carries a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence cited annually since 2018, and the bar organizes cocktails into Rum, Tequila, Mule, and Boro Favorites sections rather than a flat roster.
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
The bar menu splits cocktails into Rum Cocktails, Tequila Cocktails, Mules, and Boro Favorites. Rum covers six mojito variations plus the Boro Painkiller, Boro Rum Punch, and Shark Bite; tequila covers the Classic 'Rita, Blueberry Basil Marg, Spicy Marg, and Maestro Old Fashioned. Bartenders can also build a custom cocktail to taste.
Menu strengths
- — Cocktail menu is organized into Rum Cocktails, Tequila Cocktails, Mules, and Boro Favorites rather than a flat list.
- — Rum section alone carries six mojito variations plus the Boro Painkiller, Boro Rum Punch, and Shark Bite.
- — Bartenders can craft a custom cocktail based on guest tastes.
Standout selections
- — Boro Painkiller — Blue Chair Coconut Rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice, and fresh nutmeg with a Kraken Rum floater.
- — Boro Rum Punch — Blue Chair Coconut Rum, Don Q Cristal Rum, Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine.
- — Spicy Marg — 1800 Cucumber & Jalapeño Tequila, Gran Gala, fresh jalapeños, agave, and lime.
- — Maestro Old Fashioned — Maestro Dobel Anejo, orange bitters, and Toschi cherries.
Wine
The list is organized by varietal and region, running from Sparkling/Champagnes through Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Old and New World Whites, Rieslings, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah-Shiraz, Malbec, Old World Reds, Merlot, Red Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a dedicated Ports section. It has earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence annually since 2018.
Menu strengths
- — Wine Spectator Award of Excellence cited on the list page as annual since 2018.
- — Varietal and regional organization spans sparkling, white, red, and fortified sections.
- — High-end reds and a dedicated Ports section give the list both range and depth.
Standout selections
- — Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame Brut Champagne — Reims, France 2006.
- — Opus One — Napa Valley, California 2018.; Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon — Napa Valley, California 2020.
Beer
Lunch and dinner menus reference craft beers, and guests can take home a pint of craft draft from an on-site canning machine. The Boro describes an extensive selection of beers, though the draft roster is not itemized by name.
Menu strengths
- — Craft draft beer is available with a take-home canning option.
- — The venue describes an extensive selection of beers.
Standout selections
- — Lunch and dinner menus reference craft beers and state guests can take home a pint of craft draft from an on-site canning machine.
Spirits
The bar menu carries a Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch list of roughly 30 spirits. Bourbon and American whiskey span Blantons, Bookers, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit, Eagle Rare, Elijah Craig Single Barrel and Small Batch, Henry McKenna, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Maker's Mark, Wild Turkey 101, and Woodford Reserve. Scotch runs from Dewars and Johnny Walker Black to Macallan 12Yr.
Menu strengths
- — Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch list runs approximately 30 spirits deep.
- — Bourbon and American whiskey coverage includes Blantons, Eagle Rare, Elijah Craig Single Barrel, and Woodford Reserve.
- — Scotch selection spans Balvenie 14Yr, Glenlivet 12Yr, Glenfiddich 12Yr, and Macallan 12Yr.
Standout selections
- — Blantons — listed under Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch.
- — Eagle Rare — listed under Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch.
- — Elijah Craig Single Barrel — listed under Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch.
- — Macallan 12Yr — listed under Gin, Bourbon, and Scotch.
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