Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileThe One Tapas & Bar
Matthews, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The One Tapas & Bar pairs a tapas menu with a serious beverage program: 13 crafted cocktails, a global wine list, and local draft beers. The Smokey Old Fashioned, finished with cinnamon smoke, and the Wildberry Basil Refresher anchor a menu that runs from mezcal to rye. Weekly specials—Cocktail Tuesday and Wine Wednesday—keep regulars returning. Customers highlight inventive, balanced drinks and a curated wine list.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Smokey Old Fashioned ($14), a bourbon cocktail with house bitters and cinnamon smoke. For something brighter, the Wildberry Basil Refresher ($15) uses choice of spirit, wildberry vanilla cinnamon syrup, basil, and lemon.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts seeking creative presentations and balanced flavors will find plenty to explore. Wine drinkers can work through a list that spans California, France, and Oregon, with reserve bottles for special occasions. Beer fans will appreciate local craft drafts alongside familiar labels. The weekly specials make it a good spot for regulars.
- When should I go?
- Wine lovers should target Wine Wednesday, featuring half-price select bottled wine. The bar's welcoming hospitality, noted by customers, suits a relaxed evening out.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails are mostly $14–$15, with select $10 specials on Tuesdays. Draft beers run $6–$8, and bottled/can options are $5. Wine starts at $10 for a glass (Noah River Pinot Noir) and reaches $130 for a reserve bottle (Kelleher Cabernet Sauvignon). Non-alcoholic drinks are $3–$4.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu leans into theatrical touches like cinnamon smoke on the Smokey Old Fashioned, while the wine list offers serious reserve bottles like Chateau Lassegue Bordeaux and Kelleher Cabernet. Weekly specials—Cocktail Tuesday and Wine Wednesday—create a rhythm that rewards frequent visits. The inclusion of local beers like Sugar Creek Blood Orange IPA adds a regional touch.
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 creative menu of 13 cocktails spans bourbon, mezcal, rum, rye, and tequila. The Smokey Old Fashioned and Wildberry Basil Refresher are standouts. Inventive, balanced drinks receives consistent praise.
Menu strengths
- — Diverse cocktail menu with creative ingredients like cinnamon smoke and ancho chili.
- — Weekly Cocktail Tuesday special attracts customers with $10 select drinks.
Standout selections
- — Smokey Old Fashioned: bourbon, organic agave, house bitters, cinnamon smoke.
- — Wildberry Basil Refresher: choice of spirit, wildberry vanilla cinnamon syrup, basil, lemon.
- — The One Negroni: gin, Campari, house vermouth & amaro blend.
Pricing: Smokey Old Fashioned $14, Wildberry Basil Refresher $15, select cocktails $10 on Tuesdays
Wine
A global wine list includes California, French, and Oregon selections, with reserve bottles like Chateau Lassegue and Kelleher Cabernet. Wine Wednesday offers half-price select bottles. Customers call it curated.
Menu strengths
- — Extensive wine list with global selections, including Napa and Bordeaux.
Standout selections
- — Cypress Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2021, $12 glass / $36 bottle.
- — Chateau Lassegue Bordeaux St Emilion, France 2013, $100.
- — Kelleher Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016, $130.
Pricing: Glasses from $10 to $12; bottles from $36 to $130; half-price select bottles on Wednesdays
Beer
A compact draft list features local craft options like Sugar Creek Blood Orange IPA and Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA, plus familiar bottles. Reasonable prices. Beers pair well with tapas stands out repeatedly.
Menu strengths
- — Includes local craft options (Sugar Creek, Wicked Weed).
Standout selections
- — Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA, draft $8.
- — Sugar Creek Blood Orange IPA, draft.
Pricing: Drafts $6-$8; bottles/cans $5
Nonalcoholic
Basic non-alcoholic options include soda, juice, iced tea, and Saratoga water. No mocktails. Adequate for designated drivers but not a focus.
Pricing: Soda $3, Saratoga sparkling $4
Spirits
A wide range of spirits underpins the cocktail menu—bourbon, gin, mezcal, rum, rye, tequila, vodka—and a premium sake is offered. No dedicated spirits list, but the depth in cocktails suggests a well-stocked bar.
Menu strengths
- — Wide range of spirits used in cocktails.; Includes a premium sake option.
Pricing: Sake $65; cocktail-specific pricing
How it sits with the food
Pairing drinks with roasted bone marrow, pork belly bao buns, charred octopus, oxtail empanadas, and duck ragu fettuccine stands out repeatedly. The curated wine list and local beer choices are said to complement the tapas menu. A Smokey Old Fashioned could stand up to rich dishes, while the Wildberry Basil Refresher might suit lighter fare.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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