Wine Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Shaker & Vine
Schenectady, NY · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Shaker & Vine stakes its claim as the Capital District's first self-serve wine bar and cocktail lounge, and the format drives the experience: pour your own wine from over 70 dispensers or order from a cocktail menu crafted by Master Mixologist Marcel Wing. Prices run from $5 beers to a $595 Opus One, with a serious nonalcoholic program that includes mocktails and alcohol-free sparkling wine.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Smoke & Stone, a Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon cocktail finished tableside with applewood smoke. For something brighter, the Bursting Blueberries in Summer mixes Nue Vodka, St. Germain, and blueberry syrup under a Prosecco top. Wine drinkers can sample the Broadbent Cabernet by the sip for $9.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Self-serve wine enthusiasts who like to control their pour size and pace will appreciate the interactive dispensers. Cocktail fans have a deep menu of creative house drinks, and designated drivers or abstainers are well served by a mocktail list that uses premium non-alcoholic spirits.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Craft cocktails run $16 to $30, with $10 happy hour options. Wine pours start at $9, beers at $5, and mocktails from $12. Premium bottles like Opus One reach $595.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The Capital District's first self-serve wine and cocktail lounge offers over 70 wines by the sip, taste, or glass through dispensers. Master Mixologist Marcel Wing's cocktail menu includes tableside applewood-smoked presentations, while the nonalcoholic program mirrors the cocktail creativity with premium alcohol-free spirits.
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
Master Mixologist Marcel Wing crafts a creative cocktail menu featuring house syrups and freshly pressed juices. Signature drinks include the applewood-smoked Smoke & Stone and the Prosecco-topped Bursting Blueberries in Summer. Happy hour offers espresso martinis, margaritas, and old fashioneds at $10.
Menu strengths
- — Cocktails are built around house-made syrups and freshly pressed juices, with vegan alternatives available.
- — The menu is extensive and creative, with a $10 happy hour lineup that includes an old fashioned and espresso martini.
Standout selections
- — Smoke & Stone: Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon, Demerara syrup, bitters, applewood-smoked tableside ($26).
- — Mr. Ken Tucky: Remus Bourbon and Amaretto shaken with pineapple and lemon juices ($17).
Pricing: $16-$30; $10 happy hour
Wine
Self-serve dispensers offer over 70 wines by the sip, taste, or glass, with prices spanning from $9 to $595. The list covers red, white, sparkling, and dessert wines with vintages and regions, including a 2017 Opus One and a 2013 Dom Pérignon. Happy hour house wines are $5 per 5 oz glass.
Menu strengths
- — Self-serve dispensers allow guests to sample over 70 wines in flexible pour sizes.
- — The list includes benchmark bottles like Opus One and Dom Pérignon alongside more accessible pours.
Standout selections
- — Opus One 2017, Napa Valley ($595 bottle).; Broadbent Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast, 2023 ($9/5oz).
Pricing: $9-$595
Beer
Self-serve beer dispensers pour a rotating lineup that includes Belgian-style wheat ales, stouts, and double IPAs. The list covers both familiar lagers and craft options like Drekker Pastry Sour and Frost Lush Double IPA, with prices from $5 to $8.
Menu strengths
- — Beers are available through self-serve dispensers, with a rotating selection.
- — The list balances approachable lagers with craft sours and double IPAs.
Standout selections
- — Frost Lush Double IPA ($8).; Guinness Irish Stout ($6).
Pricing: $5-$8
Nonalcoholic
The nonalcoholic program is a full-fledged alternative: a dedicated mocktail menu features premium alcohol-free spirits like Ghia and Almave, alongside a non-alcoholic espresso martini. Heineken 0.0 and Nozeco alcohol-free sparkling wine round out the offerings.
Menu strengths
- — Mocktails are crafted with premium non-alcoholic spirits, not just juice.
- — Options span beer, sparkling wine, and a dessert-like espresso martini.
Standout selections
- — Mint Condition: Ghia apéritif, verjus rouge, huckleberry, lime, egg white ($15).
- — Smooth Operator: non-alcoholic espresso martini with cold brew and caramel ($12).
Pricing: $5-$15
Spirits
The spirits list runs wide and deep, covering tequila, bourbon, scotch, gin, rum, and more, with pours from $10 to $140. Rare bottles like Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year and Clase Azul Añejo anchor a selection that ranges from everyday gin to premium cognac.
Menu strengths
- — Comprehensive coverage across major spirit categories, including Japanese whiskey and digestifs.
- — Rare and premium pours include Pappy Van Winkle and Clase Azul Añejo.
Standout selections
- — Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Bourbon ($110).; Clase Azul Añejo Tequila ($140).
Pricing: $10-$140
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