Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Volstead
Jacksonville, FL · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Volstead has been serving handcrafted cocktails in Downtown since New Year's Eve 2013. The drinks menu spans three tiers: eight seasonal bespoke cocktails at $14, seven house classics at $14, and 14 historical classics with origin dates and credited creators. A rotating Milk Punch or Barrel Aged Cocktail and the $17 Dealer's Choice custom option round out the list. All tinctures and syrups are made in house. Non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktails get their own six-drink section, and beer and cider include non-alcoholic options. Recurring Top Shelf Tuesday promotions highlight whiskey and bourbon pours.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Bootsy Collins, a funky Jamaican and spiced rum tiki drink with baking spices, pineapple, amaro, sherry, lime, and house tepache. The Sticky Fingers, a Japanese whiskey milk punch clarified with whole milk and acidified mango, is another strong seasonal pick. For a non-alcoholic option, the Designated Driver combines Seedlip Agave, strawberry-lychee cordial, and jasmine tea soda. If you prefer a custom drink, the $17 Dealer's Choice lets the bartender build something around your preferences.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone who wants a serious cocktail list with historical references and credited origin dates will find plenty to explore here. The dedicated non-alcoholic and low-ABV section makes it a workable stop for groups mixing drinkers and non-drinkers. Whiskey and bourbon fans should note the recurring Top Shelf Tuesday promotions.
- When should I go?
- Top Shelf Tuesday promotions are the obvious draw for whiskey and bourbon pours, with 50% off featured selections. The seasonal cocktail menu rotates, so a visit after a menu change offers the freshest reason to return. The Volstead Dinner special, a well spirit and a beer for $7, is available as a low-cost way to sample the bar's approach.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Seasonal and house classic cocktails are $14. Dealer's Choice and the rotating Milk Punch or Barrel Aged Cocktail are $17. Specials include the Volstead Dinner at $7, Fernet Dinner at $8, and Spaghetti Dinner at $8. Top Shelf Tuesday offers 50% off featured whiskey and bourbon pours.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- Three separate cocktail menus—seasonal bespoke drinks, Volstead Classics, and a 14-drink historical Classics list with origin dates and credited creators—give the program unusual range for a single bar. All tinctures and syrups are made in house, and the Dealer's Choice option turns the order over to bartender intuition. A dedicated six-drink non-alcoholic and low-ABV section is more developed than most bar lists.
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 cocktail program spans three tiers: eight seasonal bespoke drinks, seven Volstead Classics, and 14 historical classics with credited origin dates. Dealer's Choice at $17 is a custom cocktail shaped by guest preferences and bartender intuition. All tinctures and syrups are made in house. A rotating Milk Punch or Barrel Aged Cocktail adds a fourth option at $17.
Menu strengths
- — Three-tier menu structure with seasonal, house, and historical classics sections
- — All tinctures and syrups are created in house
- — Dealer's Choice offers personalized, bartender-crafted cocktails; Historical classics include origin dates and credited creators
Standout selections
- — Bootsy Collins — $14 — Funky Jamaican rum and spiced rum with tiki baking spices and effervescent pineapple; includes Tanduay Especia Rum, Jamaican Rum, Amaro, Sherry, Lime, House Tepache.
- — Sticky Fingers — $14 — Silky Japanese whiskey milk punch with mango and citrus; Japanese Whiskey clarified with whole milk and acidified mango, Yuzu Liqueur, Toasted Jasmine Rice Milk Foam, Black Sesame Seeds.
- — Old Liberties — $14 — Light, herbaceous; hints of salt and smoke balanced with sweetness; Mezcal, Apricot Liqueur, Smoke & Sea Salt Bitters, Prosecco, Lemon, Honey, Mint.
- — Golden Banana — $14 — A cinnamon-smoked mezcal Old Fashioned with hints of poblano and banana; Mezcal, Banana liqueur, Ancho Reyes Liqueur, Angostura Bitters, Orange Bitters, Agave.
Pricing: Seasonal and Volstead Classics cocktails are $14; Dealer's Choice and rotating Milk Punch or Barrel Aged Cocktail are $17.
Beer
The beer and cider section includes Heineken 0.0, Athletic Brewing Mexican Lager, and White Widow Cider. The Volstead Dinner special pairs a well spirit with a choice of PBR, Rolling Rock, Tecate, or Highlife for $7. The Spaghetti Dinner pairs Aperol with Highlife for $8. Non-alcoholic beer options are available.
Menu strengths
- — Beer and cider section includes non-alcoholic choices; Beer options appear in multiple dinner specials at accessible price points
Standout selections
- — Heineken 0.0 — Non-alcoholic beer listed under Beer & Cider.
- — Athletic Brewing Mexican Lager — Non-alcoholic beer listed under Beer & Cider.
- — White Widow Cider — Cider listed under Beer & Cider.
- — Highlife — Beer option in Volstead Dinner, Fernet Dinner, and Spaghetti Dinner specials.
Pricing: Beer and cider selections are listed; Volstead Dinner special pairs a well spirit with a choice of PBR, Rolling Rock, Tecate, or Highlife for $7.
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktail section lists six drinks: Designated Driver, Fallen Off the Vine, Feelin' Pineapple Low ABV, Sky High, String Bikini, and Charleston Chug. Non-alcoholic spirits are available, and non-alcoholic beer options include Heineken 0.0 and Athletic Brewing Mexican Lager. The section is integrated into the main menu alongside full-strength cocktails.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktail section with six options
- — Non-alcoholic spirits are available; Non-alcoholic beer options include Heineken 0.0 and Athletic Brewing Mexican Lager
Standout selections
- — Designated Driver — Bright & fruity; Seedlip Agave, Strawberry & Lychee Cordial, Jasmine Tea Soda.
- — Fallen Off the Vine — Savory & sweet; Seedlip Agave, Roasted Red Bell Pepper, Tomato Acid, Ritual Apertif, Tarragon Oil.
- — Feelin' Pineapple Low ABV — Funky, baking spiced, tiki; House Made Tepache, Sorrel, Lime Juice, Soda Water, Ango Bitters.
- — Sky High — Velvet, Chai, Bright; Pamos 5mg THC, Lemon, Chai Turbo, Egg whites.
Pricing: Non-alcoholic cocktails are listed; specific prices are not stated in the provided menu details.
Spirits
Recurring Top Shelf Tuesday promotions highlight unique American whiskeys, Maker's Mark, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and 50% off pours. The Volstead Dinner special includes a well spirit and a beer for $7. A recent customer account describes a wide variety of bottles available, encouraging one reviewer to ask for options. The bar does not carry Disaronno.
Menu strengths
- — Recurring Top Shelf Tuesday promotions highlight whiskey and bourbon pours
Standout selections
- — Disaronno; Top Shelf Tuesday promotions feature unique American whiskeys, Maker's Mark, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and 50% off pours, per Instagram captions on the homepage.
- — Kentucky Straight Bourbon — Featured in Top Shelf Tuesday promotions with 50% off pours.
Pricing: Top Shelf Tuesday promotions offer 50% off pours; Volstead Dinner special includes a well spirit and a beer for $7.
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