Corks & Barrels bringing first wine, whiskey bar to Clay County
FLEMING ISLAND | Corks & Barrels, believed to be the 1st of its type in Clay County, is planning to open on Fleming Island.
James Henson, who is near to retiring right after serving 27 years in the U.S. Navy, owns the tasting-design and style wine and whiskey bar and lounges at 1824 Town Centre Blvd, Suite 101 around East West Parkway.
“Hopefully, we’ll open late next thirty day period [October] or early November. It is a really fluid day. It really is been very challenging acquiring contractors, provides and items of that nature,” Henson, an aviation routine maintenance officer, informed the Times-Union last week.
“When I looked at opening this, I realized it would be really popular below mainly because there is no other institution like ours. We are quite special in our technique,” he mentioned.
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The business, Henson said, is just one that he’s been contemplating about launching for a though as his navy career attracts to a summary.
“As I’ve gotten more mature, my palate has gotten a minimal additional refined,” Henson explained. “I’ve constantly liked very good wine and I’ve generally favored excellent whiskey but I in no way truly thought of it currently being a feasible business enterprise.”
That altered a couple of years ago when he was on deployment and some good friends took him to a small wine bar that was “totally packed” with consumers.
Henson started pondering about the likelihood of opening a very similar institution. He recalled that 1 of the greatest complaints he’d listened to from mates on Fleming Island was that there was no put for their wives to assemble for a glass of wine other than a whole-company cafe or a person of their houses.
“I considered it [wine bar] seemed like a good concept and I considered it would do nicely on Fleming Island. So when I bought again dwelling I started out planning on opening one here,” mentioned Henson, who’s lived on Fleming Island since 2011.
As his appreciation for fine whiskey grew, so way too, did the plan to also offer you a range of whiskies along with wine at a bar crammed with comfortable household furniture and an inviting laid-back again atmosphere.
“Folks love very good wine. Clearly, if a husband or wife desired to appear, she could carry her husband and he could enjoy a wonderful glass of whiskey while his spouse enjoys a good glass of wine,” Henson stated.
Bar will give broad variety of drinks
Corks & Barrels will have a “significant stock” of whiskies and wine for friends to decide on from at the bar.
There will be a wide range of wines these types of as whites, reds and zinfandels.
“On the whiskey facet, single malts, solitary barrels. We’ll have a good wide assortment of each ryes as effectively as wheated bourbons,” Henson claimed.
The wine and whiskey bar has been licensed as a bar and offer retail outlet so friends can have a glass on the premises or buy a bottle and take it house.
He intends to function a distinct location for both of those wine and whiskey just about every thirty day period. There will be tastings, pairings and charcuterie boards for both wine and whiskies.
In addition to charcuterie boards, there will be dessert trays. It will be mild tapas since it isn’t a total restaurant, Henson stated.
“Finally we hope to have some brunches on the weekend. We’re striving to see what we can do like mini-brunch trays with sugared waffles, crepes and points of that mother nature. Finger foodstuff,” Henson reported.
The institution will have about 50 seats in a pod-like seating plan of sofas and cozy chairs.
They are applying jewel tones like deep purple for the colors, blues, greens and yellows. All are very vivid shades. At night when they dim the lights, the ambiance will be like in a wine cellar.
“It is not a good deal of tables. It is really practically a very up shut and personalized setting the place you sit down with your good friends and appreciate a good glass of wine or bottle of wine or a whiskey,” Henson mentioned.