When Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett, founders of Dram & Draught, opened their first location in 2016, their intention was clear. They wanted to open the best neighborhood bar possible, focusing on whiskey. And with over 300 whiskies to choose from on a Dram & Draught menu, they succeeded. There are now 5 locations: Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Carry, and a newly opened venue on Market Street in downtown Wilmington. We caught up with the owners to give us the low down on the new space.
Tell us a bit about your backgrounds and what led to the opening of Dram & Draught in Wilmington.
Kevin Barrett and Drew Schenck teamed up to open the first Dram & Draught in Raleigh in 2016. This new endeavor came on the heels of Drew having previously owned and operated Cary hotspot Rally Point, and Kevin had managed several craft cocktail bars around the city. Before moving to Raleigh, Kevin owned a wine shop in Wilmington, making it a natural fit when it came time to add another Dram & Draught location.
Describe Dram & Draught to our readers and what makes it unique?
Dram & Draught is an upscale bar with a neighborhood feel. We focus on craft cocktails and whiskey, with fully stocked shelves with everything from local beer to wine from around the globe.
Why did you choose Wilmington, NC as your new location?
Kevin Barret has roots that stretch to the coastal town. Having lived there and run a successful wine shop in the early 2000s, he was familiar with the area and felt it would be the perfect fit to bring the Raleigh favorite to the beach. So when Dram & Draught opened in July 2022, it became our fourth location.
How do you go about compiling your cocktail menus?
Our staff uses new flavors and ingredients each season to create unique cocktails. Each cocktail is submitted, and our team chooses the best from each of our locations to bring guests new and creative cocktails. We also have a selection of drinks specific to their Dram & Draught venue, based on what our guests like to drink.
We cultivate an environment of growth where all staff is welcome to learn and train to become bartenders. In addition, anyone on staff is encouraged to flex their muscles to create and submit fun, new cocktails throughout the year.
Is there a Dram & Draught signature cocktail?
Dram & Draught is honored to partner with various distillers to purchase our own Private Select Bourbon Barrel, meaning that we get the entire barrel, which can't be found anywhere else. We craft our Private Barrel Old Fashioned from the bourbon in these barrels.
What's events are happening at Dram & Draught
Each Monday, we host Industry Night, catering to local hospitality workers with drink specials. In addition, we host "Wilmington Wednesday," where we partner with local restaurants to provide a free food spread for guests.
We are hosting a Halloween party with drink specials, a costume contest, and prizes on Thursday, Oct 27th, 7-10pm.
On December 1, we are hosting a Macallan tasting led by the Americas Area Manager.
Dram & Draught is at 100 Market Street, Wilmington, NC
Monday - Thursday
4:00 P.M. until 12:00 A.M.
Friday
4:00 P.M. until 2:00 A.M.
Saturday
12:00 P.M. until 2:00 A.M.
Sunday
12:00 P.M. until 12:00 A.M.