Raleigh’s Boatman Spirits Co. Is Now Open | Eater Carolinas

"A dramatic 7,000-square-foot distillery and restaurant in downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station, the space features sweeping archways, old-world tiles, and floor-to-ceiling windows that set the stage for craft spirits, creative cocktails, and Mediterranean-inspired fare. The concept is driven by a small team with experience in food halls, Mediterranean restaurants, cocktail bars, and winemaking, and the menu is influenced by Palestinian flavors. Once production begins, they plan to make vodka, gin, single malt and rye whiskeys, fruit brandies, and arak, with plans to age single malts in barrels in their brick house and even produce an acorn amaro; the team expects bottles of their own spirits in roughly two months. In the meantime, cocktails are organized around classic formats (Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Sours, Spritzes) and include inventive creations like the West Side Garden (Scotch, apricot, tahini, cucumber). Food is meant to complement the drinks, with items such as za’atar chicken wings, beef shawarma, a lamb kofta burger, tallow fries, fattoush salad, and tahini ice cream. The menu aims to be both familiar and surprising, and the venue’s hours are Wednesdays–Thursdays 4 p.m.–midnight, Fridays–Saturdays 11 a.m.–1 a.m., and Sundays 11 a.m.–midnight." - Erin Perkins