Sean Umstead and Michelle Vanderwalker – owners of Durham’s wildly successful Kingfisher Cocktail Bar which opened in August and closed temporarily in March – are bringing their award-winning cocktails back! Order them at QueenBurger from the new “Service Bar,” or as part of a holiday cocktail kit or a Monthly Cocktail Kit Subscription Box.
Beginning Saturday, December 19th, QueenBurger will welcome guests inside Kingfisher Cocktail Bar to the “Service Bar” to order from Umstead’s newest cocktail menu (below). While QueenBurger guests will still be asked to enjoy their cocktails outdoors, this enables the duo to offer the complex ground-to-glass cocktail program Umstead is uniquely known for, and serve them as they were intended – in Vanderwalker’s hand thrown ceramics. “When we pivoted to our backyard burger bar QueenBurger, we also had to simplify the cocktails, and serve them in bottles, but the people have spoken, so we’ve figured out a way to safely bring back the cocktail experience that is the hallmark of Kingfisher,” explained Umstead, “without sacrificing our commitment to keeping guests and staff safe.” QueenBurger has also added seating in their backyard burger bar, including new chairs and tables, so guests may enjoy a proper cocktail while indulging in Durham’s newest smash burgers. “The classic — two smashed Baldwin Beef grass-fed patties, griddled onions, Ashe County hoop cheese, Old North Meats pickles and special sauce — is not to miss,” according to Eater Carolinas’ Jenn Rice.
New Kingfisher Cocktails:
Bee Durham
waxed Conniption navy strength gin, local honey, lemon
Trapped in Amber
sparkling wine, toki japanese whisky, rooibos, sorghum, strawberry top tincture
Stand Out
squash blossom spirit, carpano antica, Fullsteam coffee is for closers syrup, angostura whipped cream
Acid Hops
acidified hops tea, beets, Conniption American Dry gin, campari, honeysuckle tincture
All The Leaves are Brown
apple cider, mulberry leaves, cherry, dark rum, lime
The Return of the King
bourbon, rosemary fig jam, cinnamon red wine, lemon
New Hours: Beginning Friday, December 18th, QueenBurger will be open with seating Friday from 5-8:30pm, Saturday from 1-8:30pm and Sunday from 1-7:30pm. The Service Bar @ Kingfisher will be open Friday-Sunday 5pm-8:30pm.
Order Vanderwalker Holiday Mugs & Spiced Cocktail Syrup for Holiday Coffee Cocktails at Home: https://www.michellevanderwalker.com/shop-kingfisher-1
Stay Tuned for the Monthly Cocktail Subscription Box brought to you by Kingfisher! Look for it online Monday at www.KingfisherDurham.com
