New craft cocktail bar and distillery Boatman Spirits Co. will be joining Raleigh’s Seaboard Station this year, with a target opening in May at 1713 Seaboard Station Drive, according to a release.
Hospitality veterans Zack Thomas, Aaron Lambert, Geremy Prichard and George Ghneim are teaming up to bring the vision to life.
The idea of a distillery has been in the works for about six years, Ghneim told What Now Charlotte. He and Prichard began discussing the concept casually, and once they teamed up with Thomas and Lambert to cover the management end, the pieces fell into place.
Boatman’s name finds its origin in mythology, a nod to the guide who would ferry people between different planes of existence such as Charon, the guide on the River Styx.
“We liked the idea of departing from the normal, from the day-to-day, from the boring or the expected,” Lambert said in the release.
The 3,000-square-foot distillery will produce spirits including vodka, gin, single malt whiskey, rye whiskey and seasonal fruit brandies. The space will have signature design elements focused around the production facility, including a 240-gallon copper still with a 17-foot column. The 4,000-square-foot bar will offer seating for 100 guests, including a 12-seat bar.
Boatman Spirits Co. will also have a full kitchen, with a menu available for lunch, dinner and takeout. The menu will offer Mediterranean-inspired dishes, featuring dishes like shawarma, a lamb kebab burger and za’atar-spiced chicken wings.
The bar will offer a beverage program featuring house-distilled offerings, beer, wine and a selection of historically-inspired craft cocktails.
Thomas, who bartended at popular Triangle bars and restaurants such as Foundation, The Crunkleton and Crawford & Son, will oversee the bar.
“He really gets the whole guest experience and how important it is that they feel welcomed and it’s a comfortable place,” Ghneim said. “He has a lot of beautiful cocktails in mind.”
Lambert finds his experience as the past general manager at Raleigh’s Whiskey Kitchen and as the current manager of Transfer Food Hall. Prichard is a trained winemaker, and Ghneim works as a veterinarian. However, Ghneim formerly dipped his toes into the Triangle food and beverage scene with Riviera Mediterranean Resto & Lounge, which operated from 2006 to 2008 in downtown Raleigh.
“We are thrilled to introduce Boatman Spirits Co, to downtown Raleigh’s revitalized Seaboard Station,” Thomas said in the release. “Our team is committed to crafting an elevated cocktail experience where every sip, every bottle and every plate reflects our passion, our care and our meticulous attention to detail.”
