The sun-warmed stone patio at Ballast, the new mixed-use development off Summit Avenue in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition, beckons passersby with its striped umbrellas, outdoor seating galore, and inviting sounds of chatter. Cirrus Vodka’s new tasting room, which opened April 24, sits beside the bonny courtyard across from specialty food shop Yellow Umbrella—evoking Mediterranean beach town charm in the heart of an urban landscape. That breezy, chic atmosphere helped shape the experience Cirrus set out to create in its new space.
“The concept and the vibe are going to dictate what you want to do for the menu,” says award-winning bartender and bar consultant Jon Schott, who helped develop the tasting room’s refreshed cocktail menu. “The elevated feel inside and the comfort and approachability of the outside—we’ve built the menu around both things.”
What does that look like in practice? Every cocktail features Cirrus’ signature potato-based vodka, a spirit Schott calls “arguably one of the best vodkas in the country.” While a lineup of 28 vodka-based drinks “sounds insane,” he says, “every drink is different. It’s the kind of thing that you’re going to want to come back and try the one that you saw go past you on a tray.”
Although some crafty bartenders might see vodka as plain or overplayed, Schott views it as a canvas for creative risks and innovation.
“Vodka’s a good time,” he says. “It fits so many different things for people, so many different energies and feelings, because you could be getting a vodka soda in the middle of the day with your friends and having no plans, just in your flip flops and shorts. The day is wide open, and it’s the beginning of an adventure. Or, you could be in a tuxedo with a martini in your hand and feeling about as fancy or as elegant as you’ve ever felt in your entire life.”
“ When I’m making this menu, the idea is to show people the full range of which vodka is capable,” Schott adds. That starts with martinis—nine in total, including classics and creative takes like the briny, pickle-forward Pickled Briney Boy. From there, the list expands into a diverse lineup of drinks, including mules, a paloma riff, and brunch favorites, along with three non-alcoholic mocktails.
Among Schott’s favorites: the Semi-Pro—a bright blue, tropical cocktail with almond syrup and spiced pineapple foam, somewhat inspired by the eponymous 2008 Will Ferrell comedy—and the Thunderbird, a highball-style Vesper martini made with Virago gin and Lillet Blanc, nodding to the classic James Bond film.
“All the drinks have built-in layers of story and details to them,” Schott says.
The menu also weaves in local partnerships, showcasing Richmond brands like Afterglow Coffee in the espresso martinis, Hardywood’s ginger beer in the mules, Navy Hill sodas, and non-alcoholic selections from bottle shop Point 5.
Ultimately, Schott says, “the cocktails will be cocktails that people are used to getting at high-level cocktail establishments.” The flavor profiles aim to match the tone of the space, which features cheerful, contemporary design and generous seating. “In general, tasting rooms are pretty industrial,” he says. Cirrus’ space defies that trend, opting instead for the feel of a refined cocktail lounge.
“People aren’t coming into a bar or a distillery because they’re thirsty, right? They are going there to drink. So it’s really about how they feel. Drinks and the ambiance pair really well together.”
In its first week, the tasting room saw high turnout. Assistant Tasting Room Manager Andy Reyes points to early favorites like the bittersweet Strawberry Sour, spicy Jala-Piña Rita, and the So Fresh & So Clean—an airy, mojito-style cocktail—as top sellers. “We’ve been so much busier than expected,” Reyes says. “We were getting totally packed out on the patio, and vodka was flying off the shelves.”
“That’s ultimately why you build something and make a tasting room—to provide a needed thing for your community,” Schott says. “A place for everyone to come in, drink, have a good time, socialize, and relax in a super safe way.” CirrusVodka.com
