Blog Posts — WILL DRINK FOR TRAVEL

Washington, D.C. continues to be an ever-changing landscape of amazing food and drink options. Its most recent major transformation includes renovations at The Wharf completed in early October. If you’re unfamiliar, the Wharf is on the Southwest waterfront of the district, popular for its fish market and rich maritime history.

The upgrades have made it an amazing place to look out over the Potomac and enjoy the newly minted restaurants, concert venues, shops, and hotels. We recently had the opportunity to visit Whiskey Charlie, located on the penthouse level of Canopy by Hilton Hotel. Warning to the wise: get there as soon as they open this Friday, November 17th. Patrons will be fighting to get in for the rooftop views alone.

Now let's get down to business...the cocktails!

WC Mule (Vodka, Fresh Ginger, Strawberry-Mint Shrub, Lime): this cocktail is a great way to start your evening. It was refreshing, with a kick. It’s evident that Whiskey Charlie excels at putting a good spin on some classic drinks!

Port of Call (Pineapple Rum, Demerara sugar, Angostura): Surprisingly I’ve never had pineapple infused rum, so this drink was a pleasant surprise. If you’re a whiskey fan like me, you’re probably not quick to order a rum cocktail. But this one gave me a fruity, old fashioned bourbon vibe.

Honorable mentions:

The Old Scalawag (Whiskey, Grand Marnier, Pimento Bitters, Orange Bitters) and the WC Mainstay (Whiskey, Amaretto, Lemon, Sugar, Egg White): Considering the bar is called Whiskey Charlie, we would be remiss to not actually give a nod to their whiskey options. I watched the scalawag being made at the bar and it definitely looks like it would inspire you to live up to its name.

Succeeding at curating amazing cocktails, Whiskey Charlie also gives you the opportunity to order them in large format (serves 1-2) and tankard (serves 4-6), which sounds like a fun night out with friends to us! The food menu also pairs well with the cocktails, including house-made cheese empanadas (very yummy), pimento cheese dip (loved it), crab cake sliders, and a charcuterie board.

Whiskey Charlie is located at 975 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20024, on the Penthouse level of the Canopy by Hilton Hotel. For more information please visit whiskeycharliewharf.com.

*WDFT Tip: Get there in time to watch the sunset!

- Nyasha Chikowore

“Natural” and “organic” are two commonly used adjectives that preface many gastronomic items. Just when I thought I’d heard them all, wine has now been added to that list. Natural wine seems like an abstract concept; however, thanks to Stacy Khoury-Diaz, Washington D.C. now has a hub for it: Dio Wine Bar. Located on the H Street corridor ((904 H St NE 20002), the woman-owned bar boasts an industrial finish and intimate space, while offering a short selection of wines, cocktails, and locally sourced bites and snacks.

While natural wine has no legal definition, Dio’s website describes it as “grapes farmed in a sustainable, organic, or biodynamic manner (as few pesticides and chemical sprays as possible). It also means that there are little additives and mechanized processes for removing components from wine, like alcohol and acid.” At a recent opening reception, I sampled 3 of the 30 wines served in the bar: Sparkling Rosé (France), Skin-Fermented (Italy), and Cabernet Franc (France). All three were delicious and savory, providing fresh flavor to delight the senses. The Skin-Fermented is unique with its orange-ish color (a result of fermentation with the grape skin attached) and bitter tang.

Small bites were provided to pair with the wines offered. A board of cheese, charcuterie, marinated olives, and spiced nuts were placed on various points of the bar to bolster the flavor notes in the wine. Attendees were also given samples of the menu including bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese, gougères, and my personal favorite, toasties with mushrooms and micro-arugula.

I would give this bar 5 out of 5 cocktails (or, in this case, wine glasses). I loved the cozy atmosphere and the wines were divine. Stacy did a phenomenal job of constructing a space that is modern, welcoming, and not too “stuffy” where you feel out of place if you’re not an oenophile. If you’d like more information on Dio Wine Bar, be sure to check out their website diowinebar.com and tell them we sent you!

- Andrea Williams

DC "DCocktail" Series: Whiskey Charlie at The Wharf

DC "DCocktail" Series: Dio Wine Bar

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller