The Battle for Pole Position Never Tasted So Good
The Battle for Pole Position Never Tasted So Good
Oak Tree Tavern Bartenders Compete in 2026 Virginia Spirits Cocktail Games
Great things are stirring (and shaking) at the Oak Tree Tavern. General Manager Kristen Lowery and Bartender Adam Bell get to show off their skills with two custom cocktails to enter the 2026 Virginia Spirits Cocktail Games.
Talented bartenders from across the commonwealth are invited to create an original cocktail featuring a Virginia-made spirit for a chance to compete live at Virginia Distilled. Each competitor is given a prompt and must craft a perfectly curated drink to align with the theme. This year’s theme, “Time in a Bottle,” inspired competitors to capture a moment, a memory, or a journey in every sip.
Each cocktail boasts the local flavor of the award-winning blackberry scratch whiskey from Springfield Distillery, made right here in Halifax County, VA. Kristen and Adam celebrate not only their own creativity, but the exceptional makers who continue to shape Virginia’s craft spirits scene.
Oak Tree Tavern Bartenders Compete in 2026 Virginia Spirits Cocktail Games
Great things are stirring (and shaking) at the Oak Tree Tavern. General Manager Kristen Lowery and Bartender Adam Bell get to show off their skills with two custom cocktails to enter the 2026 Virginia Spirits Cocktail Games.
Talented bartenders from across the commonwealth are invited to create an original cocktail featuring a Virginia-made spirit for a chance to compete live at Virginia Distilled. Each competitor is given a prompt and must craft a perfectly curated drink to align with the theme. This year’s theme, “Time in a Bottle,” inspired competitors to capture a moment, a memory, or a journey in every sip.
Each cocktail boasts the local flavor of the award-winning blackberry scratch whiskey from Springfield Distillery, made right here in Halifax County, VA. Kristen and Adam celebrate not only their own creativity, but the exceptional makers who continue to shape Virginia’s craft spirits scene.
The Journey Begins
Tavern’s Harvest Sour
For Adam, that journey tastes like summertime. His cocktail, the Tavern’s Harvest Sour, combines fleeting flavors of citrus, fig, and blackberry, perfectly encapsulating those sweet summertime flavors for a smooth version of a whiskey sour. The combination captures those fleeting warm-weather flavors that seem to disappear all too quickly by preserving them in a glass that invites guests to slow down and savor the moment.
Ingredients & Measurements
|
Ingredient |
Measurement
|
|
2 oz |
|
|
Lemon Juice |
0.75 oz |
|
Homemade Fig Syrup (2 parts fig preserves 1 part water) |
0.75 oz |
|
Orange Bitters |
2 dashes |
|
Egg White |
1 |
|
Rosemary Stem |
1 (garnished for aromatics) |
|
Lemon Wheel |
1 (garnished for aesthetics) |
|
Fresh Blackberry |
1 (garnish for aesthetics) |
- Add all liquid ingredients and the egg white into a cocktail shaker.
- Dry shake hard (without ice) for about fifteen seconds to fully froth the egg white.
- Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously a second time until the shaker tin is completely ice cold.
- Double strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a rosemary stem, fresh blackberry, and a lemon wheel.
The Journey Begins
Tavern’s Harvest Sour
For Adam, that journey tastes like summertime. His cocktail, the Tavern’s Harvest Sour, combines fleeting flavors of citrus, fig, and blackberry, perfectly encapsulating those sweet summertime flavors for a smooth version of a whiskey sour. The combination captures those fleeting warm-weather flavors that seem to disappear all too quickly by preserving them in a glass that invites guests to slow down and savor the moment.
Ingredients & Measurements
|
Ingredient |
Measurement |
|
Springfield Blackberry Scratch Whiskey |
2 oz |
|
Lemon Juice |
0.75 oz |
|
Homemade Fig Syrup (2 parts fig preserves 1 part water) |
0.75 oz |
|
Orange Bitters |
2 dashes |
|
Egg White |
1 |
|
Rosemary Stem |
1 (garnished for aromatics) |
|
Lemon Wheel |
1 (garnished for aesthetics) |
|
Fresh Blackberry |
1 (garnish for aesthetics) |
- Add all liquid ingredients and the egg white into a cocktail shaker.
- Dry shake hard (without ice) for about fifteen seconds to fully froth the egg white.
- Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously a second time until the shaker tin is completely ice cold.
- Double strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a rosemary stem, fresh blackberry, and a lemon wheel.
Ageless Apex at the Oak
Kristen takes to tradition and gives the classic Manhattan a contemporary twist, adding a fresh, fruit-forward trip through time. Her contemporary take on the classic Manhattan blends timeless whiskey character with vibrant fruit notes, creating a cocktail that feels both familiar and unexpected. It’s a drink that honors the classics while embracing what’s new: a fitting interpretation of “Time in a Bottle.”
Ingredients & Measurements
|
Ingredient |
Measurement
|
|
Springfield Scratch Blackberry Whiskey |
2 oz |
|
Sweet Vermouth |
1 oz |
|
Black Walnut Bitters |
3 dashes |
|
Apricot Jam |
1 heaping bar spoon (approx. 0.25 oz) |
|
Botanical Brandy Liqueur (e.g. Bénédictine) |
1 bar spoon (approx. 0.125 oz) |
|
Blackberry |
1 (for garnish) |
|
Orange Peel |
1 (for flamed garnish) |
|
Peach Slice |
1 (for garnish) |
- Chill a traditional cocktail coupe or martini glass ahead of time.
- In an un-iced mixing glass, combine the Springfield Blackberry Scratch Whiskey, sweet vermouth, heaping bar spoon of apricot jam, bar spoon of Bénédictine, and black walnut bitters. (Mixing without ice initially helps cleanly integrate the jam).
- Fill the mixing glass 3/4 of the way full with cubed ice.
- Insert a bar spoon and stir cleanly along the inside wall of the container for approximately 30 seconds to chill and dilute properly.
- Strain carefully into your chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with an expressed and dropped flamed orange peel, an apricot slice, and 3 blackberries skewered on a bar pick.
Ageless Apex at the Oak
Kristen takes to tradition and gives the classic Manhattan a contemporary twist, adding a fresh, fruit-forward trip through time. Her contemporary take on the classic Manhattan blends timeless whiskey character with vibrant fruit notes, creating a cocktail that feels both familiar and unexpected. It’s a drink that honors the classics while embracing what’s new: a fitting interpretation of “Time in a Bottle.”
Ingredients & Measurements
|
Ingredient |
Measurement |
|
Springfield Scratch Blackberry Whiskey |
2 oz |
|
Sweet Vermouth |
1 oz |
|
Black Walnut Bitters |
3 dashes |
|
Apricot Jam |
1 heaping bar spoon (approx. 0.25 oz) |
|
Botanical Brandy Liqueur (e.g. Bénédictine) |
1 bar spoon (approx. 0.125 oz) |
|
Blackberry |
1 (for garnish) |
|
Orange Peel |
1 (for flamed garnish) |
|
Peach Slice |
1 (for garnish) |
- Chill a traditional cocktail coupe or martini glass ahead of time.
- In an un-iced mixing glass, combine the Springfield Blackberry Scratch Whiskey, sweet vermouth, heaping bar spoon of apricot jam, bar spoon of Bénédictine, and black walnut bitters. (Mixing without ice initially helps cleanly integrate the jam).
- Fill the mixing glass 3/4 of the way full with cubed ice.
- Insert a bar spoon and stir cleanly along the inside wall of the container for approximately 30 seconds to chill and dilute properly.
- Strain carefully into your chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with an expressed and dropped flamed orange peel, an apricot slice, and 3 blackberries skewered on a bar pick.
A Perfect Pair(ing)
A stop at the Oak Tree Tavern on site at VIRginia International Raceway offers the opportunity to taste these flavors firsthand. Pair the Tavern’s Harvest Sour with lighter fare, like grilled chicken or seasonal salads. Or savor Kristen’s Ageless Apex at the Oak with a hearty selection like burgers or steak cooked to perfection.
Join us in cheering on Kristen and Adam as they move through the competition or simply come by and taste their competition-worthy creations for yourself. You just might discover that the best way to experience “Time in a Bottle” is surrounded by rich history at VIR; savoring it all one sip at a time.
Check out the details and be ready to vote (just in case!) for Kristen and Adam this year on Virginia Spirits’ Website. People’s choice voting starts August 1.
A Perfect Pair(ing)
A stop at the Oak Tree Tavern on site at VIRginia International Raceway offers the opportunity to taste these flavors firsthand. Pair the Tavern’s Harvest Sour with lighter fare, like grilled chicken or seasonal salads. Or savor Kristen’s Ageless Apex at the Oak with a hearty selection like burgers or steak cooked to perfection.
Join us in cheering on Kristen and Adam as they move through the competition or simply come by and taste their competition-worthy creations for yourself. You just might discover that the best way to experience “Time in a Bottle” is surrounded by rich history at VIR; savoring it all one sip at a time.
Check out the details and be ready to vote (just in case!) for Kristen and Adam this year on Virginia Spirits’ Website. People’s choice voting starts August 1.
