This decidedly different wine, whiskey and music venue in Chesterfield doesn’t always focus on being unique. That just happens naturally there.
“We’re really a music venue with an exceptional wine and whiskey list,” says humble Naked Vine whiskey wrangler Bryan Herr.
However, their 90 wines by the glass and selection from among 100 whiskeys is unmatched locally. Any of their offerings can be purchased to take home or enjoyed at their one-of-a-kind bar. ‘Nuff said!
So, when asking Bryan to choose just one whiskey/bourbon and one wine to recommend for this fall, it seemed like a horrendous question. But, like the pro Bryan is, he jumped with confidence to the following firm suggestions:
2015 Hourglass HG III Red Blend, Napa Valley
$54 per bottle, $18 per glass
Bryan enjoys this one because it has “lovely spiced plums and kirsch scents with underlying notes of vanilla pod, chocolate and cinnamon stick.” He says it’s a medium- to full-bodied wine, with pure black fruit flavors. Its soft and plush tannins pave the way to a long, spicy finish. He says it’s a red blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and Italian mixed blacks wines.
“Oh, Hourglass HG III, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...” Bryan muses.
Prichard’s Double Barreled Bourbon
$20 for 2-ounce pour
Prichard’s Double Barreled Bourbon is aged nine years then taken to 95 proof and re-barreled for an additional six to 12 months in new, charred-oak barrels to reinforce the notes. Bryan says this process results in a rich, caramel flavor that bourbon enthusiasts demand.
“While our number of wines and whiskeys remain fairly constant, the specific selections are always changing. So much so, we typically print new menus every two weeks,” Bryan says.
“The idea is to offer as many small-production selections as possible. By their very nature, these items are available for a limited time. So, we bring ‘em in, and poof, they’re gone. As a result, we’re always on to something new.”
Their live music is as ever-changing as the drink selections.
“Until we came along, live music in West St. Louis County was largely two guys with a catchy name, trading jokes and singing greatest hits from The Eagles and Elton John. Many of our artists tour nationally and appear at local venues, such as Off Broadway, Delmar Hall, The Focal Point and The Pageant,” Bryan says.
By being open five nights a week and having music at least three of those nights, Naked Vine attracts musicians from Denver, Louisville, Detroit, Austin, New Orleans, and Nashville, along with the best St. Louisan musicians.
“There’s simply no other venue in West County that continually books the caliber of talent that we do,” Bryan says.
He says the Naked Vine group believes it’s important for people to receive something memorable when they go out to spend their time and money. They like the fact that they aren’t another chain location.
“You can tell when someone walks in to Naked Vine for the first time. They stand in the doorway and just look around. You hear ‘Wow!’ a lot, as in ‘Wow, I had no idea this was here,’ or ‘This looks like a place you’d see in Nashville or Austin or Colorado,'” he says.
Bryan adds that they’ve been called the “home of strip mall Americana,” “the best city bar in the county” as well as just “crazy.”
“I tell the staff it’s our job to provide memories. We’ve been here for 12 years, so I guess it’s working,” he says.
1624 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, Missouri, 636.536.071, NakedVine.net
