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Coverage of Hunt & Alpine and the people behind it. For press requests, write to pr@huntandalpineclub.com.
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How It Started: Portland Hunt + Alpine Club
Imbibe (opens in a new tab)Enjoy these classic summer cocktails from The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club
NEWS CENTER Maine (opens in a new tab)Light and refreshing mocktails, perfect for a summer day
NEWS CENTER Maine (opens in a new tab)Classic cocktail recipes from The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club
NEWS CENTER Maine (opens in a new tab)Scotch cocktails with The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club
NEWS CENTER Maine (opens in a new tab)Non-Alcoholic Cocktails from The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club
NEWS CENTER Maine (opens in a new tab)What’s old is new when it comes to cocktails at The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club
NEWS CENTER Maine (opens in a new tab)Mixing up cocktails at home with Portland bar owner, Andrew Volk
NEWS CENTER Maine (opens in a new tab)The 2021 Lego Bartender Collection
Punch Magazine (opens in a new tab)“The Volks are just a whole lot of Harry Potter ,” says Bohrer. Briana is doing double Hermione Granger duty, wearing an older version of her hair and a newer zip-up jumper from two different versions of Harry Potter’s best friend (played by Emma Watson). Andrew is rocking a very sharp (and very rare) belted fatigue jacket last worn by Arthur Weasley, available only as part of the now-retired 2010 Harry Potter The Burrow playset.”
40 Under 40 Tastemakers of 2020
Wine Enthusiast (opens in a new tab)“In 2013, the duo opened Portland Hunt + Alpine Club in the other Portland. With Andrew overseeing day-to-day operations and Briana focusing on public relations, events, creative direction and marketing, the establishment has earned two James Beard Award nominations for Outstanding Cocktail Program.”
We’re Seizing this Moment in Our Business to Become Better Employers
Plate Magazine (opens in a new tab)“The reality is that we’re in the midst of an extinction level time for the restaurant and bar industry. We’ve all known for years the current models aren’t and haven’t been working. We have to pay people a living wage, offer health insurance, and provide safe work environments. There are all kinds of ways every business can get there. There’s no one right way to do it. It’s an absolute no brainer. And it’s doable. It just requires looking at how a business operates in a different way.”
5 Cocktails to Make with the Weird, Dusty Bottles on your Shelf
Wine Enthusiast (opens in a new tab)“Volk offers a versatile Spritz template that works with almost anything. She recommends to add “something bubbly” to Chambord, whether that’s soda water, Prosecco or something else. A squeeze of lime is a great addition, if you have it. If not, “lemon, orange or grapefruit also works,” says Volk.”
How Bar Owners are Taking Care of their Teams Right Now
Liquor.com (opens in a new tab)“In addition to sheltering in place with two small children and working on a plan to pivot the business, Briana is testing recipes for a forthcoming cookbook. She advertises her surplus cookies, cakes and pastries on social media and funnels proceeds from the sales to the fund. The Volks top it up with donations from brands and tips from online events.
Beyond the fund, they’ve given their team of 12 subscriptions to MasterClass . They host Zoom happy hours once a week and promote team members’ knitting, cross-stitch and ’zine projects to Hunt & Alpine’s followers. Each week, the staff orders groceries from Native Maine and Stonecipher Farm , two of the bar’s purveyors.”
Singani63 “Stir Crazy” with Steven Soderbergh
Singani 63 · Stir Crazy, Episode 3 (opens in a new tab)“The true cocktail couple, Briana and Andrew Volk make up a dynamic duo by day and owners of the acclaimed Portland Hunt + Alpine Club by night. A staple of Portland, Maine with premium cocktails and Scandinavian-inspired food, their bar is a two-time James Beard semi-finalist for ‘Outstanding Bar Program’ and made the 2019 Thrillist list for “Best Cocktail Bars in America”. Briana and Andrew’s first book, Northern Hospitality, inspired by their life, their bar, and their love for, as they put it, “rad drinks” was both an IACP and Tales of the Cocktail finalist for “Best New Cocktail Book”.
Colleges Invest So “What’s the Town Like” Gets and Upbeat Answer
The New York Times (opens in a new tab)“Andrew Volk, a 2005 Colby graduate, said he was optimistic about Waterville’s prospects. He and his wife, Briana, who own the Hunt + Alpine Club, a popular cocktail bar in Portland, will open a restaurant called Verna’s All Day on the ground floor of Colby’s downtown residential hall by the end of the year.”
The Best Spirits and Cocktails for 2019
Forbes (opens in a new tab)Cognac — Briana Volk of Portland Hunt + Alpine Club and Little Giant, author of Northern Hospitality
“In 2019, I would like to drink more Cognac, both alone and in cocktails. I find myself drinking cocktails with fewer ingredients, so the base spirit can really shine. I want Cognac to shine this year, especially during meals cooked at home.”
What’s with the Pop-up Wine Bar Boom?
Punch Magazine (opens in a new tab)“We’re doing them to see if this sort of concept has some legs to become more permanent,” says Briana. But it’s also about taking the opportunity to share what they love in a relatively low-risk fashion and quite simply, she says, “Andrew and I just think it’s fun.”
The Most Beautifully Designed Bar in Each State in America
Architectural Digest (opens in a new tab)“With a husband-and-wife duo at the helm who just published their debut cookbook, Portland Hunt + Alpine Club blends in Scandinavian-design accents, from the modern wire animal heads and Nelson lights to communal tables.”
Weekend Trip Guide
Marie Claire (opens in a new tab)“For a classic cocktail and a cool vibe, head over to Portland Hunt and Alpine Club . Cozy up to the bar and order the refreshing Lavender Collins made with lavender-caraway, lemon, and grenadine, followed by the ever-changing daily punch. When late-nite hunger strikes, choose something from the snacks menu—perhaps the house made soft pretzels and the popcorn sprinkled with green chile powder, butter, and parm?”
Fall Entertaining Tips From Maine’s Coolest Culinary Couple
Food & Wine (opens in a new tab)“Because if anyone knows how to make cold weather living look good, it’s the husband-and-wife team behind Portland, Maine hotspots Portland Hunt + Alpine Club and newer sister restaurant Little Giant . Through their inspiring book, the Volks share secrets to getting hygge-with-it (sorry) Northern-style, blending inspiration from their Maine lifestyle and Briana’s Scandinavian heritage.”
Where to eat & drink in Portland, Maine
Delish (opens in a new tab)"...head to the pretty Portland Hunt & Alpine Club after dinner for a drink perfectly tailored to your mood. The cocktail menu is split into four categories: refreshing, adventurous, classics (and riffs), and wildcard."
Portland Favorites Working on Cookbooks
Boston Magazine (opens in a new tab)“Even though it’s less than two hours away, we can never get enough of Portland, Maine. Later this year, a new book will bring some of what’s best about the Pine Tree State right into your kitchen, no matter where you are. Northern Hospitality with the Portland Hunt + Alpine Club: A Celebration of Cocktails, Cooking, and Coming Together is the first tome from Briana and Andrew Volk, the proprietors of the Old Port’s James Beard Award- nominated cocktail den, the Hunt + Alpine Club; and Little Giant restaurant and market.”
Favorite Coastal Cocktails
Coastal Living (opens in a new tab)“At the heart of an Allen’s and Milk—Maine’s beloved highball—is Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy. At Portland Hunt + Alpine Club, owner Andrew Volk’s homage nixes the splash of milk and pairs the “Champagne of Maine” with white rum and a shot of local Tandem Coffee”
50 Wine Restaurants We Love
Wine Enthusiast (opens in a new tab)“Not only were there no cases of Covid among Hunt and Alpine staff, but their work situations were made materially better. Co-owners Briana and Andrew Volk gave everyone a raise to a minimum of $15 an hour and offered health insurance options. The pair also encouraged staff to pursue educational opportunities, even in fields that aren’t related to hospitality.
The cocktail-driven restaurant continues to grow, recently coming out of a renovation and staff expansion. In addition to cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, its tight and fun wine and food selection is currently served on the patio.”
We’re Creating Systems to Support Working Parents at Our Restaurant
Plate Magazine (opens in a new tab)“This isn’t how parental leave in our industry—or any industry—should look. Every new family should be afforded paid time off to heal, bond, and adjust to this major life change. Our industry has special hurdles; the business doesn’t work if there aren’t cooks to make food and servers to place orders and deliver that food. But we also have a unique advantage: We are built on the premise of taking care of people. We just need to think about how to take care of our team members as well as our guests.”
This Small City Makes Booze You’ve Never Even Heard Of
Fodor’s (opens in a new tab)“For a more elevated option, there’s the cool Portland Hunt + Alpine Club , which uses Allen’s in their espresso martini for a playful twist on a classic beverage; this drink also features hometown brewing from Tandem Coffee Roasters. For an extra Maine-er swig, the Foxy Boxer at the Hunt uses Maine’s favorite cola , the herbaceous Moxie.”
Best Cocktail Bars in America
Thrillist (opens in a new tab)“On a recent visit to Hunt and Alpine, I drank an impeccable Green Eyes cocktail (gin, lime, green chartreuse, and egg white) and a throwback Bourbon Renewal made just for laughs, ate their popcorn laced with unicorn dust or whatever, watched a rainstorm pass, and looked around to see 30 other folks all doing the same thing, each of us with a blissed out, grateful look on our faces. Rightfully, Hunt and Alpine is now the Portland institution it has always deserved to be.
And to know its owners, Andrew and Briana Volk, is to love them. Andrew, who cut his teeth alongside famous bar person Jeffrey Morgenthaler at Clyde Common in the other Portland, has incredible cocktail creation skills. And Briana, who is also an accomplished, talented writer, is the beating heart of the joint, someone who makes it a priority to champion mental health and other important seldom discussed industry issues. All of this would be great but somewhat insignificant to this list if the bar they owned wasn’t excellent. But thankfully it very much is.”
Best Cocktail Bar in Every State
The Daily Meal (opens in a new tab)“Portland Hunt and Alpine Club is a minimalistic two-time James Beard semifinalist cocktail bar located in Portland, Maine. The decor is simple — wooden tables and white chairs — but what this bar lacks in decoration it makes up for in drinking options. Guests can choose a cocktail from the refreshing, adventure, classic or wild card menu depending on their mood. Bonus: ask for a side of popcorn with your drink. It comes topped with green chili powder, butter and parmesan and is a great accompaniment to any drink.”
Women Are Looking at Sobriety as an Act of Activism— And Not Everyone’s Pleased
Delish (opens in a new tab)“Briana Volk, owner of the Portland Hunt + Alpine Club in Maine and author of Northern Hospitality, doubles down: “I have continually watched men be applauded for choosing sobriety or mindful consumption and rally alongside their male peers, while women still feel like they need to be quiet about it in order to keep their jobs," she notes. "For women, there is still a stigma behind it and that has made it harder to speak openly or find the support they may need.””
Jared’s 10 Best Buys of 2018
AIROWS (opens in a new tab)“I buy and receive books by the dozens and there were lots to choose from in 2018 but this celebration of cocktails, cooking and getting together with friends, from Maine by way of Scandinavia, tops the list.”
5 Ways To Make Your New Year's Eve Cocktail Party A Success: From Portland's Hottest Culinary Couple
Forbes (opens in a new tab)“People can tell when they go to a party and the hosts aren’t having any fun because they’re in way over their heads,” says Briana Volk, who, along with her husband Andrew, has helped transform Portland, Maine into a culinary destination.”
The Drink Books That Need to be Written
The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)"Looking at the stack of new drink books on my desk—okay, “stack” doesn’t quite convey how many of the damn things have crossed my threshold in the last month or two; I can’t call it a “double stack,” since Wendy’s owns that free and clear, and it’s still a book or two short of being a “tower”—and I can pick out at least four potential classics, each from a different bar: the Aviary Cocktail Book from the bars of that name in Chicago and now New York; Cocktail Codex and Mixology & Mayhem from Death & Co. and the Dead Rabbit , respectively, both also in New York; and Northern Hospitality , from the Portland Hunt + Alpine Club in Portland, Maine.”
Portland, Maine is the 2018 Restaurant City of the Year
Bon Appétit (opens in a new tab)"Swing by, the sophomore effort from the team behind local favorite Portland Hunt + Alpine Club , which gets clever with dishes like lobster chips with serrano ranch and Moxie-braised pork belly. The sister market next door sells local beers and groceries and daily specials (don’t miss Friday and Saturday’s roast chicken and biscuits).”
Portland Hunt + Alpine Club owners share secrets of dishing out Northern comfort
Portland Press Herald (opens in a new tab)"“Northern Hospitality” is like an invitation to a party that fights the raging blizzard outside with hot buttered rum, oven pancakes drizzled in warm maple syrup, and Swedish meatballs served over homemade spaetzle."
Portland Restaurateurs Big Fan of Sea Dogs
Portland Press Herald (opens in a new tab)"Briana and Andrew Volk, owners of Hunt + Alpine and Little Giant, aren't above eating cheese fries from a souvenir helmet."
Six Simply Delicious One-Bottle Cocktails
Maxim (opens in a new tab)“This effortless stirred drink from Andrew M. Volk of the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club in Maine, celebrates the rye barrel and the sherry cask."
Bars with Amazing Single Barrel Programs
Distiller.com (opens in a new tab)“Almost two hours north of Boston, in Portland, Maine, Hunt + Alpine Club is making waves with its inventive cocktail program. Single barrels play a big part in the bar’s success. “We aim to bring between two and three full barrels of private stock in a year,” says co-owner Briana Volk.”
Exploring All Things Local in Portland, Maine
Wine Enthusiast (opens in a new tab)“ Little Giant is a general store in the West End neighborhood from Briana and Andrew Volk, owners of popular cocktail bar Portland Hunt & Alpine Club . Here, you’ll find locally sourced dairy and eggs, bags of Tandem Coffee, fresh sandwiches and Old World-leaning wines.”