Alley Twenty Six

320 East Chapel Hill Street, Durham, alleytwentysix.com

The O.G. of downtown Durham’s craft cocktail scene, Alley Twenty Six has an ace whiskey selection and serves up refined, sharp takes on traditional cocktails. Venture down its ever-changing drinks menu, however, and you’ll find all sorts of unusual pairings and innovations: a version of a frozen hurricane with passionfruit; a Hot Ca’Toddy, with chai-infused tequila; a Jay May, with Wild Turkey, apple brandy, and sweet potato, etc. 

Bar Virgile

105 South Mangum Street, Durham, barvirgile.com

Bar Virgile does the classics admirably—a nice old-fashioned, a mighty fine boulevardier—alongside a coterie of inventive cocktails that change with the seasons, made by friendly bartenders who go out of their way to make sure you get the drink you want.  

Belltree

100 Brewer Lane, Carrboro, facebook.com/belltreespeakeasy

A couple of tables, a lounger sofa, some bar seats, intimate lighting, an entrance that is actually difficult to find—Belltree’s take on the speakeasy is rich in ambiance, but its true genius lies in the meticulously crafted drinks, widely considered the best in Carrboro, from the usual suspects to the house specials. 

The Crunkleton

320 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, thecrunkleton.com

The Crunkleton’s dark, wood-rich ambiance seems designed to spark an instinctual craving for brown liquor. There’s something like five hundred bottles of booze behind the bar, including one of the finest collections of bourbon anywhere in the Triangle, which allows for a smart, extensive drink menu. 

Counting House

111 Corcoran Street, Durham, countinghousenc.com 

Our favorite art hotel’s vibey bar offers a wide variety of libations (and snazzy snacks), but we’re there for the house cocktails. We were heartbroken when the Uptown Girl, a Manhattan-like concoction with house-made plum syrup, went out of season, but with the addition of the Shapeshifter, which mixes rye and bourbon with cider, brown sugar, ginger, and clove, all is forgiven.

Foundation

213 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, foundationnc.com

Small and dimly lit, this underground spot gets crowded on weekends but is the perfect spot for an after-work drink. Focusing on local and American spirits (nothing comes from outside the U.S.), Foundation crafts creative, sometimes surprising cocktails using only top-quality ingredients. 

Fox Liquor Bar

237 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, ac-restaurants.com/fox

This is an Ashley Christensen joint, so you should expect nothing less than the best. There’s a book full of craft cocktails to choose from, and they’re all crafted to perfection. 

The Green Light

108 East Hargett Street, Raleigh, architectbar.com/the-green-light

A tiny speakeasy hidden behind a bookcase inside The Architect Bar, The Green Light—from Hargett Street, look up to spot a green light, which tells you it’s open—has a throwback vibe and outstanding drinks. 

The Oak, Kitchen & Bourbon Bar

4035 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, jmrkitchens.com/oak

The Oak, near the North Carolina Museum of Art, is one of those places you wouldn’t stumble upon unless you were looking for it. But once you’re there, it’s a whiskey lover’s dream, with more than sixty styles of bourbon (including a house variety) and a deep-cut cocktail menu that pairs well with its excellent entrées.  

Watts & Ward

200 South Blount Street, Raleigh, wattsandward.com

This swanky underground bar has a vintage library vibe straight out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. Enjoy live jazz and craft cocktails in one of the multiple rooms outfitted with wooden furniture and leather couches, or under the stars in the large outdoor space full of picnic tables.