FLEMING ISLAND | Corks & Barrels, believed to be the first of its kind in Clay County, is preparing to open on Fleming Island.

 

James Henson, who is close to retiring after serving 27 years in the U.S. Navy, owns the tasting-style wine and whiskey bar and lounges at 1824 Town Center Blvd, Suite 101 near East West Parkway.

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"Hopefully, we'll open late next month [October] or early November. It's a very fluid date. It's been very challenging finding contractors, supplies and things of that nature," Henson, an aviation maintenance officer, told the Times-Union last week.

 

"When I looked at opening this, I knew it would be very popular here because there is no other establishment like ours. We're very unique in our approach," he said.

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The business, Henson said, is one that he's been thinking about launching for a while as his military career draws to a conclusion. "As I've gotten older, my palate has gotten a little more refined," Henson said. "I've always liked good wine and I've always liked good whiskey but I never really thought of it being a possible business venture." 

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That changed a couple of years ago when he was on deployment and some friends took him to a small wine bar that was "absolutely packed" with customers.

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Henson started thinking about the possibility of opening a similar establishment. He recalled that one of the biggest complaints he'd heard from friends on Fleming Island was that there was no place for their wives to gather for a glass of wine except a full-service restaurant or one of their homes.

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"I thought it [wine bar] looked like a great concept and I thought it would do well on Fleming Island. So when I got back home I started planning on opening one here," said Henson, who's lived on Fleming Island since 2011.

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As his appreciation for fine whiskey grew, so too, did the idea to also offer a selection of whiskies along with wine at a bar filled with comfortable furniture and an inviting laid-back atmosphere.

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"People love good wine. Obviously, if a spouse wanted to come, she could bring her husband and he could enjoy a nice glass of whiskey while his wife enjoys a nice glass of wine," Henson said.

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Bar will offer wide range of drinks

 

Corks & Barrels will have a "substantial stock" of whiskies and wine for guests to choose from at the bar. There will be a wide range of wines such as whites, reds and zinfandels.

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"On the whiskey side, single malts, single barrels. We'll have a nice wide range of both ryes as well as wheated bourbons," Henson said.

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The wine and whiskey bar has been licensed as a bar and package store so guests can have a glass on the premises or buy a bottle and take it home.

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He intends to feature a different region for both wine and whiskey each month. There will be tastings, pairings and charcuterie boards for both wine and whiskies. 

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In addition to charcuterie boards, there will be dessert trays. It will be light tapas because it isn't a full restaurant, Henson said. "Eventually we hope to have some brunches on the weekend. We're trying to see what we can do like mini-brunch trays with sugared waffles, crepes and things of that nature. Finger food," Henson said. 

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The establishment will have about 50 seats in a pod-like seating plan of sofas and comfortable chairs.

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They are using jewel tones like deep red for the colors, blues, greens and yellows. All are very vibrant colors. At night when they dim the lights, the atmosphere will be like in a wine cellar.

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"It's not a lot of tables. It's literally a very up close and personal environment where you sit down with your friends and enjoy a good glass of wine or bottle of wine or a whiskey," Henson said.