Après Cocktail + Wine: A Liquid Chef Finds a Home in Stowe
Chris Leighton fills a void by offering creative, delicious, and meticulously crafted cocktails designed to please everyone from twentysomethings to retirees.
Chris Leighton just may be one of the most creative and talented “liquid chefs” in Vermont. He opened Après Cocktail + Wine in late fall 2021 on Mountain Road in Stowe. It culminates years of experience in the world of cocktails where Chris had honed his craft in New England restaurants and distilleries. In a beer-oriented town, home to the famed Heady Topper, Chris fills a void by offering creative, delicious, and meticulously crafted cocktails designed to please everyone from twentysomethings to retirees. The hardest part of your visit here is deciding which one to order.
A longstanding relationship with Mirror Mirror, the popular Stowe salon and spa, was a catalyst to this leap-of-faith partnership. The cocktail lounge located in the middle of this upscale salon and spa also includes a well-curated home goods section. The space offers a built-in audience of patrons who come for beauty and relaxation or to enjoy a special shopping experience. Exquisite Simon Pearce glassware, Glasshouse fragrances, Nest New York® fragrances, and a wide selection of luxury skincare and beauty products are available for purchase. Après pampering, share a delicious cocktail or glass of wine.
(left)Espresso Martini; (right)Runnin’ Free
Cyclists from the nearby Stowe bike path, dog lovers who bring their furry friends, and families all find a comfy spot on Après’ expansive outdoor deck. During fall and winter months, an inviting arrangement of sofas and tables inside offers a boujee vibe and a cozy place to enjoy drinks and a selection of small plates that are often shared. Favorites include house-made garlic rosemary hummus and Jasper Hill cheese platters.
Chris grew up in Ellsworth, Maine, a town on the edge of Mount Desert Isle. He did a stint in the emergency room as a medical assistant. Then, as a young, eager 20-year-old looking for a job, he approached Christopher Heaton, owner of Bar Harbor’s Carmen Verandah, a busy, late-night bar. “If you come and be a bouncer for a year, I’ll train you.” Chris toughed it out for a year as bouncer, and Heaton kept his word. Chris began his journey to learning the craft of signature, unique, and delicious cocktails.
Chris serves his drinks with fresh herb garnishes that he grows himself as well as slices of fresh fruit, making his presentation stunning even before you take your first sip. His favorite and perhaps one of the most popular drinks on the leatherbound cocktail menu is Freddie’s Chute, made with Papilio “VTquila,” mezcal, fresh grapefruit, lime, jalapeño, and maple—slightly spicy/smoky Paloma meets Margarita. The tequila, half maple and half agave, hails from a Middlebury distillery, Appalachian Distillery. Papilio means butterfly in Latin—named for the monarch butterfly that makes its way from Mexico to New England each year. Garnished with a slice of fresh grapefruit and a slice of jalapeño, it’s a wow drink.
Chris’s future vision includes inviting seven all-star bartenders from around the state to research and develop cocktails at Après and to showcase them during one single week, donating all tips to a local nonprofit.
(left)Bloody Mary; (right)Inviting seating to enjoy your favorite cocktail
Other house selections that change often include Warding Off Winter, Rose Had Room, Stopping by Woods, all named by Chris and each with their own story. His expansive selection of classic cocktails, wine, and beer offers something for everyone. For his Bloody Mary, he presses the tomatoes, carrots, and celery juice himself. In fact, all his concoctions are hand-pressed and use as many local ingredients as possible.
Chris is a master at collaboration. A seasonal cocktail, Barb Palmer, was created in collaboration with bartender Emma Sanford from the local restaurant Doc Ponds. His future vision includes inviting seven all-star bartenders from around the state to research and develop cocktails at Après and to showcase them during one single week, donating all of tips to a local nonprofit.
After a day on the slopes or off a mountain trail or bike path, Après beckons you to enjoy a handcrafted, fresh, exquisite beverage. It’s a perfect place for après anything.
