For some, going out for a cocktail is simply about grabbing a drink with friends. At Jockey Club, it’s a little more than that.

Located in the heart of downtown Huntington, Jockey Club has built its reputation around thoughtfully crafted cocktails, creative flavors, and an experience that encourages people to slow down, try something new and enjoy the drink in front of them.

Michele Muth, who co-owns Jockey Club with her husband, Mark Muth, took over the business three years ago. At the time, Jockey Club had already been a part of Huntington’s downtown scene for about a decade, she said.

“Anywhere where it’s a high-end cocktail, that’s our specialty,” Michele said. “We don’t have beer on tap. We’re not trying to be a place where you go have a beer after work. We’re more of a high-end establishment.”

That attention to detail is evident behind the bar. 

Jockey Club’s cocktails are made with fresh ingredients, including hand-squeezed citrus and house-made syrups. The team also takes its ice seriously, Michele said, hand-chipping large blocks of ice for cocktails that are served over a large cube.

For Michele, the craftsmanship of the drink is an important part of the experience.

“We look at cocktails as being an art form,” she said.

That means paying attention to more than just how a cocktail tastes, she added. The smell, appearance and presentation all play a role.

“It’s not just to be drunk,” Michele said. “It’s to really focus on the drink itself and what it looks like, what it smells like–the whole package really.” 

Creativity has also helped make Jockey Club’s quarterly cocktail classes a popular part of the business, she said.

Held every three months, the classes feature four cocktails. Guests receive a welcome cocktail before learning how to make three additional drinks themselves with their own ingredients, shaker and recipe cards to take home.

The classes are intentionally kept small with only 16 spots available that sell out instantly, Michele said.

“We don’t want anybody to not feel special,” Michele said. “I think the cocktail class people have gotten really tight with the regulars.”

The classes have also created opportunities for Jockey Club to collaborate with other local businesses. The team has partnered with Butter It Up for food pairings, with the chef creating dishes specifically designed to complement the cocktails.

Breathe Wine & Culture also often collaborates with the business, providing fresh charcuterie boards each Monday for customers to enjoy throughout the week, Michele added.

Those partnerships have become one way Jockey Club continues to connect with the larger Huntington-area business community, Michele said. 

For her, supporting and partnering with other local businesses is an important part of being downtown.

Jockey Club also keeps an eye on what is happening around it. Events at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, for example, can bring additional visitors downtown who may stop in for a cocktail before or after a show.

And then, there are the events that Jockey Club creates itself.

Over the past few years, the business has hosted themed events ranging from Prohibition parties to movie-inspired gatherings. Its annual Festivus celebration has become its most successful event, taking place every December 23 and allowing guests to “air their grievances” before participating in the evening’s festivities.

The business has also found ways to give back to the community, including sponsoring a Bellalucha dinner with Hospice House, with proceeds donated. 

However, Michele said some of her favorite moments at Jockey Club aren’t necessarily the biggest events. They’re the small interactions with the customers who have become part of the establishment’s personality.

“We have some characters,” she said. “We call them jockey characters.”

One regular, for example, has even brought his own ingredients into the bar to work with the bartenders on creating unique cocktails.

“He brought in cinnamon syrup because we didn’t have it,” Michele said. “Then he sits and chats with the bartender and the two of them concoct these crazy things that he wants to drink.”

Those relationships are a testament ot what Jockey Club has become over the past three years, she added.

Looking ahead, Michele and Mark are continuing to find new ways to expand the experience for larger groups and celebrations.

That attention to creating a personal experience seems to be at the heart of what Jockey Club does best.

Whether someone is stopping in before a show, meeting friends for a night downtown, attending a cocktail class, or simply sitting at the bar and asking a bartender to create something new, the goal remains the same: make the experience memorable. 

As Jockey Club continues to grow, Michele and Mark are keeping that focus on creativity, community, and of course, a really good cocktail. 

Jockey Club at The Frederick is located at 938 4th Ave #1409, Huntington, WV 25701. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook and check out the full photo gallery here.