Got Art? Dallas Area Artisanal Cocktails Have Got Your Art – Hangin’!

The weather keeps getting warmer and Dallas cocktails just keep getting better. Here's a list of some Big "D" bars and mixologists that really bring cocktails up to a new level. Cheers!

Got Art? Dallas Area Artisanal Cocktails Have Got Your Art – Hangin’!

Artisanal [ahr-tuh-zuh-nal] adj.: Hand-crafted in limited quantities using traditional and specialty ingredients, methods, and techniques resulting in superior quality.

Since 1803 (earliest printed use of the word “cocktail”) mixologists have been vigorously innovating taste sensations and striving for potent potable perfection. The hand-crafted cocktail movement involves the use of fresh seasonal fruits, herbs and spices, homemade mixers, and premium liquors, as well as the use of “craft ice” to create visually stunning and incredibly tasty adult treats.

The current craft-cocktail craze, sweeping the nation, can be traced back to Jerry Thomas' 1862 book The Bar-Tender’s Guide aka How to Mix Drinks or The Bon Vivant's Companion. The trend has certainly not escaped the ever-vigilant eyes of DFW’s discerning foodies (and drinkies). A cornucopia of vintage and hand-crafted cocktails awaits the taste buds of those willing to do a bit of research and make an occasional trip into unfamiliar territory. In fact, Dallas is right at the top of the list when it comes to world-class bartenders and sensational craft-cocktail lounges.

Dallas’ Top Mixologists:

These guys are the geniuses behind Dallas’ hand-crafted mixed-drink boom.

Dale DeGroff - "single-handedly responsible for what's been called the (modern) cocktail renaissance.”

Jason Kosmas - Neighborhood Services Tavern

Brad Hensarling - The Usual

Michael Martensen – President, North Texas chapter United States Bartenders' Guild - Cedars Social

Eddie "Lucky" Campbell - Bolsa

Andrew Lostettor - Neighborhood Services Tavern

Charlie Papaceno – The Windmill Lounge

Master Purveyors of the Cocktail Craft:

The Mansion

2821 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas, TX 75219 - Try a Guatemalan Sazerac - Ron Zacapa Solera Aged Rum, Lucid Absinthe, and Peychaud’s Bitters; a Bourbon and Mixed Berry Cobbler A tribute to “The Father of Bartending” Jerry Thomas - Bourbon, Lustau East India Solera sherry, and a touch of citrus over crushed ice, topped with fresh berries; or for those with deep pockets, a Millionaire’s Margarita made with Don Julio 1942 and 150-year-old Grand Marnier, for only $75.

Victor Tango’s

3001 N. Henderson Ave. Dallas, TX 75206 - The house namesake drink a “Victor Tango” has fresh English cucumber, local mint, blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice, and house-made simple syrup; The Sazerac is a classic, made with your choice of Cognac or Rye Whiskey, Peychaud and Angostura Bitters, and house-made simple syrup. Victor Tango? We say Bravo!

Smoke

901 Ft. Worth Ave. Dallas, TX 75208 - Chef Tim Byres and Smoke are winning all kinds of awards lately, with their upscale take on North-Central Texas/Southwestern cuisine. And Smoke’s drinks reflect the creativity and regional flavors that have garnered Byres so much success of late. Have a SweetWater Stoli - Vodka, Paula’s Texas Lemoncello, Pimm’s, Champagne, Smoke’s strawberry‐rosemary preserve, and a house-made lime cordial; or a Michelada - Lone Star draft, Tim’s Bloody Mary Mix, Smoked BBQ spice and house-made pickle relish.

Bar Belmont

901 Ft. Worth Ave. Dallas, TX 75208 – Just a stone’s throw up the hill from Smoke (literally), Bar Belmont (at the Belmont Hotel) offers a great patio view of downtown and serves up their signature “Belmontini” - 2 shots of citrus Vokda, 2 oz. of Grand Marnier, 8 oz. of pure pomegranate juice, and a splash of champagne.

The Usual

1408 West Magnolia Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76104 – On the other side of the Metroplex, The Usual offers great renditions of ageless, classic cocktails like the Sidecar, Old Fashioned, and Manhattan. Serious drinks for sophisticated tastes are the order of the day here. I’ll have the Usual, please!

Neighborhood Services Tavern

5027 W. Lovers Ln. Dallas, Texas 75209 - Let “Lucky” pour you up a Four Fingers of Fury - Wild Turkey Rye, sweet vermouth, and Regan's orange bitters, with a raw sugar rim; or a Pop’s Martini “Salad” - Ketel One, house pickled vegetables, and a blue cheese-stuffed olive!

Windmill Lounge

5320 Maple Ave. Dallas, TX 75235 - For Dallas old-timers, this used to be the Old Dutch Kitchen Diner (hence the windmill). They pour one of my favorite Martinis in Dallas, mix a helluva drink, and have one of the best juke boxes in town.

Black Swan Saloon

2708 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75226 – This Deep Ellum spot offers a selection of unique flavor combinations. Gabe Sanchez, the former Ghostbar manager is the mixmaster here. We like the Balsamic Berry - muddled fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, balsamic vinegar, cracked pepper, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, Aviation Gin, shaken and served on the rocks.

Bolsa

614 W Davis St. Dallas, TX 75208 - Always on the cutting edge of adult beverages, sample Bolsa’s Taylor's Buck - Maker's Mark, lemon, apple, Peychaud's Bitters, and ginger beer; or an El Perdedor - Don Q Anejo Rum, pineapple, Falernum, Angostura Bitters, and Horchata. Their Sangrias are also amazing.

Grace

777 Main St. Fort Worth, TX 76102 - Another Cowtown cocktail culture maven is Grace, with their Bosc Pear Martini - Grey Goose Le Poire, Amaretto, lemon, Borgo Magredo, Prosecco, and pear; and the sinisterly spicy El Diablo - Sombra Mezcal, Saint Germain, Deviation, lemon, Fresca, agave, and habanero.

Cedar’s Social

1326 S. Lamar St. Dallas, TX 75215 - One of the most ambitious drink menus of the bunch, created by Michael Martensen, check out the The Turf Ccoktail No. III (1930) – Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Dolin Rouge, Tenneyson Absinthe, marascino, and Bookers Bitters; or the Jenga Sour - Jameson Irish Whiskey, lemon juice, cranberry juice, muddled blueberries, egg white, and Peychaud’s Bitters.

Whiskey Cake

3601 Dallas Pkwy. Plano, TX 75093 - For those of your north of LBJ, try “The Cake’s” Bee Sting – Cazadores Blaco Tequlia, lime juice, grapefruit juice, agave nectar, Cointreau, and jalapeno; or the Jaded Kiwi – New Amsterdam Gin, Green Chartreuse, lime juice, simple syrup, soda, and peach bitters.

Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room and Bubble Bar (newly opened)

2101 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas, TX 75201 - Dee Lincoln (of Del Frisco’s fame) has just teamed with Ricky Comardelle (her brother) and the Cowboys, to open a wine/champagne tasting room. Martinis run from $13-$15, 48 different wines can be purchased in 2 oz., 4 oz., or 6 oz. samplings, and glasses of champagne are $12-$20. Specailty drinks include the Champagne Cocktail - Kir Royale, J. Cuvee 20, Etoile Rose, and Veuve Clicquot; and the Silver and Blue - Bombay Sapphire, Cointreau, and Lillet Blanc with blueberry.

Whether you’re looking for a marvelous Manhattan, a magnificent Moscow Mule, or a myriad of other amusing mixology masterpieces, Dallas has a diverse array of devilishly addicting, hand-crafted drinks for the discerning palate. Visit any (and all) of these artisanal drink havens and you’re sure to find something eclectic and enticing to please any tongue.

Cool On The Outside, Cool On The Inside!

When the heat strikes DFW, I head for somewhere that I can cool off... everything. Cold beer and cool water are the prescription to cure my fever!

On The Water, But Not On The Wagon: DFW Bars That Soothe The Savage Summer Heat

“Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes… A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.” A wonderful quote by Ada Louise Huxtable, and with Dallas on the verge of a “Smokin’ Hot,” May to September, Dallasites need a place to get away from the dog days of summer; a retreat to cool off with a frosty beverage and dangle your feet in the cold waters of a local lake or swimming pool.

Since we’re a bit land-locked here in Big “D”, this month I’m featuring DFW venues where you can vent the volcanic North Texas heat and keep yourself from turning into Texas Toast; I’m talkin’ ‘bout bars that get you wet, as it were.

Now, you can’t actually get into the water at every one of the spots that I’ve listed, but the “no swimming” watering holes on the list have lakeside views that will make your eyes water!

Let’s dive in…

The Dinghy Bar and Grill – Pier 121 Marina, 1481 E. Hillpark Rd., Lewisville, TX 75056

New management has taken over the Dee Lincoln’s (owner of Del Frisco’s) Lake Lewisville spot that used to be Charlie’s. They have lowered the drink prices and offer up a pretty decent hamburger. Live music on the weekends. No draft beer tough.

The Gaylord Texan Resort – 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051

While the Gaylord has opened their 10-acre resort pool & lazy river complex, Paradise Springs, entry is limited to guests and their friends. However, my wife and I occasionally drop by the Gaylord to have a drink at the bar, by the resort style outdoor pool. The Glass Cactus, which is on the Gaylord’s property, gets an honorable mention as they have one of the best views, over a lake, at sunset in the Metroplex.

Harbor House Restaurant and Club – 2202 Saint Paul Rd., Wylie, TX 75098

While the lofty name suggests yachts and polo ponies, this is really just a dock with a bait shop/convenience store where you can get a burger and a beer, however, it meets the qualifications for this article. It’s on Lake Lavon. Don’t forget your ID or no beer for you!

J. Pepe’s – 3619 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75206

Nachos and Tacos, dollar beer on Wednesdays, a swimming pool in the back, and all of it on lower Greenville Ave. How can you beat that? You can’t! Serving fairly decent Tex-Mex, the place is a real SMU hot spot. Don’t forget to bring your own towel!

The Oasis – 5700 Lake Ridge Pkwy., Grand Prairie, TX 75052

I had thought about this place, located at the North end of Lake Joe Pool, when I first conceived this article, but little did I know that Bill Tate, our food guy, had just written about them in the May issue of Lit. With an ambitious menu including pastas, steaks, fish, Tex-Mex, and salads, they still manage to pull it off fairly well. The staff is comprised primarily of local high schoolers who do a nice job, but don’t expect miracles. Oh, and don’t’ miss the giant carp feeding frenzy at the front entrance! It’s truly a sight to behold.

Sneaky Pete’s – 2 Eagle Point Rd., Lewisville, TX 75077

Geared more towards a teen to 20-something crowd, Pete’s is the place to be on Lake Lewisville. You can pull your boat up to the dock and check out all of the shirtless guys and bikini-clad girls running around, playing volleyball, or jumping in the pool. A full menu and bar keep the hunger at bay and the buzz buzzing.

Little Pete’s – 4600 Murrell Park Rd., Flower Mound, TX 75022

Sneaky Pete’s little brother, on Lake Grapevine. Sitting on a floating dock, at the Twin Coves Marina, the bar features live music on the weekends and is accommodating to families. Drive or float up to the place, but don’t expect to eat and run; the service is as leisurely as you should be, when you’re hangin’ at the lake.

I’ve also got to give an honorable mention to the Flying Saucer - 4821 Bass Pro Dr., Garland, TX 75043 - at lake Ray Hubbard.



It has a phenomenal beer selection, an amazing patio that overlooks the lake, and is a great place to watch the moon rise!

As journalist Russell Baker once said “Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer… and like it.” So if we must suffer the sweltering Texas heat, let’s at least do it somewhere that we can get wet, inside and out. Stay cool!