by Steven Doyle
Last night there was an impromptu congratulatory party held in the honor of Charlie Pap and Louise Owens, both owners of The Windmill Lounge which was decorated as one of Esquire Magazine’s best bars in America. Tall prize for a small bar hidden away on Maple Avenue near Inwood in Dallas. Especially when placed in the arena of such fine establishments as Aviary in Chicago. Continue reading
Filed under Bartenders, Cocktails, Steven Doyle
by Andrew Chalk
Not as affluent as The Great Gatsby? Not as effeminate as Leonardo DiCaprio? Not as dead as F. Scott Fitzgerald? No worries. Have a “Ricky”! It’s the cocktail featured in chapter 7 in a scene of brooding passion and just the slightest undercurrent of athlete’s foot.
The scene begins on a day that is “broiling, almost the last, certainly the warmest, of the summer.” Jay Gatsby and the narrator, Nick Carraway, have been invited to lunch at the home of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Jordan Baker, Daisy’s best friend and Nick’s love interest, is also there. By this point, Gatsby and Daisy have rekindled their old romance. Although Tom is initially unaware, he suspects Gatsby to be a bootlegger and dislikes him anyway. Thus, the temperature is hot and the mood is tense. At one point, Daisy tells Tom to “Make us a cold drink.” Just as Tom leaves the room, Daisy kisses Gatsby and professes her love to him. When Tom returns, he is “preceding four Gin Rickey’s that clicked full of ice. Gatsby took up his drink. ‘They certainly look cool,’ [Gatsby] said with visible tension. We drank in long, greedy swallows.”” Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Cocktails
by Steven Doyle
Last week we broke the information that Bolsa would no longer serve lunch, but instead beef up their midday menu at Bolsa Mercado just a few steps away from the iconic Oak Cliff restaurant. This weekend we learned that Bolsa has quietly introduced a new seasonal menu with some fun changes to both the dinner and the cocktail menu.
We popped into Bolsa while making our Oak Cliff rounds this weekend and were cheerily greeted by lead barman Kyle Hilla who was eager to chat up the new cocktails. This would be Hilla’s first full menu to create for Bolsa, with many of the drinks having been around for nearly five years. In the past Hilla would add four or five new drinks to the menu. The new one is all his. Continue reading
Filed under Cocktails, Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle
Patios are the rage in Dallas; covered patios even more so once temps bust the century mark. You can imagine how excited I became when I heard that Dish gussied up their patio. I was at Dish for brunch this past Sunday and it looked fab. Now there is a party to celebrate. Continue reading
Filed under Cocktails
by Steven Doyle
In Dallas we think of Jason Kosmas as super laid back barman with the killer mustache. In reality he is laid back and unassuming, but he is also building his brand of liquor, writing cocktail books, and co-owner of what has been labeled as the best bar in the world, Employees Only. He even has a television program he pitched a network in Los Angeles last week where he plays host in a quasi-version of Chopped. Today Kosmas called to let me know that he will be at Sigel’s Fine Wines & Great Spirits on Greenville Avenue tomorrow selling the Employees Only own line of mixers. Continue reading
Filed under Behind the Stick, Bloody Mary, Cocktails, Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle
In the continuing saga in search for the perfect Pisco Porton cocktail in Dallas we came up with another draw this week. As we take down sections of the city by storm our intrepid group set its goggles on the Central Expressway corridor visiting some powerful cocktail dens, including the very new Smyth located just off Knox on Travis.
To catch you up, we have been invited as an emissary of libations by Pisco Porton to sample a variety of cocktails using their spirit. Pisco is made with tradition in Peru using a variety of grapes to develop a spirit as the Spanish settlers did in the 16th century. Continue reading
Filed under Bar Food, Cocktails, Steven Doyle
by Mary Szefcyk
There truly is an art form to craft of hand Spirits and the Dallas Cocktail Culture scene is up and coming. We are fortunate to have so many adventurous places that showcase original cocktails. It’s not just a mere drink its character in a glass that needs to make a statement and should not be taken for granted. It was charming to find such a unique blend on my recent night out jaunt. I had the pleasure of letting down my hair taking in Urban art and live music performed by a local band (We’ve Come For Your Daughter) a hip hop/synth pop group releasing my inner-punk while frolicking with friends and making new ones near and behind the bar. Continue reading
Filed under Cocktails, Dallas, Deep Ellum, Mary Szefcyk
by Steven Doyle
The cocktail has gone through much transition in Dallas over the past few years. The word craft cocktail almost became an evil term for anything over-the-top sweet, $20 and 20 minutes later. But in more recent times we have seen fantastic bartenders honing their craft in North Texas, and we actually have an amazing reputation for some of the very best in this region of the country. Our bartenders compete nationally in competitions, and win. They are asked to host symposiums throughout the country, and revered as tops in their field. We are fortunate that way. Continue reading
Filed under Cocktails
