Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia

Earlier this week, Jose Cuervo held a launch party for their Reserva de la Familia at Javier’s Cigar Room. The evening included neat pours of the delicious tequila, hand rolled cigars, tasty bites and bit of education about this incredibly unique tequila.

From the packing to the bottle to the tequila itself, Jose Cuervo’s Reserva de la Familia is truly a piece of art. Every bottle comes inside of a wooden box with artwork by Enrique Rosas, who was chosen by the Jose Cuervo family. The unique label on the bottle is accentuated with red wax deal with the Jose Cuervo family crest stamped into it. To top it off, the entire packaging is made by hand.

Being a seasoned whiskey drinker, I found very nice rich and mellow flavors of oak, nuts, vanilla and cinnamon which reminded me of a fine scotch or cognac. La Familia is aged three times longer than typical anejos, giving it a complex flavor. I would prefer enjoying it over rocks, but having neat gave us all the true flavors, aromas and visible colors.

I definitely suggest trying a bottle. Both tequila lovers and lovers of darker spirits will find attributes in Jose Cuervo’s Reserva de la Familia that you will fall in love with.

Jose Cuervo’s Reserva de la Familia is bottled at 40% ABV, and is available in the US at the suggested retail price of $125 for 750mL.

Dallas #BoozeNews

HEAD ON TO IRELAND WITH BENNIGAN’S
Check out Bennigan’s St. Paddy’s Day promotion where you can check out Irish toasts and even submit your own.  Even better?  They’re giving one lucky person a chance to win a trip for two to have a whale of a time in Ireland.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TX!
Texas Land and Cattle is celebrating Texas Independence Day with a special food & drink menu with options like Texas Stuffed Quail, Bison Burger, and Pecos Pecan Trout.  Drinks include a Border Gimlet and additional Texas beers.
Availability: March 2-31

THE SPICEMAN GO-ETH
Dallas became a little drearier this week after the news of Tom Spicer’s passing was released on Monday.  To learn about this amazing man and how he made Dallas a better (and healthier) place, click the image below.

HOP TO IT
Y’all know I love alcohol … and food … so when food is made with wine, I like it that much more.  Enter: Hopdoddy‘s Coq Au Vin Burger, a Chicken patty, field mushrooms, bacon, Swiss cheese, red wine reduction, tomato, dressed radicchio salad, and black pepper aioli on an egg bun.
Cost: $12
Availability: through March 8

PEEP SHOW
This just blew my mind and I couldn’t not share it … Peeps flavored-milk.  Chocolate, marshmallow, and Easter egg nog.  We can’t get it, which is sad, but at least you know about it.

FRY SNAPS
Mention @snuffersburgers in any pictures from a Snuffer’s location in March and you’ll be entered to win a $100 Snuffer’s gift card!  All this talk of Snuffer’s makes me really want some Cheddar Fries.  Details here.

START THE MADNESS
Plucker’s wants you to lose this March Madness.  (Seriously.)  They want diners to pick out the schools that will be the big losers this year and fill out a bracket on their website in their March Badness promotion.  Prizes include:
  • 2nd Round: Free Pluckers for a Year
  • 3rd Round: 1,000 Wings
  • 4th Round: $500 Gift Card to Pluckers

OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS:

TORCHY’S TACOS | they will open a location in Plano this April at 1855 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600.

TRULUCK’S | The new two-story building in Uptown is now open!

(AMSTER)DAM SHAME | Amsterdam Bar closed – Owner Mike Scheel had to give up his license in order to pursue his dream of making cider.  More on that later.

A Night with Ballast Point Brewing & Distilling Co.

A bit ago I attended a happy hour with Ballast Point Brewing and Distilling at Bird Cafe. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Ballast Point before going to the happy hour, and I learned that Ballast Point began as a small group of home brewers in San Diego, California. Most of the beers are named after fishing terms. The labels have illustrations of fish to pay homage to the brewery’s origin’s. After they made a name for themselves through their beer, Ballast Point began distilling. The company now has seven spirits they call their own.

Ballast Point happy hour beer menu

Ballast Point happy hour beer menu

I began the night tasting some of Ballast Point’s beer on tap. For those of you who like hoppy beers, go for the Grunion Pale Ale (5.5%). It has a nutty flavor as well as a summer fruit aroma. This beer won the 2015 Best of Craft Beer silver award. Next, I went for the Scotch ale. Piper Down (5.8%) is now in the running as one of my favorite craft beers … it’s not super heavy and it has a smooth taste. I tasted a chocolate, sweet after taste with this brew. This beer won the 2015 Best of Craft Beer gold award. The name came from Scottish bag pipers that drank too much … the piper became top heavy and people would yell, “piper down” when they began to fall. (I have to admit, I went back two days later for more.) My last tasting was the Victory at Sea Coffee/Vanilla Porter (10%). As expected, it was a dark, smooth brew. I am not a coffee drinker, but that didn’t not stop me drinking this beer. It had more of a vanilla taste than coffee.

San Diego Street Car

San Diego Street Car

Moving on to the spirits, I was curious about the first cocktail on the list–the San Diego Street Car (Devil’s Share Moonshine, Ancho Chili liqueur, corn water, lime, Burlesque bitters, egg white). I was puzzled by this concoction, so I had to ask the bartender how he came up with this interesting drink. He said it was his version of elotes in cocktail form. He wanted to bring out the corn flavor of the moonshine rather than mask it. After understanding the background of the drink, it made me enjoy it all the more.

I would urge you to go to your local liquor store and try out some of Ballast Point’s spirits. Here’s your shopping list:

–3 Sheet’s Rum: made from pure cane sugar rather than molasses (80 proof)
–Fugu Vodka: Filtered 15 times (80 proof)
–Devil’s Share Moonshine (whiskey): hints of tropical fruit (98.6 proof)
–Devil’s Share Burbon: American oak barrels, hints of caramel and vanilla cream (92 proof)
–Old Grove Gin: made from juniper berries, rose, and coriander (88 proof)

Ballast Point Brewery
www.Ballastpoint.com
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Bird Cafe's amazing bar

Bird Cafe’s amazing bar

Bird Cafe
155 East Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
www.birdinthe.net

Dallas #BoozeNews: February 23, 2015

BOWLED OVER
Stop in and try some of the new menu items from Bowl & Barrel!  Enjoy dishes like Jumbo Crab Cakes, Green Chili Grilled Cheese, and new cocktails (pictured in image featured above)! Read more about the new items in Rico’s recap!

'Til Morning Cocktail

’Til Morning Cocktail from The Library

CHECK THIS OUT
New year, new cocktail and wine lists at The Library!  The cocktail list will feature classics along with new creations, and the wine list will have domestics and international selections. “Highlights include: ‘Til Morning, blending Woodford Reserve Bourbon, maple syrup, lemon juice, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, egg white and a Laphroaig Rinse and Warwick International, featuring Japanese whiskey, fresh ginger, honey syrup, Cointreau, lemon juice.”

BOOK IT
Bad boy Dallas chef, John Tesar, will be releasing a book this spring, Knife: Modern Steak and All American Meats, written with Josh Ozersky.  The book will feature “full-color photography by Dallas photographer Kevin Marple throughout, KNIFE will be a celebration of American steak; an exploration into modern, self-sustaining Texas ranching; and a trip inside the mind of one of the most distinctive and acclaimed meat chefs in the world.”

WOOD IS GOOD
Woodford Reserve will release their Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, a 100% rye this week!  Rico spent some time with the brand ambassador at their event in Dallas and said it’s some good s**t.  Check out the full experience here.

GET FLIGHTY
Malai Kitchen will now serve beer flights featuring their three house brews.  Flight will be “$8 and include a 5 ounce pour of Bia Hoi (light Vietnamese lager), Thai-P-A (medium bodied and brewed with Thai herbs), and the Thai 1 On seasonal rotator (this month’s rotator is a Belgian Tripel).”

Woodford Reserve Launch Event

At the beginning of the month, Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon invited me to an exclusive, salon dinner to see firsthand what the brand is stirring up next. Master Distiller Chris Morris hosted the event. He led through a guided introduction and tasting of the brand’s latest addition, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. With the help of Henry’s Majestic in the kitchen, the event was quite the success.

Look for Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey to release this March at your favorite spirits store. Even if you’re not a rye whiskey fan, Morris promises that this is one you won’t want to miss.

Try out one of my favorite cocktails from the evening, the Vieux Carre:

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Bénédictine
Cognac
Sesame Vermouth
Bitters

EUREKA!

If you have been in the vicinity of West Village as of late, you’ve noticed the new monstrosity of a building that went up in the space formerly occupied by the Hank Haney driving range.  While I’m sure we all miss the green space and blue sky that good ole’ Hank afforded us, I’m kind of wild about some of the businesses in the new building … namely Public School 214 and Eureka.

Eureka was the first of the two to open a couple months back and I was invited in with a guest to experience, as they call it, an
“enlightening burger experience, accompanied by fresh ingredients, artisan recipes, craft beer, classic cocktails and rock n’ roll.”

The Truffle Cheese Fries and our first round of drinks were the first to hit our table … and we loved every second of all of them.  I enjoyed an Old Fashioned and my (super fun and awesome) +1 enjoyed a Greyhound.  The bar offers a decent selection of high-end liquors, but doesn’t ignore the usuals and their cocktail list affords the classics while getting a little crazy with some more creative options.

Truffle Cheese Fries (creamy Havarti truffle sauce, green onions)

Truffle Cheese Fries (creamy Havarti truffle sauce, green onions)

Golden Ale Mussels (jalapeño bacon stock, crispy pancetta, golden ale beer and petit herbs)

Golden Ale Mussels (jalapeño bacon stock, crispy pancetta, golden ale beer and petit herbs)

The Golden Ale Mussels aren’t to be missed.  Of the appetizers we tried, this was by far our favorite thanks to the jalapeño bacon stock.  Just make sure you ask for extra bread!

Bone Marrow Burger (bone marrow porcini butter, charbroiled onion, mustard aioli, oven-roasted tomato)

Bone Marrow Burger (bone marrow porcini butter, charbroiled onion, mustard aioli, oven-roasted tomato)

The Bone Marrow Burger was a suggestion from our waiter.  It was a LOT of flavor and was incredibly rich. I couldn’t even get close to finishing it … though I’m not sure if it was because of its decadence or because of the mound of onion rings, fries (sweet and original), Beef Ragu Grits (stone-ground grits, shaved horseradish, fine herbs), and about five other things.  (Ugh … they should have told us to wear stretchy pants.)

Panko Crusted Onion Rings

Panko Crusted Onion Rings

Their menu is LARGE and offers anything from burgers to pizzas to a taco bar. (Seriously.)  I’d say that they should focus on fewer things, but they seem to have an understanding of this game as this is their 14th location with a 15th on the way.

The vibe is decidedly Uptown … as is the crowd.  What is one to expect in the area, though?  Parking is a bit of a nightmare and I couldn’t figure it out myself and accidentally set off a fire alarm in the parking garage.  (Oops.)

Stop in to see what Eureka has to offer … just make sure to order those Truffle Cheese Fries.  (It’d be rude not to.)


EUREKA
http://www.eurekarestaurantgroup.com

Bowl & Barrel’s New Menu Items

Last week, Bowl & Barrel, a boutique bowling alley and modern American tavern, invited me to an evening of new food and fun at The Shops at Park Lane. The pictures below showcase some of their new food items, tasty beverages and the lovely evening it turned into thanks to the B&B staff. From the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes to the Wagyu Steak & Blue Cheese Sandwich and everything in between, the handcrafted execution of everything that came our way left us all with a good impression.

Be sure to pop in the next time you’re in the mood for some great food to match up with good times!


Bowl & Barrel
Shops at Park Lane
8084 Park Lane Suite 145
Dallas, TX 75231
214-363-2695

Hours of Operation
SU – TH » 11am to 12am
FR – SA » 11am to 2am

Dallas #BoozeNews: February 18, 2015

Sunday is NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY and the Oscars.  Just sayin’.

TI ESREVER DNA TI PILF NWOD GNIHT YM TUP I
SĒR Steak + Spirits is going to get all Missy Elliott on happy hour and  … well … reverse it.  They’ll offer 15% off cocktails and beer along with $7-9 select wines by the glass and specialty shared plates and sweets every Thursday through Sunday, 10pm to close.

Honey Can Hi ContrastCIDER LOVERS, REJOICE
Austin Eastciders has released a  new hard cider, Texas Honey, that you can find in stores this week, and its Small Batch No. 2 will be out next week!  The Small Batch No. 2 is made with BLACK apples.  I’m not sure how I feel about that yet … but I know I’m intrigued.

MAKE ME BLUSH
The newest offering from the house of Francis Ford Coppola is the 2013 Sofia Red, a Rhône blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes all grown in California’s Paso Robles appellation, the Sofia Red is the first red wine to join the Sofia family of wines, which originated with the introduction of the Sofia Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine sixteen years ago.

NEW OPENINGS

TACO TIME
Addison and the Dallas Farmer’s Market will get La Ventana Taqueria outposts this year!  The Dallas Farmer’s Market in the Market can expect its taco shop to open early summer, complete with indoor seating and a patio.  The Addison location will feature a 2,344 square foot restaurant and bar, 945 of it will be patio!

S’NUFF SAID
Legendary burger and Cheddar Fry hot spot, Snuffer’s Burgers, will open two new restaurants in 2015–Addison (4180 Beltline Road) and Red Oak (132 E Ovilla Road)!

CHIN CHIN, KIN KIN
Kin Kin Urban Thai will open February 27 at 2801 West 7th Street in Fort Worth!  The coolest part? “February 27 – March 1, guests can enjoy all food at 50 percent off of normal menu pricing simply by checking in on their social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram.”

IN VINO VERITAS
Vivo 53 is now open in Downtown Fort Worth!  Stop in for Italian-style artisans pizzas, handmade pastas, and a pizza-flinging show.

Pizze (Sunny side up egg, bacon, Yukon gold potato & Bermuda onions)

Pizze (Sunny side up egg, bacon, Yukon gold potato & Bermuda onions)