Spring means flowers, whether in the form of gardens, crowns, or cocktails. Dallas bartenders are giving the season a nod by infusing their creations with petals and blooming ingredients, so drink up before summer hits and the heat causes even the sturdiest blossom to wilt.
American Beauty, Abacus
The food may be getting the spotlight right now, thanks to chef Christopher Patrick's James Beard House debut, but Abacus is still dominating behind the bar. There are several floral-inspired drinks from which to choose, but this beauty queen combines Ford's gin, Luxardo maraschino cherries, rose syrup, lemon, egg white, and pink peppercorn, then crowns it with dried rose buds. Even cocktails are wearing flower crowns now.
Moment of Zen, Eastwood's Bar
This casual Uptown spot just introduced a new weekday happy hour from 4-8 pm, with all by-the-glass drinks going for $5 and under. That includes craft cocktails such as this one, which mixes vodka, housemade Zen syrup, sparkling wine, and hibiscus — and it's only $3.
The Great Gatsby, High & Tight Barbershop
This speakeasy doubles down on flowers, using them as both an ingredient and a garnish. For $9 you get Aviation gin, pamplemousse rosé, orange, lemon, and a mist of orange blossom water, all topped with a delicate bloom.
Flora, Flora Street Cafe
With flowers in its name, of course this Stephan Pyles restaurant lets its cocktail menu blossom. The namesake takes junipero, lemon verbena, elderflower liqueur, creme de violette, and lavender bitters to produce a dreamy pink cocktail that's accented with a delicate flower sprig.
Bohemian Bloom, Midnight Rambler
The Joule's underground bar has a flower power-themed spring cocktail menu, with floral essential oils, hydrosols, extracts, honeys, pollen, roots, and dried flowers all going into several new libations. But this is the one to order if you're missing the the Rambler's formerly iconic Sonic Bloom. It has gentian (a pretty blue flower), Douglas fir, pear, grapefruit, elderflower, and brut sparkling wine.
The American Beauty at Abacus — even cocktails are wearing flower crowns now.
