Bourbon heist

Dallas restaurant not yet open suffers surprise bourbon theft

Rare bourbons can cost hundreds of dollars.

Photo by Alex Fletcher

The new Greenville Avenue restaurant Feed Company hasn't even opened yet, but it has already been burglarized by someone who knew its bourbon.

The restaurant, which is going into the former Nandina space at 5631 Alta Ave., will focus on good food with an exceptional list of bourbons. But that list of bourbons is already smaller than it was a week ago.

Owners Sameer Patel, Patrick Bruce, and Anthony Rivera were readying for business when their spiffy new eatery was broken into early on the morning of June 6.

"We were going to do a soft opening this week, but we came to the restaurant on Tuesday morning and discovered we'd had a break-in — someone stole a good portion of our bourbon collection," Patel says.

According to the police report, the thieves cut the electrical boxes on the building's exterior before they broke in. They broke through a glass door to gain entry, and stole an ipad, wine — and high-priced bourbon.

"We had 138 bourbons that we'd painstaking detailed, with some of those bourbons reserved well in advance," Patel says. "Patrick, who chose the bourbon, said they took very specific bourbons from our collection. Several were high-dollar and rare that we were able to get because of our large initial purchase."

Burglars used two bar trash cans to carry out the bourbon. The glass was a custom installation that will take weeks to replace. Meanwhile, the owners have been calling spirits distributors to see what they can replace. With some of these ultrarare bourbons, there is actually a limited number of bottles available.

According to website Breaking Bourbon, bourbon has experienced a massive growth in demand, with new distillery startups, rising prices, and a rapidly increasing number of new product labels, "flooding the mainstream in cocktails, food, art, marketing, and pop culture."

Local liquor distributors, who prefer not to be named, say that, while this kind of theft is not common, it's not unprecedented. In 2015, a bourbon theft ring was uncovered that involved cult bourbon maker Pappy Van Winkle, among others, although the perpetrators turned out to be former distillery employers.

"With some bourbons going for $400-$500 a bottle, that's something you can re-sell for thousands," says one sales rep. "You'd have to find a customer willing to buy it without knowing where it's from. You could also sell it online. Technically, you're not supposed to, but it's being done."

Feed Company isn't even open yet or well-known, so the list of suspects seems small. Patel says that they considered postponing their opening, but decided to push forward. "We decided not to let this stop us," he says.

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A Toast

Dallas distiller launches zero-proof liquor line and hosting accessories

Photo courtesy of Teaspoon

It's the brand's first line of non-alcoholic beverages.

The zero-proof liquor movement keeps gaining momentum, and the latest to take a seat at the bar is Teaspoon, from the Dallas-based Dynasty Spirits.

The brand's first line of non-alcoholic whiskey, tequila, gin, and "Italian Spritz" (comparable to the main ingredient in a certain bright-orange cocktail) are already available for shipping nationwide, and the company promises they will be carried by more than 400 Texas retailers by year's end. Each 700ml bottle is priced at $32.99.

“Teaspoon was born from a simple belief: that the drink in your hand should match the moment you’re in,” says founder Devin Odell. “Teaspoon isn’t just zero-proof spirit alternatives, it’s a statement. It offers a fresh option for those who expect more from what’s in their glass: more flavor, more intention, more celebration.”

For the mocktail connoisseurs out there, here's a quick overview of each bottle's tasting notes:

The zero-proof whiskey has cherry, vanilla, caramel, and citrus zest on the nose. The palate opens with a bourbon-style sweetness and finishes dry and peppery.
The zero-proof tequila has the aroma of cracked black pepper with hints of pineapple and guava, and tastes of fresh bell pepper up front. Citrus mid-notes add brightness and it's rounded off with a lightly sweet oak finish.
The zero-proof gin's nose brings lemon zest and elderflower, and its taste is dry and herbal like a true London Dry gin.
The zero-proof Italian Spritz balances sweet red licorice and bitter orange peel on the nose. The palate starts with orange-candy brightness and progresses to juicy grapefruit before finishing with a lingering herbal bitterness.

The name Teaspoon is reflective of the culinary measuring tool's history, and how the gilt silver spoons were once prized by England's upper crust due to the initial rarity of tea imported from Asia.

The Texas-born Odell founded Dynasty Spirits in 2010, and the brand's portfolio currently includes Pezuña Blanca tequila, Townes vodka, Green House vodka and gin, Lasso Motel whiskey, and Painted Donkey tequila.

Launching in tandem with Teaspoon’s non-alcoholic beverages is a collection of custom retail products in collaboration with Marcello Andres, Shelton Metal, Tom Adam, Match 1995, A Bientot, WP Standard, and more. Currently, that includes linen cocktail napkins, glassware, and a set of artful pewter teaspoons, each representing a different zero-proof liquor.

Dallasites can taste and shop at Teaspoon's launch event: November 6 at at the Shop Swoon boutique inside the Joule Hotel. Bottles will be available for purchase there through November 9.

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