This week in gluttony

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

One fun festival lets you taste whiskey from nearly a dozen different distilleries.

Photo courtesy of Winter Whiskey Tasting Festival

As many schools are now back in session, fittingly, this week is all about tasty education. Events range from “Wine 101” and “Pitmaster University” to an informative Italian wine tasting class and a sushi-making class. There are also two festivals on the docket — one celebrating whiskey and an inaugural multi-day festival wine and food festival hosted by the Dallas Symphony. Let the learning begin and the whiskey flow.

Saturday, August 28

Pitmaster University Series at Oak’d BBQ
Learn the basics of barbecuing at this three-hour class led by Oak’d BBQ pitmaster Michael Lane. Participants will master selecting and trimming meat; controlling temps and timing; and perfecting rubs, seasoning, and marinades. The class comes with a “survival kit” with gear and swag, along with lunch and beer. Class is $225 per person and will run from 8-11 am.

Wine 101 at Neighborhood Cellar
The Bishop Arts wine bar and bottle shop has relaunched its Wine 101 classes. Next up on the schedule is a class all about natural wine. Participants will try four types along with snacks from Fount Board & Table. Class is $35 per person and will run from 12-1 pm.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Wine & Food Festival
The inaugural series of events will feature wine from around the world, champagnes, craft brews, local spirits, and tastes from celebrated Dallas restaurants. The biggest event of all is the Symphony of Flavors Grand Tasting, to be held at the Meyerson on Saturday from 12-3 pm. Participating restaurants include Malai Kitchen, Haywire Uptown, and Krio. Tickets are $98 per person. There’s also the Bubbles & Bites Champagne Brunch Tasting at the Meyerson at 11 am Sunday ($95 per person). Also plan for two educational Sunday afternoon seminars — one on Riedel wine glasses (Sunday at 1:30 pm, $125, includes a set of four glasses) and one on Chardonnay (4 pm, $89).

Dallas Summer Whiskey Tasting Festival
Taste whiskey from nearly a dozen different distilleries at Bottled Blonde in Deep Ellum. Tickets range from $50 per person for 15 tasting tickets to $75 for 20 tasting tickets, a bar bites buffet, and early entry. The event runs from 4-6 pm with entry available as early as 2:30 pm for premium ticketholders. Participating distilleries include Blackland Distillery, Three Chord Bourbon, and Traverse City Co.

Sip & Savor Wine Tasting at Eataly
The Italian culinary wonderland at NorthPark will host an educational wine tasting covering the Fruili-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Learn about different grape varietals and indulge in Italian small bites. Note that class registration closes two days before the event by noon. Class is $55 per person and begins at 6 pm.

Sunday, August 29

Ichi Ni San Sushi Class
Learn how to make sushi rolls and fold potstickers at this hands-on class hosted by the experts at Ichi Ni San and Second Floor at The Exchange Hall. A sake sampling will help wash everything down. The class is $100 per person and will run from 6-8 pm.

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Cocktail Time

Where to drink in Dallas: 7 holiday drink specials for December

Courtesy photo

Festive drinking at the Miracle Bar.

Dallas in December is brimming with holiday festivities, and that includes cocktails: from over-the-top pop-up bars to extravagantly priced cocktails to drinks with a festive Christmas theme.

We're covering all that and more in this edition of Where to Drink, our monthly column recommending the best places to have to drink in Dallas:

The Charlotte
American bistro and bar recently opened on Henderson Avenue has three specialty holiday cocktails starting at $14. There's a butterscotch espresso martini with Revel Stoke Butterscotch, Baileys Espresso Cream, and espresso; cranberry paloma, with Don Julio tequila, grapefruit, cranberry, and a splash of Squirt; and a twist on hot chocolate. Called The Charlotte's hot chocolate, it features house-made cocoa with red wine and Mozart Dark Chocolate liqueur. The space has also been decorated with red hanging ornaments and wreaths and bows on the walls to enhance the holiday vibe.

The Mansion Bar
Don't come to this swanky bar inside the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek if you're looking for a happy hour. For holiday high-rollers they have a crazy special “Elf on the Top Shelf” menu of four cocktails priced at $75 each — not kidding. There's the Evergreen Elixir with Macklowe Gold Whiskey, L.N.Mattei Cap Corse Rouge Quinquina, and Fot-Li Vermut; the Midwinter Manhattan with High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Rye Whiskey, Alessio Vermouth di Torino Rosso, and Angostura Bitters; the Golden Hearth with Casa Del Sol Angel’s Reserve Añejo Tequila, prickly pear cordial, lime, orange bitters; and the Shiver & Shine with Belvedere 10 Organic Vodka, Mulassano Vermouth di Torino Bianco, and orange bitters.

Miracle at Aussie Grind
Australian-inspired cafe in Frisco has transformed into a “Miracle” pop up bar with a variety of specialty cocktails including the Christmasaurus, a tropical drink with pineapple rum, mezcal, apricot liquor, coconut milk, and coffee; Rudolph’s Replacement, with vodka, coffee liqueur, orange curacao, chai syrup, almond milk, and aromatic bitters; and hot buttered rum. True to form for a Miracle bar, the drinks come in collector cups like Santa pants and boots that can be purchased. The drinks range from $16-$18.

Omni PGA Frisco
Resort and PGA District has holiday-themed cocktails at six of its dining outlets through December. Trick Rider has a Pecan Manhattan with Brown Butter Woodford Reserve, Carpano Antica, pecan bitter and candied pecan. The Ice House has Bourbon & Bells with Bourbon, apple, cinnamon, and torched rosemary; Lounge By Topgolf has Down the Chimney, with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Baileys Original Irish Cream, vanilla ice cream, and Oreo. The Lookout has a Sugar Plum Sparkler featuring an edible shimmer, Gingerbread Old Fashioned, and Milk & Cookies, with espresso martini mix and Baileys Irish Cream.

Red Lobster
Seafood chain is cutting us a break with a newly launched weekday Happy Hour from 3-6 pm featuring $5 drink specials and $2 off select starters. Drink specials include margarita, Long Island iced tea, Tito's Twisted Strawberry Lemonade, 14-ounce Blue Moon draft, 14-ounce Bud Light draft, 6-ounce Mark West pinot noir, and six-ounce Ecco Domani pinot grigio. Discounted starters include lobster flatbread, seafood-stuffed mushrooms, crab queso, lobster dip, and mozzarella cheese sticks.

Sanjh
Indian restaurant in Irving has four holiday drinks with wonderfully exotic flavors: The Autumn Old Fashioned has Bulleit bourbon, amaretto, maple syrup, and almond flakes; Golden Glow has turmeric-infused Ketel One vodka, velvet falernum, and orange bitters; Harvest Spritz has Tanqueray gin, spiced cranberry syrup, lime, and cranberry dust; and the Negroni Royal has jasmine tea-infused Tanqueray, saffron-infused Campari and rose petal-kissed sweet vermouth. Cocktails are $16.

Very Merry Village at The Village Dallas
Mixed-use community in East Dallas is hosting a pop-up on the second floor of The Village Country Club Wednesday-Sunday until December 29, all decked out with Christmas trees. The menu has seven festive cocktails, including Mrs. Claus’ cranberry spritz, with La Marca Prosecco, cranberry juice, and ginger beer; Santarita, with Patron Reposado, Raspberry Liqueur, Cointreau, Agave, Lime; and a salted caramel espresso martini. There’s also a selection of draft and canned beers, wine, and champagne. Drinks range from $12-$14. Entry is free.

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