Mr. Dallas

Henry’s Majestic, at McKinney and Monticello, has familiar decor but original drinks.

Mr. Dallas: Advanced studies in cocktails go beyond the obvious Dallas bars

Henry’s Majestic near Highland Park and the Gin Mill on Henderson Avenue provide higher cocktail education

Nikki Taylor enjoys herself at the Bulleit Whiskey Woody Tailgate Trailer in front of the Rye 51 men's clothing boutique in West Village on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014.

Dark rooms: A number of vacant nightspots in Dallas deserve another shot at success

Vodka cocktails go beyond the cosmo

A Blind Lemon Sour (left) and a Silvertone cocktail at Midnight Rambler

Glam up at Dallas’ new craft cocktail bar, Midnight Rambler

The new lounge at the Joule hotel downtown features high-octane mixologists and a retro-rock look and sound.

A cocktail called the "absinthe frappe" at Parliament in Dallas on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014.

Parliament’s generous happy hour is a bigger draw than its absinthe

Parliament lounge makes the pitch for absinthe, but its generous happy hour is much more of a draw.

Priscilla Gould (left) and Cait Feltch serve drinks Le Vú.

Dallas’ nightlife scene is brimming with possibilities

Want to strike a pose or sip in silence? These Dallas nightspots can take you there

Barter -- Rocco Milano is the sly genius behind the adult beverages here, mixing classics given a twist and his own concoctions in a fun continuing education for cocktail fans. He’s also instituted spendy ($65) flights that cut across spirit categories. For example, the deep-pocketed sipper can compare and contrast Casa Dragones tequila with Johnnie Walker Blue scotch and a Ron Navazos rum. Barter makes a great counterpoijnt to the rowdier scene next door at Del Frisco’s Grille.

Mr. Dallas: The top spots in Uptown to grab a good drink

McKinney Avenue is the main circuit cable, running from downtown to the brink of the Park Cities, with bars of every description, but especially strong on cocktail lounges.

The top spots south of Downtown Dallas to grab a good drink

Music and cocktails have been major contributors to the rehabilitation of the once sorely neglected neighborhood.

The Blue Martini at The Shops at Legacy in Plano

Need a good drink in Plano? Here are Mr. Dallas' picks for the best spots

The night life here is supersized, glossy and blithely middle-brow, with the Shops at Legacy positioed as the Vatican City of aspirational consumption.

The top spots in Oak Lawn to grab a good drink

This is quite a polyglot arena for fun, in parts sketchy, spendy and, in general, quirky. The two main drags, Oak Lawn and Lemmon, reflect the changing demographics.

The top spots in Knox-Henderson where you can get a good drink

Knox-Henderson, especially the long, winding, congested stretch of Henderson east of North Central Expressway, has exploded as a night-life destination in the last decade. It’s taken the place of Lower Greenville in the affections of the young and frivolous.

Demand for rye whiskey is surging, and distillers want in on the action.

The liquid arts: Little rye lies and more

Many boutique whiskeys were tailored at the same mega-distillery. Nolet’s Gin makes a pleasantly different martini.

Eddie “Lucky” Campbell elevates the Old-Fashioned and other classics at his just-opened place in Uptown.

Bartenders are the focus at new Parliament lounge

Bartenders and their craft are the focus of attention at the new Parliament lounge in Uptown

The dining area view during "soft service" at Proof + Pantry in Dallas, TX on August 23, 2014. Proof + Pantry opens to the public on August 27.

Mr. Dallas: Proof + Pantry opens in One Arts Plaza

Top local bartenders are part of the draw here.

An Esquire 45 at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

Mr. Dallas’ top nightspots: 40 places where you can get a good drink

In this land of Balloon Smugglers and Shirt Guys, there are places where you can get a well-made cocktail.

The French 75 at Pappas Bros. Steakhousel PBSH French 75

Mr. Dallas: Summer sips at Pappas Bros.

The lineup includes the Monks Finale, perfect for “the first quiet drink of the evening in a quiet bar”

Cody Martin digs into a sandwich at Scotch and Sausage.

Scotch and Sausage is a new option for Dallas’ bleary-eyed bar-hoppers

Scotch and Sausage, new to Oak Lawn Avenue, provides a meaty recovery for late-night revelers

Patrons of Truth & Alibi have to say a 'secret' password at the door before allowed to enter.

Secret speakeasy hidden in a candy shop brings a touch of intrigue to Deep Ellum

Truth & Alibi, the Deep Ellum speakeasy behind a candy-store facade, offers the usual suspects a touch of intrigue.

Cocktails (from left) Son of a Peach, Green Drank and the Delorian at The Establishment in Dallas on Friday, May 16, 2014.

Addison’s Table 13 takes ’60s Las Vegas nostalgia to heart

Table 13 in Addison takes 1960s Las Vegas nostalgia to heart with classic cocktails and sturdy pours

Bar manager Joanna Bellomy comes up with creative combos at Jack Mac’s.

Slake your curiosity at Jack Mac’s Swill and Grill

The idiosyncratic bar on Preston Road gives Texas spirits pride of place and offers booze and beer combos such as the Kir Royal Ale.

Celebrity Chef Stephan Pyles has replaced his Samar restaurant with San Salvaje, a casual, high-energy restaurant inspired by the cuisines and cultures of Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Cuba.

Sipping is easier than saying at San Salvaje

The new restaurant on Ross Avenue highlights South American spirits piso and cachaça in a sour and the caipirinha, respectively.

The Manhattan cocktail at the bar at Knife Steakhouse at the Hotel Palomar in Dallas on Monday, May 19, 2014.

Mr. Dallas: An archaeological dig at Knife steakhouse

The new steakhouse reclaims some hoary cocktails from infamy, including the Amaretto Sour and Long Island Iced Tea.

Sip drinks while dipping your toes into the pool at Nylo Soda Bar

Want to look cool beside the pool? Here are two Dallas hot spots

Water works: As the weather warms up, the pool patios at Hotel ZaZa and Nylo Dallas South Side will prove irresistible to Dallas night-lifers. Here’s a quick refresher on both.

Julie Bennett mixes a La Flor Roja cocktail at the Pyramid Bar.

Mr. Dallas: Grow and behold with cocktails at the Pyramid

New seasonal cocktails at the Fairmont’s Pyramid benefit from herbs grown on the hotel’s roof.

So & So's opening night, on Friday, April 18, 2014 on McKinney Avenue in Dallas.

Mr. Dallas: Round and round at So & So’s

The pizza place with a loungy feel is just settling into the former Primo’s space on McKinney Avenue

Bartender Jared Short at Mexican Sugar Cocina y Cantina in Plano

Mr. Dallas: Two upscale drinking spots, each worth a shot

Two newish upscale restaurants, Mexican Sugar in Plano and Mesero Miguel on Henderson Avenue, stand far apart geographically and culturally, but offer similarly satisfying tippling.Mexican Sugar, in the...

A Vieux Carre cocktail at Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar shot Wednesday, February 20, 2013 in Plano.

Mr. Dallas: Sips of the season

Mescal and chartreuse make a good showing in fresh cocktails for spring

Charlie Moore from the Standard Pour works his magic during a cocktail competition at Cook Hall.

Mr. Dallas: Kit yields a caboodle of drink possibilities

Eight competitors use Cook Hall’s cocktail kit to create a blackboard-worthy libation at the W hotel restaurant.

The bar at Bowen House, a new Uptown lounge, reflects the trend toward showcasing a wider array of alcohol.

Dallas bartenders are giving obscure liquors their due

The mixology movement means obscure liquors are getting pride of place on bar shelves around town.

Dee Lincoln Steak and Burger Bar’s specialty cocktails feature Texas spirits. Sophia Noormahomed, left and Manila Agarwal sit at the outdoor bar at Dee Lincoln Steak and Burger Bar on November 7, 2013 in Dallas. The restaurant, owned by Dee Lincoln, features dishes including steakhouse street tacos, miso eggplant, baby kale salad, and Dee's cut steak.

Mystifying mixology: Classic cocktails gone wrong at two Dallas bars

Offbeat takes on classic cocktails go wrong at Dee Lincoln’s burger bar and the Henderson Tap House.

Confectionary cocktails are a big draw at the Greenville Avenue burger spot.

Unserious drinking at new Grub Burger Bar

Frivolity is priced to sell at this Greenville Avenue spot that offers spiked milkshakes and Four Dollar Ritas.

From L to R, Maple Bacon Manhattan and Farmers Mark at Nickel & Rye on February 27, 2014.

Mr.Dallas: Grain gains at McKinney Avenue's Nickel and Rye

The lounge on McKinney Avenue features a wide range of ryes, bourbons and scotches and a “nickel shot” (with purchase of a Texas draft beer).

J.R. Ewing Private Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was served at Village Kitchen following the premiere of the new season of Dallas.

J.R. Ewing bourbon splashes down in Dallas

The new whiskey, honoring the legendary TV character, debuted with a screening and cocktail party at Highland Park Village.

Concept Beverage Manager Matt Tanner prepares an Olivier's Tart on January 8, 2014 at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Dallas.

Mr. Dallas: Matt Tanner mixes winners for Pappas Bros. Steakhouses

The veteran of Houston’s busy Anvil Bar has created a distinguished cocktail list for the restaurant group.

Holiday timeout: All this tinsel-choked, family-soaked togetherness can get a little wearing. That’s why on any evening between the big calendar dates — Christmas and New Year’s Eve — you’ll see throngs of exiles from Norman Rockwell canvases cozying up next to strangers to down a few. Scroll through the slideshow for some reliable refuges. -- Mr. Dallas

Mr. Dallas: Tired of the family? Head to a bar

Tipplers seeking a break from holiday home and hearth can cozy up to a steakhouse lounge or a hotel bar.

Eddie "Lucky" Campbell (left) and Ryan Wehner mix drinks during a charity fundraiser at the Standard Pour.

Mr. Dallas: Cocktails were king in 2013

Tipplers seeking a break from holiday home and hearth can cozy up to a steakhouse lounge or a hotel bar.

Imperia: Armagnac, apple, lemon, Aperol, Champagne at the Bar at Abacus in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, November 20, 2013.

Mr. Dallas: A vigorous new wine-and-spirits program at Abacus

Seasonal additions to the cocktail menu were revealed last week. They include two unalloyed delights and one historical curiosity.

Smyth's Lafayette, a take-off on a Sazerac, features rye, apricot cordial and an absinthe rinse. (Vernon Bryant)

Mr. Dallas: The ascent of man (cocktail edition)

One pilgrim’s progress from sweet and cheap to austere and pricey followed a familiar path.

Winstons Supperclub in Oak Lawn has enclosed its patio and created a separate lounge called OMG. It's open to the public early on weeknights and becomes a VIP area on weekends. Photographed Wednesday, October 23, 2013.

Mr. Dallas: Drink in the delights of the new Joule

Winstons Supperclub re-engineers its patio as a separate OMG lounge that opens early on midweek evenings.

Brian McCullough (left) of Standard Pour and Mate Hartai (right of the Libertine from the winning team. Not shown is Scott Melton of Standard Pour.

Mr. Dallas: Monkey Shoulder business at Lark on the Park

A cocktail competition thrown by the blended scotch brand demonstrates you really can have too much of a good thing.

The Dram Cocktail Lounge at 2918 N Henderson Ave. at Miller in Dallas Texas on Feb 16th, 2012. ORG XMIT: CR

Mr. Dallas: The Dram’s dual identity

The serious whiskey bar is also a frothy meet market. Jägermeister Spice makes for delightful cocktails.

Guests enjoy the music and drinks at Monroe Lounge in Dallas, TX, on Sep. 13, 2013.

Mr. Dallas: Getting our fill of cocktail lounges

Mixology continues to boom, with Parliament, Bowen House and Mirth & Refuge due this fall or beyond.

Sense, which opened in 2002, was an upscale haven for an elite crowd.

Mr. Dallas: Remember when night life made Sense

Cocktail lounges continue to boom, with Parliament, Bowen House and Mirth & Refuge due this fall or beyond.

Guests drink, dance and swim during a pool party at Sisu in Uptown.

Mr. Dallas: Saying sayonara to summer at Dallas' swanky pool clubs

Labor Day weekend will feature visiting DJs at Sísu and Ku De Ta and the 12inch Pimps at the W hotel.

A small sample of The Second Floor bar's scotch and whisky selection. Located at the Galleria Westin, the bar has more than 100 different kinds of whisky and scotch available.

Mr. Dallas: Enjoy the transient delights of hotel bars

A commitment to cocktails accompanies the comings and going at Asador, Gossip Bar and the Second Floor.

Tyler Atha, 26; Simms Carbine, 25; and Sloan Armstrong, 24, enjoy cocktails and conversation on the tree-shaded, wooden patio at Boxwood Tap & Grill Thursday, July 25, 2013 in Dallas. The brand new establishment recently replaced Thomas Avenue Beverage Company on the corner of Thomas Avenue and Allen Street in Uptown Dallas.

Respectable rehabs: Uptown club, downtown lounge boast more than new names

New owners completely redid TABC, while the Chesterfield got a different name, Prohibition, and a shorter cocktail list.

A bar view of Lounge 31 at the Highland Park Village in Dallas, TX on June 5, 2012.

Mr. Dallas: A final desperate plea for ‘legible dressing’

A Lounge 31 infested with portly men in shorts and flip-flops leaves one observer pining for “dress for success” days.

The Quarter Bar is serving French Quarter inspired cocktails for summer, shown Tuesday, July 9, 2013.

Mr. Dallas: After 13 years, the Quarter Bar finally has a cocktail list

The relaxed nightspot on McKinney Avenue plays off the Big Easy connection with a Hurricane, a Sazerac and more.

Boca Chica features a a variety of cocktails including Top-shelf margarita on the rocks with salt, left, Hola Pablo and Avo-Rita, at The Shops at Park Lane in Dallas, Texas, shown on Thursday, April 24, 2013.

Mr. Dallas: Middlebrow margaritas suit him fine

The queen of summer cocktails shows its stuff at Luna de Noche, Mi Cocina, Boca Chica and elsewhere.

Guests drink, dance and swim during a pool party at Sisu in Dallas, TX, on May 5, 2013.

Mr. Dallas: Navigate the shallows this summer at pool clubs

Pool clubs of the moment include Sísu Uptown Resort, which missed the last sunning season.

Bond martinis at the Aston Martin and James Bond 007 themed party at Timothy Oulton furniture gallery in Dallas on December 13, 2012.

Mr. Dallas: Two tomes tackle the liquid arts

“An Illustrated Guide to Cocktails” is brief but witty, while “The Book of Gin” is scholarly but fun.