Dreamy Library-Inspired Bar

Hey Y'all!

This past weekend was so much fun! We had a great friend, Lindsay, come visit us for the weekend. She was invited to a style blog conference here in Dallas and we got to host her for the whole weekend!! You should totally check out her amazing style on her blog Pink and Navy Stripes.

While she had various events during the day learning blog-licious skills, we could hang out at night and show her around town! We had so much fun that I forgot to take more pictures! So sorry but I know Lindsay took some, so check out some pictures on her blog coming up! 

While Lindsay wined and dined with her fellow bloggers on Saturday night,  Andy and I checked out a super fun bar in Uptown called the Standard Pour and watched the Wild playoff game. Complete with leather couches, old wooden tables, an outdoor patio with open doors (of course) and floor to ceiling wall of just whiskey behind the bar (see photo below). It was super cozy and reminded us of old bars in Europe. There was even a ladder on a rail for the bartenders to reach the "top shelf" whiskeys like in those dreamy libraries. 

Their menu featured mainly delicious, uniquely-named cocktails of many varieties (not just whiskey) and only one tap (Stella). Normally Andy and I would hit up a place that prided themselves on the wide assortment of beer taps behind the bar and we'd try a new local craft beer, but tonight it was about the cocktails. Actually, it was pretty hilarious when we would hear someone try to order a Bud Light (remember the craft beer scene is still growing here). The bartender would just say, "We don't have that." The customer would then say, "What other light beers do you have?" Response? "We don't have light beers." Touche bartender, touche. They actually have Stella on tap that I would consider light, and quite a variety of bottled beers, but the bartender just said no. I agree. Life is too short to drink crappy beer, and if you are in a place with this much whiskey on the wall, just ask the bartender their favorite one and I guarantee you'll enjoy it. 

You can see me here with a Moscow Mule (vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and mint) in its signature copper mug. It is so refreshing! It's kinda like a mix between a mojito and a gin and tonic flavor-wise without the pine needles. De-lish! Andy ordered the "Standard Pour" which is their own version of an Old-Fashioned and may, just may, be the best Old Fashioned I've had. 

We sat at the bar because there was no open tables but we got to witness the bartenders do their magic. We watched one make fancy drink after fancy drink and then.....the Gringo in a Pine Box. Yes that is the actual name of the drink. I don't know everything in it but between burning a twig of rosemary with a mini blow torch and letting it smoke inside a glass before adding the numerous flavors of bitters, whiskey, and, yes, absinthe, it was one cocktail for the adventuresome. 

They apparently have a pretty amazing weekend brunch (think fried chicken and waffles covered in ancho-jalopeno gravy, breakfast tacos, and apple pancakes! mmmm!) and dinner menu so we will definitely be returning again. If we go for dinner, you will see me in a dress and heels because if we go for that Gringo in a Pine Box, you gotta do it looking good! 

Love ya!

Betsy, Andy, and Lincoln