Oh, hello summer. You’re sure early this year. North Texas is seeing a record-breaking heat wave right now, with no relief in sight through the immediate future. While temperatures are hovering around 15 degrees above normal, a frozen cocktail might be the only solution to keeping cool … and sane. Find respite at these five Fort Worth fan favorites for frosty beverages. Keep them coming, bartender. We might be here for a while.
Eskimo Hut
Curbside cocktails to-go aren’t new to this Fort Worth booze barn, which has been serving libations through driver’s-side windows for more than two decades. (Look for the drive-through barn under the big blue sign along W. Vickery Boulevard.) New Orleans-style frozen daiquiris come in countless flavor combinations, each served in a giant Styrofoam cup that is lidded and tightly sealed in plastic wrap. Fan favorite flavors include the Bob Marley, blended with strawberry, kiwi and mango flavors and the Purple Haze, a mix of Blue Hawaiian and Hurricane. Sizes range from small (12 ounces) to a gallon, and extra shots can be added to each concoction. Newer locations in far north Fort Worth and Arlington are convenient walk-in shops, but only the original has the popular drive-thru window.
Mutts Canine Cantina
Some of the tastiest frozen drinks in town are served at a Clearfork-area outdoor dog park. It’s where canines can play with fellow furry friends while their human parents sip cocktails from a full bar. The most popular frozen beverage here is the Barkarita, made with tequila, premium orange liqueur, and fresh lemon and lime juices. Add a sangria popsicle for an even cooler concoction. Other favorites are the frozen pomegranate lemonade made with vodka and the bourbon-based Texas mule made with ginger beer. There’s also a seasonal frozen special. Right now it’s the Peach Palmer — a boozy take on the classic Arnold Palmer combo of lemonade and iced tea. Mutts also serves a food menu with tasty bites for both pups and people.
Southern Classic Daiquiri Factory
This east Fort Worth daiquiri dive serves an authentic taste of Louisiana, not unlike many of the daiquiri destinations in the Bayou State that seem to be on every corner. There are dozens of flavor combinations of the colorful, frozen concoctions — from the Attitude Adjustment, made with tangerine and peach, to the Steel Magnolia, blended with White Russian and Strawberryrita. There’s a Cajun food menu, too — think crawfish pies, boudin balls, and fried catfish strips. Lots of table seating, a large screen for game-watching, and even a small stage for karaoke provide for an entertaining visit. Daiquiris are also available to-go in various sizes, from 16 ounces to a half gallon.
Paloma Suerte
Spanish for “lucky dove,” Paloma Suerte is chef Tim Love’s take on Tex-Mex and the all-important array of accompanying tequila cocktails. Located in Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stockyards, the colorful bar and restaurant sits along a hidden portion of Marine Creek. There’s a tree-shaded patio adorned with outdoor chandeliers and vibrant, shimmery ribbons hanging from the branches — the perfect place to sip one of Love’s seven cocteles frios — frozen cocktails made with Espolon Tequila. Flavors include watermelon, prickly pear, mango, blueberry, paloma, and signature house margarita, or combine them all for a Suicide Schooner in an 18-ounce glass. The sweet and frosty concoctions are half-off (normally $12) Monday through Friday from 4-6 pm. They’re also available to-go for sipping and strolling through the Stockyards.
WineHaus
Fort Worth’s most refreshing frosé is at this Park Place Avenue neighborhood wine bar, just nominated for a CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Bar of the Year. It’s blended fresh every Friday and Saturday with plump strawberries and chilled rosé wine. Anything that remains after the weekend is bagged up and frozen to sell throughout the week — but only while they last. The 10-ounce pours are available by the glass or to-go in pool-ready pouches. (Discussions of selling larger quantities are underway.) If you stay-and-sip, snag a spot on the landscaped patio where there’s a stage for live music, outdoor fans, and a beautiful 240-square-foot mural inspired by Monet’s "Water Lilies" painted by longtime bar manager Monica Wright.
Paloma Suerte has a whole menu of frozen cocktails.
