Gone are the days when frozen drinks only meant margaritas and piña coladas — and maybe a daiquiri or two. Today’s blended concoctions are much more sophisticated and involved. Fresh ingredients are combined with stylish spirits, either whirled in a blender to order or poured from a dedicated drink machine. Garnished with summer fruit and herbs, they’re as Instagram-friendly as they are tasty. Here are five of Fort Worth’s best spots for frozen cocktails.
Water Horse Pool Bar at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel
It’s the summer of passion fruit at the downtown Fort Worth hotel, which means the tropical flavor appears in several dishes, drinks, and even spa treatments all summer long. At the posh pool bar, with its teak tables, cushioned loungers and vibrant floral, the list of passion fruit cocktails runs deep. Two are frozen: the Peachy Passion Freeze spiked with Belvedere peach nectar vodka, and the Mango Passion Daiquiri made with Cruzan mango rum. Both are blended to order, just like Jimmy Buffet would prefer.
America Gardens
Keep cool on the 10,000-square-foot, tree-lined patio with new frozen drinks. The West Seventh-area hot spot for party music and patio games has launched colorful libations including the frozen Blue Hawaiian garnished with a pineapple wedge, whipped cream-topped dreamsicle, pink frozen rose, and the frozen wild berry mojito finished with a slice of cucumber and mint leaves. Caution: the Instagram-friendly cocktails are as potent as they are pretty.
Gemelle
Word is the wait time for a table at Tim Love’s gorgeous new Italian restaurant can approach two hours or more. Fortunately the bar is open all day, so grab a seat and enjoy the only frozen Aperol spritz in town. Served in a tapered rocks glass, the coral-hued refresher is simply Aperol (an Italian aperitif with orange and rhubarb flavors) prosecco, and a splash of soda. It’s an Italian summer in a glass, perfect for sipping and strolling Love’s lush vegetable and herb garden while waiting for that table.
Bar 7 at the Food Hall at Crockett Row
Folks might not realize this fancy food court has a full bar, and there are four frozen cocktails worth visiting for right now. Try the classic frozen margarita; the frozen mule made with ginger beer, vodka and lime; the frozen rose; and the Irish Peach. The latter is brand new and combines Irish whiskey with peach liqueur and simple syrup. The food hall’s bar was recently rebranded as Bar 7, and will celebrate its grand opening June 15 with live music from Andrew Sevener, a finalist from NBC’s The Voice. The party will run from 4-9:30 pm, and admission is free.
4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge
Tiki drinks, with their endless vacation vibes, keep appearing on cocktail menus around town. But this Arlington bar, with its bamboo furnishings, totem poles, and tiki hut bar, is completely dedicated to the trendy cocktail category. Sail away (in spirit) to the South Pacific with the Headhunter, an alcoholic banana smoothie blended with dark rum and cinnamon and banana liqueurs. The Missionary’s Downfall is a fruitier frozen choice, blended with light rum, peach, lime, and mint. Both will get guests on island time in no time.
Passion fruit cocktails are on the menu at the Omni Hotel's pool bar.
