In the early 2020s, the Texas whiskey business boomed. As a result, Dallas has seen a rise in whiskey distilleries where the Texas climate puts its spin on the fermented grain mash. The state is brimming with interesting choices, but you don’t have to follow the Texas whiskey trail to experience some of the best pours. Journeying through Dallas’ many whiskey and bourbon bars is an adventure in itself.
From Michelin recognized bar programs to neighborhood gems stocked with hundreds of whiskey variations, these are Dallas’ best whiskey and bourbon bars.
Rye
Rye and its next-door avant-garde cocktail lounge concept, Apothecary, are Dallas’ brightest trophies. Rye bar manager, Julian Shaffer received a special award for exceptional cocktails during Michelin’s Texas debut; while Apothecary was recognized as a 2025 James Beard semifinalist for outstanding cocktails. Rye stocks more than 100 rye whiskeys, with its CEO and creative director, Tanner Agar recommending wheat bourbons like Weller, Redwood Empire, and Maker’s Mark 46 for new-to-whiskey drinkers. Whiskey finished in unique barrels like Saints Alley Nobleman Rye in Tokaji casks and Barrel Seagrass in Martinique Rhum, Madeira and apricot brandy barrels keeps things exciting. Rye’s rotating tasting menu pushes boundaries too, with items like desserts reconfigured into savory bites, rabbit chorizo cornbread stuffing, and fig and tomatillo mole. 1920 Greenville Ave., Dallas, rye.restaurant.com
Whiskeys
This Exposition Park bar is hailed as one of the best whiskey bars in Dallas, and beyond, and it’s not difficult to see why. An estimated 700 whiskey bottles make up an impressive shrine, while the bar’s sultry setting with dim lighting and dark wood finishes offer a moody atmosphere in which to imbibe. The bar features both classic and seasonal cocktails, 13 flights, six types of old fashioneds, and a signature cocktail list. Order the Dallas 75, an homage to Dallas crafted with Maker’s Mark 101, bubbles, Aperol, blood orange juice, house-made honey syrup and fresh lemon juice. 835 Exposition Ave., Dallas, whiskeysdallas.com
Triumphs Espresso & Whiskey
Triumphs Espresso & Whiskey is passionate about three things: espresso, jazz, and whiskey. By day, the Design District staple is a spacious coffee shop where getting lost in work or study is accompanied with espresso beverages, breakfast, and lunch menus. At night, it’s a jazz bar with an extensive spirits list. The coffee shop-bar hybrid stays open late Wednesday through Saturday evenings, with laptops prohibited after 7 p.m. There’s no cover, but the bar does enforce a one cocktail (or two non-alcoholic drink) minimum. Try the Bean There, Done That, made with 114 proof bourbon, coffee liqueur, Frangelico, Amaro Averna, cold brew and bitters, serving as the ideal transition from work to play. Feeling indulgent? Order a glass of rare cask-finished single-barrel WhistlePig the Boss Hog IX Siren’s Song rye whiskey. 141 Manufacturing St. Ste. 110, Dallas, triumphsdallas.com
Bourbon & Banter
When it first opened nearly 70 years ago, the Statler Hilton was the talk of the town. The swanky hotel debuted with 1,001 guest rooms spread across 18 floors, a rooftop heliport, ballroom, and a barber shop that would later be reimagined into an underground bourbon-dedicated speakeasy called Bourbon & Banter. The bar, located past a phone booth in which guests are granted a special code for entry, feels like a real speakeasy. The experiential hideaway is moody and low-lit, with floor-length drapery. Try bourbon-forward cocktails like the Pompadour, an instant hit made with Woodford Reserve, Diplomático Mantuano, demerara sugar, coconut, and orange and chocolate bitters. 1914 Commerce St., Dallas, bourbonandbanterdallas.com
The Old Monk
The Old Monk has been a Dallas institution longer than Texas whiskey has existed. In 1998, the watering hole brought a tiny piece of Ireland to Dallas when Dublin-native Feargal McKinney set out to open a neighborhood pub. The Henderson Avenue bar became a fast favorite, and is the kind of place where it’s easy to become a regular. Go for the divey charm, and stay for the Irish whiskey. The Old Monk offers 16 Irish whiskeys, an Irish whiskey sampler, more than 20 scotch varietals, American whiskey, and American Rye. Pair your pour with some of the best fish and chips in town. 2847 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas, oldmonkdallas.com
