A Spooky-Season Guide for Grown-Ups (DFW Edition)
Welcome, fellow connoisseurs of the nocturnal sip. As your resident mixologist-guide (with a dash of mischievous humor), I invite you to wander into the dimly lit corners of Grapevine and the wider DFW Metroplex, where fog machines hiss, candles flicker, and bartenders dare to twist your favorite libations into ghostly specters. Think of this as your haunted map of cocktails + atmosphere: not for the faint of heart (or light of liver).
Let’s raise a (black) glass to The Assaad Group’s mission of thoughtful curation, and blend our values of excellence, community, and warmth—yes, even when there’s dry ice involved.
🎃 Ghoul-worthy stops around DFW
📍 Wine Fusion Winery — Downtown Grapevine
Start your haunted crawl closer to home. Wine Fusion Winery—an upscale restaurant + tasting room in Historic Downtown Grapevine—offers a beautifully cozy environment to begin your spooky-season soirée.
While their regular menu highlights “pairing wonderful wines from all over the world” with scratch-kitchen fare, this time of year is ripe for a seasonal twist. Imagine a “Vampire’s Reserve”, where a bold red blend is spiced with a whisper of clove and black cherry, served with a drizzle of strawberry syrup at the rim. Or try a “Full Moon Blanc” — their crisp white wine base elevated with lychee liqueur, a touch of jasmine, and edible silver shimmer (it glows under blacklight).
Pair these with one of their small-plates (cheese flights, charcuterie, house flatbreads), and you have a refined “boo crawl” kickoff in your own backyard.
Bonus: don’t forget their Witches Brew Train on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad — an excursion that combines Halloween theatrics, themed food, and complimentary pours.
🕯 Pop-ups & immersive haunts in the Metroplex
Because the best kind of Halloween bar is one that sneaks up on you…
- Saint Rocco’s Devil’s Back Porch (Dallas pop-up): Running Oct 10–31, this spot transforms into a gruesome chamber of cocktails with names like The Manson and The Dahmer (yes, really), plus decor full of faux limbs and gore.
- Black Lagoon Pop-Up (Fort Worth / Nickel City): A national haunted-pop favorite, bringing savory, smoky cocktails (think beet + mezcal combos) and full-on ambiance.
- Swizzle’s Haunted Tiki Bar (Lower Greenville): Tiki meets terror, with offerings like Stranger’s Blood, Harlequin, and Ghost of Xmas Past, all served in spooky vessels.
- Quarter Bar (Uptown Dallas): From Oct 21–31, they deck out the space, offer themed libations, and host a costume contest (1st place gets a $250 gift card).
- The Official Dallas Halloween Bar Crawl: A ticketed event spanning multiple bar stops, costume vibes, and drink specials.
If you’re planning a crawl night, mix your own itinerary: start mellow in Grapevine, then head into the city for surprises. Reserve ahead — some events sell out fast.
🍹 Spooky Potions You (or your favorite bartender) Should Try
Here are four signature cocktails you can ask for (or recreate at home) — designed to wow visually and delight your palate.
| Name | Spirit Base | Key Flair | Serving Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haunted Harvest Negroni | Gin + Campari + sweet vermouth | Pumpkin spice bitters + cinnamon smoke | Serve in a rocks glass with a mini jack-o’-lantern orange peel |
| Black Widow’s Kiss | Black vodka (activated charcoal) + raspberry liqueur | Float of absinthe on top | Garnish: edible spider web (gummy + spun sugar) |
| Fog of the Fallen | Mezcal + elderflower liqueur + lime | Dry ice “fog” | Use a wide goblet, top with dried rosemary “witch’s broom” |
| Blood Moon Sangria | Red wine blend + blood orange juice + grenadine | Black cherry ice cubes (stain from within) | Serve in a carafe; rim glass in black sugar |
Tip from your mixologist: for activated charcoal vodka, you can filter plain vodka through a food-grade charcoal pouch (some bars stock it seasonally). Just monitor clarity — too much and it gets murky.
If you manage to score a bartender willing to let you mix in-bar, ask for a flash infusion: saran wrap over the shaker, lite charcoals, a twist of dried herb — dramatic and effective.
📅 Suggested Spooky Crawl Itinerary (One Night, Maximum Impact)
- Begin at Wine Fusion Winery — sip “Vampire’s Reserve,” share cheeses, warm up your palate.
- Catch the Witches Brew Train if timing aligns (weekends) — immersive, relaxing, eerie fun.
- Onward to Swizzle’s Haunted Tiki for a palate reset via tropical-terror flavor combos follow them on Instagram @swizzledallas for the Pop-Up location.
- Hit Saint Rocco’s Devil’s Back Porch for Instagram-bait gore theatrics and strong pours.
- Cap the night at Quarter Bar’s grand finale party + costume contest.
Pair each stop with small bites (spiced nuts, charcuterie, dark chocolate) to buffer the booze and keep your senses alive. We highly recommend a designating a driver or setting up an evening with friends and getting a bus or driver for the evening.
☠️ Safety & Curation Notes (Our Brand Promise in Drink Form)
- Pacing matters. The Assaad Group believes in thoughtful pacing: one theatrical drink per stop, not a chug marathon. You’ll enjoy instead of regret.
- Read the crowd. If your party skews more subtle than “full vampire drag,” ease into the spooky menus — don’t drown your evening (or your palate).
- Allergies & preferences. Ask about colorants, edible glitters, activated charcoal, or sugar rims (can be rough on some diets).
- Logistics. Book reservations. Plan your Uber or designated driver. Some pop-ups are ticketed.
- Behind the bar, not behind the scenes. If possible, engage bartenders — many of these pop-ups are passion projects. Ask about their favorite element (dry ice trick, garnish secret).
✨ Final Toast
Whether you start in cozy Grapevine or go full-tilt into DFW’s haunted cocktail circuit, Booze & Boos season is your chance to taste Halloween in every sip. Drink thoughtfully, dress dramatically, share the experience—and don’t let your taste buds ghost without a proper send-off.
Here’s to elderflower curses, black-rimmed rims, cauldrons that bubble, and spirits worth summoning. May your only regrets be “I should’ve had another.”
Happy haunting — and see you at the ghost bar.