Trick Pony Throws Down the Gauntlet: 80 Cocktails From Around the World in 80 Days

Spring break, for some of you lucky folks, has come and gone. But how about the rest of us, the weary (and thirsty), chained to our desks 260-some odd days of the year? Trick Pony has just the trick for us, a new themed menu that will take drinkers around the world in 80 cocktails, no power outlet adapters required.

It started March 13 and will continue for the next 12 weeks. Each Tuesday, we'll see six new cocktails representing various cities, countries and regions throughout the world to take us on a culture-filled journey from China to Chinatown without having to deal with currency exchange rates.

The cocktails are slightly less intricate than the usual offerings at Trick Pony, but rolling out a new menu 13 weeks in a row is daunting for even advanced bartenders. More ambitious than the sheer number of menus at this small bar over the next three and a half months? Trick Pony will offer all 80 cocktails during week 14. So if you missed your bucket list destination and want a little taste, set your itinerary to be in the bar every day the week of June 12.

Yes, this idea is intriguing, but why not take it a step further and make it a learning experience? Don't just order the Nineteen Twentyfour (Palm Arrack, sherry, Maraschino, and fortified wine representing Sri Lanka); ask why it's representative of the island, or, hell, what arrack is. Or maybe learn how to say "cheers" in the language spoken in the region that inspired your drink.

The most exciting thing about this new menu (aside from having new options every week), is that while this journey could take us around the world, it's starting right in our backyards. For example, Ben Leath, Harlowe’s executive chef, harvested the flowers featured in the Sakura Martini (pictured above) himself.

With a price tag of just $10 a cocktail, trying all 80 is less than a ticket to London. Cheers to that.

Trick Pony (inside Harlowe MXM), 2823 Main St. (Deep Ellum)