Last week, several of us received an email titled “Dallas’ Most Insta-Worthy Drink” alerting us to the presence of a “Cinderella Story” cocktail at Happiest Hour. It’s made with Zephyr Gin, La Marca prosecco, lavender, and lemon, and served in a golden carriage bowl. It’s $75 and serves five or six people. It also started a mildly heated debate about whether it’s totally silly or maybe kind of cool.
Below are some hot takes (admittedly, some are a little lukewarm) from our female editors, presumably the main target for “Cinderella Story.”
Kathy Wise | Executive Editor
Not cool.
To be fair, I’m not really a glass slipper wearing, bedazzled carriage kind of gal. Back in my princess charming glory days, I was more of a Dansko clog and Dodge Ram conversion van kind of grrrl. But I do love gin. And prosecco. And lemon and lavender. If you put the drink in something butcher—say, a mini Jeep Wrangler with a rainbow trucker hat on top—I may be convinced. Otherwise, I pass.
Eve Hill-Agnus | Dining Critic
Crazy. What the hell? Pure tease. How am I supposed to get a straw in there?
Caitlin Clark | Online Managing Editor
I was turned off at first, but now I’ve come around to thinking it’s kind of cool. BUT only if it’s for my birthday, or a bachelorette party, or something of that ilk. (I’d want to wear the crown.) Otherwise, I’d staunchly be in the camp of “seems a bit much.”
Catherine Downes | Online Dining Editor
It looks cheap. It’s meant for sharing, which means multiple straws and possibly backwash. People will inevitably fight over who gets to wear the plastic crown. I’d rather pay $75 on five well executed drinks all to myself. I’ll bring my own crown.
Sarah Bennett | Managing Editor of D Home
I will vote “cool” with Caitlin. It’s not enough to be #basic anymore—you have to be #extra. And this drink definitely qualifies as #extra. I agree that it’d be fun for a themed, albeit silly, celebration. A carriage and crown is a little much for, say, a Wednesday. Plus, I love gin.
Natalie Gempel | Online Arts Editor
I vote crazy. I love over-the-top drinks, but something about this doesn’t sit well with me. The carriage is giving miscellaneous-décor-from-Home Goods vibes and the crown could really be better. I would still drink it.
Jessica Jones Otte | Executive Editor of D Home
As much as I like my alcohol disguised past the point of detection, that’s strictly in terms of sugary mixers. Both in drinking and photo-boothing, I am staunchly anti-prop. Instead of wasting your precious pennies on marked-up liquor in tiny golden carriages, put that money in your 401k instead, kids, and get off my lawn while you’re at it. CRAZY.
