On the back wall of Lockwood Distilling Company, loopy lettering reads, “we’re all just one big family now.” Not that it needed to be spelled out. It already seemed to be the theme of this chilled-out neighborhood spot.
Lockwood opened in October. It’s in the shadow of a Richardson water tower and owned by a local husband-and-wife team, Sally and Evan Batt. It’s a large space with plenty of dining tables, a sizable patio, and windows that showcase the distilling equipment. The spirits, including rum, bourbon, and vodka, are all made on-site.
It was a Saturday evening, and, from a seat at the bar, I cast my gaze around the space. Couples and groups watched sports, sipped cocktails, and snacked on gourmet sandwiches. The vibe was low-key and friendly enough that strangers were comfortable interacting—especially about the game on TV.
Beside me, a good-looking guy came up to the bar and chatted with the bartender about her flat-brimmed hat. (It was very cool.)
“It was my 40th birthday present,” she said. “My friend makes hats locally.”
The guy commented upon the well-appointed brim, and she smiled. “Brimm—that’s actually the name of the company.”
Meanwhile, the sports-watchers erupted as the football game took a turn. I asked the hat-clad bartender which cocktail was the most popular, and she responded before I finished my question: Hibiscus Basil Lemonade. “Let’s do it,” I said.
Lockwood has the neutral tones of a trendy Uptown bar, a bit of country flavor (a painting of Willie Nelson hangs near the bar area), and a small menu of thoughtful drinks and dishes. It’s not gimmicky or astonishingly original, but it’s comfy. And I’m not saying I did, but it’s the kind of place you could quickly wind up four Hibiscus Basil Lemonades and two sandwiches deep before you even realized it.
And you’d probably be friends—or one big family—with everyone in the bar by then, too.
