Desert Door Texas Sotol now available online

Desert Door, a craft distiller of Texas sotol and distillery based in Driftwood, Texas, is excited to announce that it is now available for purchase online through Speakeasy Co. The spirit just celebrated its first successful year in business and recently expanded its distribution to bars, restaurants and retail stores in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and beyond. Given the brand’s continued growth and heightened demand, the launch of e-commerce was a natural progression for Desert Door. This new endeavor with Speakeasy Co. will give consumers across the country access to the unique spirit while the brand continues developing its operations and physical distribution in Texas. (Desert Door, 2018)

After a well-received debut in the Austin and San Antonio markets last fall and winter and a recent expansion into the Dallas and Houston markets and counting, Desert Door is carrying the momentum forward through the addition of this e-commerce platform that provides national shipping to 41 states. It is not currently available for other countries, PO Boxes, Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Dakota, Utah, Alaska, or Hawaii. Desert Door will start by selling its Original Desert Door Texas Sotol priced at $55.99 per 750 ml bottle online, with plans to add its 100-proof Desert Door Oak-Aged Texas Sotol variation to the e-commerce platform down the line when supply allows.

Desert Door is produced from the West Texas-grown evergreen sotol plant (Dasylirion texanum) and is currently the only domestically produced sotol on the market. There are two types of Desert Door: Original Desert Door Texas Sotol, a versatile and complex spirit that is organic, low calorie, and perfect for cocktails, and the 100-proof Desert Door Oak-Aged Texas Sotol, an ultra-premium sipping spirit aged in new American oak barrels.

Desert Door was founded in November 2017 by Texans Judson Kauffman, Ryan Campbell and Brent Looby. The founders are all former service members of the United States military and met while attending The University of Texas McCombs School of Business, where an elective course on entrepreneurship planted the seed that would lead to the group developing the only sotol distillery in the nation.

Specials at neighborhood eateries to bring in the new year

cover3brunch — The New Year’s Day Brunch at COVER 3 includes the Migas, among other delicious selections. Photo: Kirsten Kaiser, used with permission.

Christmas has come and gone and with the new year around the corner, San Antonians are looking for things to do on New Year’s Eve and New Years Day. Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Bar, Hotel Emma’s Sternewirth, The Esquire Tavern, Downstairs at The Esquire, COVER 3 and Pluckers Wing Bar have special events planned for anyone looking to celebrate in style. From parties the night before to New Year’s Day brunch, there is something for everyone. (Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Bar, Hotel Emma’s Sternewirth, The Esquire Tavern, Downstairs at The Esquire, COVER 3, Pluckers Wing Bar, 2018)

Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Bar will host a pre-fixe New Year’s Eve Dinner on Monday, December 31 from 5p.m. to 10p.m. Reservations will be required for the dinner with pricing at $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. A wine pairing option is available for an additional $35. The dinner menu will consist of five courses with options that include Dean + Peeler Beef Carpaccio with pickled cauliflower, red onion and salsa verde, Texas Citrus Salad with arugula and crispy shallots, Gulf Coast Flounder with Barton Springs Mill barely, grill kale and champagne caper butter, Chocolate Ganache Tart with Texas pecan crumble and dried cherry puree and more.

Hotel Emma’s Sternewirth will have a New Year’s Eve celebration to ring in the New Year with style. The party will kick off at 9p.m. and run until 2a.m. A classic black and white theme will be set for the night and guests are encouraged to dress accordingly. There will be a $25 cover that includes festive party favors and an evening of live Latin Jazz by Henry Brun. Guests who have booked rooms receive two complimentary admissions per room.

The Esquire Tavern & Downstairs at The Esquire will be ringing in 2019 on New Year’s Eve in style with a complimentary sparkling wine toast at midnight and offering $20 off of all bottles of sparkling wine for the night, including Downstairs’ extensive grower Champagne list. Reservations are available and recommended for both venues.

COVER 3 invites patrons to celebrate the first day of 2019 with their classic brunch. From 11a.m.to 3p.m. on Tuesday January 1, guests can enjoy select brunch items including Chilaquiles, Migas, Green Chile Beef Breakfast Enchiladas and Chicken Tinga Breakfast Enchiladas. Brunch will also feature COVER 3’s beloved U-Mix-It Bloody Mary & Bubbles Bar. The Bubbles Bar is a standalone station featuring four make-your-own mimosa options with cranberry, orange, grapefruit, peach nectar and pomegranate flavors as well as fresh fruit and juices; the Bloody Mary Bar offers a selection of mixes and condiments ranging from Applewood Smoked Bacon, House-Pickled Veggies, Jalapeños, Stuffed Olives and more.

Pluckers Wing Bar has a new way to celebrate New Year’s resolutions and is excited to announce the first ever Anti-Resolution event taking place on January 1 through January 6 at all locations. The Anti-Resolution specials include 50% off desserts and $1 addition on price for salads. The extra dollar will be donated to the Firefly Fund, a Texas nonprofit with a primary goal to finance the acceleration of research needed to find a cure for Niemann-Pick Type C1 (NPC1). NPC1 is a rare disease that is estimated to affect only 1 in 150,000 people. NPC1 belongs to a larger group of more than 50 disorders known as lysosomal storage disorders. Patients with the disease are unable to make functional NPC1 protein which results in cell death and leads to irreversible organ damage, including brain damage.

German Chocolate Cake Stout at Alamo Drafthouse

germanchocolatebeer — This year’s End Credits beer is a German Chocolate Cake Stout from Independence Brewing Co., available now through December 31. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.

At the beginning of this month, Independence Brewing Co and Alamo Drafthouse announced the 2018 edition of a holiday beer that has become a seasonal favorite among Alamo Drafthouse patrons; a yearly release called End Credits. The recipe for End Credits changes with each release and this year’s version is a German Chocolate Cake Stout. There is still a chance to try this year’s End Credits, as it is available now through December 31 at all 20 Alamo Drafthouse locations in Texas and both Alamo Drafthouse locations in Denver. (Independence Brewing Co., 2018)

This year’s recipe, German Chocolate Cake Stout, was inspired by the Alamo Drafthouse staff’s collective sweet tooth. According to Independence’s head brewer, Brannon Radicke, the beer’s driving flavor is layers of chocolate and cocoa with hints of toasted coconut in the aroma and taste. The malt bill and addition of lactose gave the brew a touch of sugariness, which balanced out the mild bitterness of cocoa and hops. End Credits has an ABV of 6.5% and a medium body that is not too heavy. Radicke describes it as “more cakelike than syrupy.” A fitting description for a beer emulating a decadent dessert.

John Gross and others from the Alamo Drafthouse crew joined Radicke and his team at the Independence brewery in South Austin to help brew the beer. Together, they hand-toasted 300 pounds of raw coconut on a flat top griddle. It took five days, five hours each day. The 2018 release of End Credits is special for another reason: it will be the first-ever Independence brew to be sold in Denver, making this recipe the company’s official debut in The Centennial State. Colorado is now the third state that Independence Brewing Co. beer is sold, rounding out an already incredibly successful year for the brewery.

Independence’s End Credits German Chocolate Cake Stout is now available on draft at all 20 Alamo Drafthouse locations in Texas and at both Drafthouse locations in Denver. The seasonal brew is also available at select restaurants and bars in both states.

“This evolving series of limited-release holiday beers from Independence has become an annual end of year cinematic tradition for Alamo Drafthouse. We think highly of everything the brewery puts out and savor every drop of the limited releases while we can.”- John Gross, Alamo Drafthouse’s Director of National Beer Promotions.

Holiday gift ideas from Twang

twangsalt — Twang products make fun holiday host or hostess gifts or easy stocking stuffers. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

Twang, a family owned business based in San Antonio, is rooted in the Latin tradition of adding citrus and salt to food and beer; this drink ritual can be observed on the streets of Mexico and Texas. Gift ideas for the holiday season for cocktail enthusiasts and beer drinking friends include cocktail rimming blends to beer salt. Twang brands make for fun holiday host or hostess gifts, colorful party punch or easy stocking stuffers. (Twang, 2018)

Twang-A-Rita ($3.99 per bag) is a cocktail rimming blend made of cane sugar and kosher salt. Impress guests with festive winter cocktail recipes enhanced by Twang-a-Rita. Beer Salt ($12 for a 6 count) is a citrus-flavored salt used to dress the rim of longnecks and beer mugs. Twang’s products are the perfect stocking stuffers and conversation starters at Christmas parties or Secret Santa exchanges. Various Twang brands are sold in 46 states across the country and can be purchased online, on Amazon and in stores like H-E-B and Walmart.

Recipes:
TWANG CRANBERRY MIMOSA
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients
• Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime
• Simple syrup
• 1-part Deep Eddy Cranberry Vodka
• 2 parts cranberry juice
• 1-part brut champagne
• ½ cup fresh cranberries

Instructions
1. Place Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime on a small plate. Rim glasses with simple syrup then press rims into the Twang-A-Rita.
2. Pour Deep Eddy Cranberry in a champagne flute, then pour cranberry juice and top with champagne.
3. Serve immediately. Garnish with cranberries.

TWANG WINTER MARGARITA
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients
• 4 oz. coconut milk
• 2 oz. tequila
• ½ cup ice
• 2 oz. fresh orange juice
• 1 oz. cup Triple Sec
• Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar

Instructions
1. Combine coconut milk, tequila, ice, orange juice and Triple Sec in a shaker. Blend until smooth.
2. Place Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar on a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around rims of glass and then press rims into the Twang-A-Rita.
3. Pour margarita into the glasses and enjoy.

Independence Brewing Co. celebrates International Beer Day

independencenativetexan — ‘Taste of Texas’ features chefs across Texas and Native Texan inspired dishes. Photo: Independence Brewing Co, used with permission.

Friday August 3 is International Beer Day, and to celebrate, Independence Brewing Co., one of Austin’s largest and most beloved craft breweries, announces its ‘Taste of Texas’ campaigns. It features ten chefs in five cities that will create Texas-Inspired dishes featuring new seasonal brew “Native Texan.” The brewery has partnered with ten culinary experts statewide to celebrate the release of its new seasonal pilsner, Native Texan. Each of the hand-selected chefs and mixologists have been tasked with creating a Texas-inspired dish or cocktail incorporating the beer as its star ingredient. These limited-time, chef-prepared offerings will be served at choice restaurants across Texas exclusively on International Beer Day. (Independence Brewing Co., 2018)

Participating chefs and mixologists include:

Austin: Alma Alcocer (Executive Chef, El Alma); Anselmo Sanchez (Executive Chef, El Chile); Todd Duplechan (Chef/Owner, Lenoir); and Justin Gutierrez (Bar Manager, Yuyo)

San Antonio: John Brand (Chef/Culinary Director, Sternewirth at the Hotel Emma); and Jason Dady (Chef/Owner, Alamo BBQ Co.)

Houston: Hugo Ortega (Chef/Owner, Hugo’s); and Jacob Pate (Executive Chef, Night Heron)

El Paso: Aldo Mora (Executive Chef, Café Central)

Marfa: Alexandra Gates (Chef/Owner, Cochineal)

As the beer has made its way from stores among the ranks of Whole Foods Market and Buc-ee’s into the hands of thirsty Texans, it has resonated with many people, bringing back memories of days spent on the water for some and evenings spent on the porch swing watching the bluebonnets bloom and the sun set for others. For Independence Brewing Co.’s co-founder, Amy Cartwright, Native Texan has meant something uniquely special to her, reminding her why she fell in love with Texas in the first place. Native Texan is now available in Whole Foods Market, Buc-ee’s, HEB, Central Market, and select restaurants and bars throughout Texas.

“To me, Native Texan is about a sense of belonging, the quality of life here in Texas, the people, and the natural beauty. It’s a beer brewed by Texans for Texans,” said Cartwright. “I’m excited to see and taste what Native Texan means to the finest culinary talents in Texas through each of their creations.” – Amy Cartwright

National Michelada Day with Twang

A michelada is defined as a Mexican cerveza preparada made with beer, lime juice and assorted sauces, spices and peppers and served in a chilled, salt-rimmed glass. Thursday July 12 is National Michelada Day, a day dedicated to sipping on the popular Mexican beer cocktail. Twang is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings based in San Antonio, Texas. ZAS! products are available throughout the country in 46 states, in grocery stores, convenience stores and online.

Their products feature salts and seasonings, including Beer Salt, and are designed to easily add flavor to drinks and elevate home-made alcoholic beverages to cocktail bar status. Twang Clamato Salt and Michelada Beer Salt are two products specifically designed to pair with the michelada, the spicy, tomato lime mix introduced to by Mexico, which has since become a staple throughout South Texas where the family behind Twang is based. While Micheladas originated in Mexico, their fun, zesty style has reached spicy drink lovers across the country. (Twang, 2018)

Recipes:

Twang Classic Michelada w/ Michelada Beer Salt:
Michelada Beer Salt
1 Lime
4 oz Clamato Mix
1 Dash Worcestershire
2 Dashes Tabasco
1 12oz Beer
Ice (as needed)
1 Lime Wedge Garnish
Rim a glass with Michelada Beer Salt. In a shaker with ice combine, lime juice, clamato, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce; shake well to chill. Pour in class with ice; fill with beer. Add lime wedge for garnish.

Twang Classic Michelada w/ Clamato Salt:
Clamato Salt
1 Lime
4 oz Clamato Mix
1 Dash Worcestershire
2 Dashes Tabasco
1 12oz Beer
Ice (as needed)
1 Lime Wedge Garnish
Rim a glass with Clamato Salt. In a shaker with ice combine, lime juice, clamato, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce; shake well to chill. Pour in class with ice; fill with beer. Add lime wedge for garnish.

Independence Brewing Co releases Native Texan

Independence Brewing Co., an Austin-based brewing company, announces the release of Native Texan, a brand-new addition to the brewery’s seasonal roster of craft beer. The Independence brewing team sought to create a beer original in taste and style and one that would satisfy the taste buds of the German and Czech immigrants who settled in Central Texas over 180 years ago. The brew’s flavor profile is reflected in the use of 100% German pilsner malt, famed Augustiner yeast and a carefully proportioned selection of both German and Czech noble hops. (Independence Brewing Co., 2018)

Native Texan is a beer made by and for the people of the Lone Star State. It is a pilsner as German as the heritage of the Hill Country, as bright as the state’s “Friday Night Lights,” as clear as the West Texas sky and as smooth as an East Texan drawl. As it has been picked up by several Texas-born brands: Whole Foods Market, Buc-ee’s, HEB and Central Market, it is now available in stores across Texas. Native Texan is a versatile brew that can be enjoyed with a carefully curated cheese plate or a handful of Beaver Nuggets. Beer enthusiasts will soon find large displays of Native Texan in grocery stores and gas stations as Independence Day approaches.

Perfect for the summer season, Native Texan has an ABV of 5% making it highly sessionable during the scorching heat. Drinking the beer will bring back memories of days spent on the water and evenings spent on the porch swing, watching the bluebonnets bloom and the sun set, all reminders of why people fall in love with the Lone Star State in the first place.

“With this beer we wanted to give a big shout out to all Texans, near and far, who are proud to be from here—or who got here as fast as they could,” – Amy Cartwright, co-founder of Independence.

Cinco De Mayo Cocktails

batmanmexico — ‘Batman of Mexico’ at Downstairs at Esquire. Photo: Kody Melton, used with permission.

With Cinco De Mayo right around the corner, some cocktail bars choose to celebrate the holiday by incorporating the rich influence of Mexican spirits into their cocktail menus. Three of those are in San Antonio, a city known for its Mexican influence in food and drinks, and include Downstairs at Esquire, Esquire Tavern and El Mirador. Beverage Director Houston Eaves helps lead a beverage program that thoughtfully creates cocktails in ways that both utilize Mexican ingredients in a playful way while others reflect and pay homage to the rich Mexican history associated with San Antonio. In honor of Cinco De Mayo, here are some recipes, each with a clever story or character inspiring them. (Downstairs at Esquire, Esquire Tavern, El Mirador, 2018)

‘BATMAN OF MEXICO’ AT DOWNSTAIRS AT ESQUIRE
Named for Dr. Rodrigo Medellín, a Mexican Conservationist and Ecologist known as the ‘Batman of Mexico’ for his academic work studying bats. Dr. Medellín is co-founder of the Bat-Friendly Tequila & Mezcal Program, which is studying the relationship between agaves and their main pollinator, bats. This program looks at how the Tequila industry can help impact populations of migrating bats by allowing a portion of their plants to flower each year.

Ingredients:
2 oz. Siembra Valles High Proof Blanco Tequila
.75 oz. Fresh corn/chile syrup
.75 oz. Key Lime juice
Shake ingredients well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with sal de chapulín. Garnish with Bat Signal.

‘TEXECUTIONER’ AT ESQUIRE TAVERN
Named after Texas politician Rick Perry, Wahaka’s brazen espadín serves as an herbal fortitude for this memorable mix. Crafted in 2011 by bartender Houston Eaves during his time at ranch-like restaurant Contigo in Austin, the recipe traveled down to San Antonio’s historic Esquire Tavern after he relocated to the Alamo City a year later. Thanks to its savvy balance of snappy grapefruit and sweet Cocchi Americano, the drink has endured as a menu staple at both bars. Drink it served up or on a large ice cube and watch for the punchy mezcal to soften as the honeysuckle and orange notes of Cocchi weave throughout.

Ingredients:
3⁄4 oz. Wahaka Espadín mezcal
3⁄4 oz. Xtabentún
3⁄4 oz. Cocchi Aperitivo Americano
3⁄4 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
GRAPEFRUIT TWIST, for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin with ice and shake well. Strain into a coupe glass. Express the oil from a grapefruit swath over the top of the drink for aromatics and garnish with grapefruit twist.

‘EL CHAVO’ AT EL MIRADOR
Created by El Mirador bartender John Cox and inspired by popular 80s Mexican TV show “El Chavo del Ocho”, the El Chavo cocktail stirs up reminiscent feelings of the show centered around the adventures and tribulations of the title character—a poor orphan nicknamed “El Chavo.” When ordering the drink during happy hour, patrons at El Mirador can often find the bartender playing this show on TV.

Ingredients:
1oz Paranubes Oaxacan Rum
0.5oz Cimarrón Reposado Tequila
0.5oz Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao
0.5oz Fresh Key Lime Juice
0.25oz Cinnamon Syrup
1 barspoon Condensed Milk
Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a half-Chapulín salt rim.

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Category: Liquor/Spirits