Shake up your cocktail game with these Austin-based spirits and sips.
Words by Sam Lauron Photo by Luis Malagon for STILL Austin
Until the day that we can gather at our favorite watering hole again, crafting a cocktail at home is the next best way to support local spirit brands. Whether you want to mix up a batch of cocktails for a celebration, date night, or just an afterwork treat, try these cocktail recipes using Austin brands.
HYE Rum
HYE Rum crafts artisanal rum from their distillery located in Hye, Texas off Highway 290. Their flavors include dark, white, coconut, and spiced. The last of which is a perfect base for a fall cocktail like the two below.
Perfect Storm
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. HYE Spiced Rum
1 oz. cider of choice
Top with ginger beer
Directions: Serve in a tall glass packed with ice.
Spiced Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
1 large ice cube or equivalent of cubed ice
2 oz. HYE Spiced Rum
3 dashes of simple syrup
5-6 drops of cherry bitters
Orange peel, twisted and used to hug the glass and rim
Directions: Stir, top with star anise and garnish with luxardo cherries. Serve in a double rocks glass.
Did you know? In light of the pandemic, HYE Rum has been hosting drive-in music and movie festivals at their distillery. Their next movie night is coming up on October 17 and will include fall cocktails, festival foods, and more.
11247 W US Highway 290 | hyerum.com
STILL Austin Bourbon Whiskey
South Austin based STILL Austin distills their whiskey using 100% Texas-grown corn, rye and malted barley. While fall has already snuck up on us, this peachy cocktail will transport you to a summer day in no time.
Peach Daly
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Still Austin Straight Bourbon
2 oz. Lemonade
2 oz. Green Tea
Mint
Peaches
Directions: Muddle mint and peaches in a glass. Add ice, bourbon and tea. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
440 East St. Elmo Road, Ste. F | stillaustin.com
Remington Family Distillers Vodka
Remington Family Distillers’ coffee liquor, Caffe Del Fuego, is made with a proprietary five bean blend from Austin Roasting Company and features notes of dark chocolate and caramel. For a cocktail that mixes the best of both worlds, make this coffee-based vodka martini using both of Remington’s spirit brands: Remington Vodka and Caffe Del Fuego.
Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
2 oz. Caffe Del Fuego
2 oz. Remington Vodka
Splash of Chocolate Mole Bitters
Directions: Serve over ice and garnish with chocolate shavings or a cinnamon sick.
Blue Norther
Though this East Austin-based drink brand just launched this summer, Blue Norther’s hard seltzers have already made a strong impression for being as delicious on their own as they are as a mixer. If you want to shake up your hard seltzer game, consider this rum-based cocktail recipe using Blue Norther’s Wild Blackberry flavor.
Blackberry Mint East Side
Ingredients:
A handful of blackberries
1 sprig of mint
0.75 oz. of light HYE Rum
1 can of Blue Norther Hard Seltzer Wild Blackberry
Directions: Muddle blackberries and mint in the bottom of a shaker. Add 0.75 oz. of rum. Shake and strain into glass with ice. Top with Blue Norther Hard Seltzer Wild Blackberry. Garnish with extra mint and blackberries.
Dulce Vida Tequila
Tequila is a year round spirit of choice for many Austinites, and Austin-based Dulce Vida Tequila is an excellent, well-rounded option for tequila-based cocktails. With just a few ingredients required, this Mexican Mule is a simple way to elevate your next round of tequila.
Mexican Mule
Ingredients:
2 parts Dulce Vida Lime Tequila
4 parts ginger beer
Directions: Serve over ice and garnish with a lime and candied ginger.
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