Official Drink of Austin

This Capital City-inspired cocktail is the Official Drink of Austin for 2017

Meet the new Official Drink of Austin.

Photo by Gillian Shewaga

On Thursday, May 4, Austin's finest mixologists gathered at Fair Market to shake, stir, and pour a cocktail worthy of being crowned the Official Drink of Austin 2017.

The annual event, hosted by Tipsy Texan to benefit the Austin Food & Wine Alliance, brought in teams from Austin's best bars and beverage programs, including Alcomar, Clive Bar, drink.well., The Driskill, Frank, Firehouse Lounge, Javelina, and Kunheo.

Each team was tasked with serving its cocktail to the thirsty crowd. After enjoying bites from top Austin restaurants and sampling the entire drink lineup, participants voted on their favorites.

The two teams that earned the most votes — Frank and Kuneho — went head-to-head in a timed cocktail competition for the top honor. The Official Drink of Austin was then voted on by a panel of judges: Bill Norris (beverage director for Alamo Drafthouse), Brandon Watson (food editor for Austin Chronicle); Jennifer Keyser (2016 winner of Official Drink of Austin with Geraldine's); Shakey Graves (Austin musician), and Tavel Bristol-Joseph (partner and pastry chef at Emmer & Rye).

Judges crowned the Capitol City Collins from funky hot dog restaurant Frank this year's winner. To celebrate, the downtown bar and restaurant will add the Capitol City Collins to the menu. Here's the recipe:

Capitol City Collins
1 1/2 oz Old Highborn gin
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz strawberry-tarragon syrup
1 oz coconut milk (unsweetened)
Salt tincture
Top with Topo Chico and Peychaud’s Bitters. Garnish with strawberry and lemon.

See You On the Other Cider

New East Austin coffee and beer haven opens weeks after cidery closure

Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Stargazer brings a fun new facade, but keeps the Austin Eastciders sign.

An entrepreneurial local couple has made a very quick flip in Austin, swapping a cider taproom for a coffee shop, bar, and more in just three weeks. Stargazer is opening to the public on Friday, November 15, with a big opening ceremony to get things going.

Austin Eastciders announced October 18 it would be closing its Collaboratory, but confused fans a bit with language promising "a year-round, multi-use destination" continuing on in its stead. The cider company clarified that it would still be operating out of Texas to make ciders, but a different vendor had committed to taking over the taproom space.

Things became clear sooner than anyone could expect, as Moya and Colin McIntyre — the couple who owns the neighboring event venue Springdale Station — stepped in.

Stargazer interior The signature barrels from the Collaboratory days have also stuck around.Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Anchored by a vintage rocket ship playscape that the couple is adding to make the space more kid-friendly, Stargazer combines all sorts of offerings for one big, all-day concept for any kind of guest. Visitors can enjoy coffee, cocktails, mocktails, beers, and ciders; they can sit inside or outside (at shaded tables); and they can order food from a variety of vendors.

Spicing up the coffee menu are some unexpected combinations: espresso, turmeric, and black pepper in one drink; espresso, lion's mane, and chocolate, in another. The cocktails are a bit tamer, but still tropical, featuring mixes like mezcal, lime, and pineapple, or rum, apple cider, lemon, and ginger.

Food options are all over the map:

Ice cream by Lick Honest Ice Creams
Pastries by Maaribu pastries
Grab-and-go health food by Lucky Lime
Tacos via the Santo Patio truck
Chicken tenders via the Dipping Springs Tender Co. truck
Pizza via Bambino, located next door

Stargazer food offerings Food from Stargazer's many partners.Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Stargazer brings a fun new facade, but keeps the Austin Eastciders sign.

Friday's opening festivities start bright and early at 7 am. From open until noon, coffees are buy-one-get-one. The first 50 children will get a free ice cream scoop. Then, frozen drinks are half-off during happy hour from 3-6 pm. Finally, from 6-10 pm, there will be more drink specials, a DIY flower bar, and live music by DJ Jah Karma and Blowcomotion Marching Band.

According to a release, the McIntyres wanted the new space to feel like Old Austin, and to be the kind of place they would want to visit.

Stargazer is located at 979 Springdale Rd., Suite 130. Operating hours are 7 am to 10 pm daily.

openings beer cocktails mocktails coffee closings