Thank you for smoking

Oldest barbecue joint in Texas reveals opening date for first Austin location

The Austin Southside Market & BBQ will open by the end of 2019.

Photo courtesy of Southside Market & BBQ

In late July, an application for a wine and beer retailers permit revealed Elgin’s Southside Market & BBQ, the oldest barbecue restaurant in Texas, is expanding to Austin. On August 30, the restaurant released more details, including the estimated opening date.

According to a release, the new outpost will arrive in the Shops at Arbor Walk at 10515 N. Mopac Expy., Ste. B-225 in the fourth quarter of 2019. The eatery will have the same menu as the locations in Elgin and Bastrop.

Guests can expect a variety of meats by the half-pound, including classics like jalapeño cheddar sausage; USDA-prime brisket, turkey, and baby back ribs; and less common cuts like lamb ribs and pork steaks. Sides will include coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato salad, and mac ’n’ cheese.

The restaurant will also offer a small market selling both fresh and fully smoked meats. We’re crossing our fingers it will debut in time for holiday entertaining.

Opened in 1882, Southside is Texas’ oldest barbecue joint and its signature original beef sausage is one of the reasons Elgin is considered the Sausage Capital of Texas. Today, third-generation owners Bryan and Rachel Bracewell continue the tradition of smoking meats slow and low over post oak wood.

Austin isn’t the only area city to receive happy barbecue news. Southside is also firing up a location in Hutto’s ambitious mixed-use development The Co-Op District. That outpost is expected to open in the second quarter of 2020.

openings barbecue

Refill, revere, rejoice

Austin distiller refills Kentucky Bourbon bottles for $1 in UT gameday stunt

Photo courtesy of Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Still Austin is filling up empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles and adding its own label in a display of Texas dominance.

Cheap bourbon isn't usually something people line up for, but in this case they know it's good. Still Austin Whiskey Co., a favorite Austin distiller, is offering $1 refills of its own Cask Strength Bourbon on empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles on November 23.

The promotion celebrates the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats football match the same day. This is a highly anticipated game because the two teams have only been matched up once, back in 1951. Kentucky coach Mike Stoops reportedly also upped the ante by saying the Longhorns have "no weaknesses."

Essentially, this is a parallel challenge by Still Austin: Replace your Kentucky Bourbon with our Texas spirit and watch the Lone Star State win again.

"Why would I ever taint your bourbon with dried up Kentucky juice[?]" asked a (frankly, terrifying) customer on Instagram.

There is a misconception that bourbon has to be made in Kentucky. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association itself points out that, "According to the 1964 Congressional Resolution, in order to have “Bourbon” on the label it must be made in the United States of America and meet all other federal “standards of identity” for Bourbon."

Still Austin CEO and co-founder Chris Seals is setting the record straight with a little snark, inviting both fans and "skeptics" to stop by to take advantage of the deal.

“We’re deeply grateful to Kentucky for inventing the stuff, but after 200 years of the same old bourbon, people want something new,” said Seals in a press release.“The idea that great bourbon can only come from Kentucky is a myth based on decades of misinformation. We’re inviting everyone still holding onto this old guard notion to ‘Kentucky Fill Up’ to experience the difference for themselves.”

The product he's chosen to represent the brand, the Cask Strength Bourbon, is described as "a deeper more 'metal' version of our beloved straight bourbon." It's 116 proof (58 percent ABV) and has won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition twice, in 2022 and 2023.

Still Austin will only refill 500 bottles. Here are the rules: The bottles have to be 750 milliliters, clean, intact (with the original cap on hand), and they must have originally contained bourbon from a Kentucky Distillery. There are two time slots for refilling at 9 am and 11:30 am. Patrons can get tickets ahead of time at stillaustin.com.

In addition to the fill-ups, Still Austin will host a watch party starting at 2:30 pm. More Texas-Kentucky crossover will include Frozen Texas Julep cocktails, Texas fried chicken, and an armadillo derby race. There will also be exclusive merch and giveaways. Still Austin is the official corporate partner of Texas Athletics.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food and drinks can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

whiskey university of texas longhorns