where to drink
Where to drink in Austin right now: a vintage cocktail lounge, secret menus, and new beers
From new secret menus to a multitude of beer releases, Austin is buzzing with news regarding its many fun bars, breweries, and distilleries. It can be hard to keep up with what's going on in Austin's bar scene, so we've rounded up the most refreshing releases, events, and news to help Austinites find their next favorite hangout spot or hidden gem cocktail.
Openings and relocations
The highly anticipated new cocktail loungeRetail Therapy has finally opened its doors at 120 East 7th Street in downtown Austin. This vintage-style bar promises to give guests a "complete sensory journey" with its unique takes on the creation of classic cocktails to entrance all five senses. The team is led by Jeremy Campbell, who has nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Retail Therapy is open 5 pm to 2 am Tuesdays through Saturdays, and on Sundays from 4 pm to 12 am.
Local Austin winery C.L. Butaud is relocating east from its West Austin location on Fitzhugh Road. The winemaker will soon open its new tasting room at 415 East St. Elmo Road, Suite 4F, in the buzzing warehouse district that's also home to Vacancy Brewing, and is across the street from Still Austin, St. Elmo Brewing Company, The Austin Winery, and more. There's currently no scheduled opening date for the new tasting room, we'll be patiently waiting for updates via their Facebook and Instagram.
New releases
In celebration of the solar eclipse earlier this week, Austin Beerworks partnered with fellow famed local brewers Meanwhile Brewing and Zilker Brewing to create the limited-edition In the Path of Totality 1:36PM, a hazy IPA with refreshingly bright peach and mango notes. The brewers also introduced three additional special releases for the occasion: Meanwhile Brewing's Icarus's Revenge Black IPA; Austin Beerworks' Yellow Giant Golden IPA; and Zilker Brewing's Sol Searching Amber Mexican Lager. All of these solar-tastic brews are available in cans and on-tap at their respective breweries.
Meanwhile Brewing is operating at full speed with its collaborative releases, as the Austin-favorite brewery is joining forces with Uchibā Austin for its newest spring brew, the Meanwhile Japanese Lager. The 4.9 percent ABV lager has tasting notes of rice, lemon, and herbs, and will be available on tap at both locations until May. Cans of the Japanese Lager will be available for purchase at select craft beer retailers.
The team at The Well is uniting with Restart CBD to launch their newest smoothie collaboration, The Restart, bursting with fruity flavor from cherries, mango, Medjool dates, goji berries, mint, lime, kombucha, cashew milk, and a healthy dose of Restart's full spectrum CBD oil. The new smoothie will be available at all three The Well locations in Austin throughout the month. Smoothie lovers who save their smoothie sleeve and bring it to Restart's retail location on Rutland Drive in April will receive 10 percent off their in-store purchase.
New menus and happy hours
Austin loves a poorly kept secret, but this might have flown by undetected. The Veranda at Dean's Italian Steakhouse has unveiled a new secret menu with four unique cocktails to delight guests' palates: Pregame (Fords Gin, jalapeño infused Cocchi Americano, fresh pickle juice); Daydream (Capel Pisco, Aperol, housemade grape syrup, passionfruit foam); Golden Hour (Stoli Vanilla Vodka, Licor 43, banana liqueur, heavy cream); and After Party (Flor de Caña 18, Luxardo Coffee Liqueur, Vanilla Demerara, black walnut and chocolate mole bitters). This quartet of secretive beverages can be ordered upon request.
Spring cocktails are the talk of the town in April, and one South Austin neighborhood restaurant has the sweetest tipples in town. Eberly's new spring menu has all of the refreshing elements that make us feel like we're not heading towards a brutally hot summer: The Concrete Jungle (Teremana Blanco, Campari, Aperol, lemon juice, pineapple syrup); Southern Nights (Mezcal Union Uno, Sazerac Rye, sweet vermouth, Solerno blood orange, Luxardo Maraschino); and Charlie Foxtrot (Flor de Caña 7 year, Novo Fogo Cachaca, Chinola passionfruit, orgeat, lemon juice, Angostura bitters). The Cedar Tavern at Eberly has also revamped its happy hour, which is now available from opening (4 or 5 pm) to 6 pm daily, featuring $9 classic cocktails, and $5 off select bites and exclusive happy hour dishes.
Recently opened supper club The Statesman has kicked off its new happy hour from Tuesday through Friday from 5-7 pm, featuring three $6 cocktails to choose from: a dirty martini with your choice of Chopin Vodka or Fords Gin; the Vino, also known as the restaurant's housemade Red, White, or Bubbles; and the Aguasolstice Margarita, comprised of Aguasol Blanco Tequila, Triple Sec, and lime. This one isn't on the happy hour menu, but the new Statesman Martini ($24) featuring Paddlefish caviar, Por Osos Vodka, and caper berries might be your next favorite drink if you're in the mood for trying a new signature cocktail.
Other notes
There's still time to get in on El Cockfight's March Madness: Blind Tequila/Mezcal Brackets, running now until the end of April. Bar guests can help determine the best spirit among 32 of El Cockfight's best, split half and half among mezcal and tequila. Thanks to the blind contest element, guests will rank based on popularity and cost, and not by a spirit's name. The champion of agave spirits will be crowned after the showdown of the final two between April 23-28. The latest updates on the bracket will be announced on El Cockfight's Instagram.