sampling spirits

Edible Austin's Drink Local Night: A spotlight on Texas spirits and local fare

Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Arden Ward
Photo by Arden Ward
Photo by Arden Ward

What better way to ring in the holiday season than with a celebration (and sampling) of the best and newest local distilleries with some of Austin's top bartenders? Thursday night offered all of the above — along with great local fare — at Edible Austin's 2011 Drink Local Night.

Part of the magazine's annual Eat Drink Local Week, Drink Local Night offered a chance for Austinites to get into the holiday spirit by, well, sampling local spirits — from our most-loved hometown liquors to those just now making their way onto the scene.

Among those on hand were Republic Tequila, Tito's Vodka, Dripping Springs Vodka, Garrison Brother's Whiskey and Rebecca Creek. And with all that sipping, there was plenty to savor, too, thanks to appetizers provided by The Carrilon, BC Tavern, Swift's Attic (set to open early 2012) and South Austin's new frozen treat shop, Lick Ice Cream.

Aside from the sipping and sampling going on, the main event of Drink Local Night was the much-anticipated cocktail contest, where Houston Eaves's Smokin' Gypsy was crowned the Official Cocktail of Austin (check out the receipe's compiled by CM's Matt McGinnis here). All competition cocktails were available for sampling too, giving patrons the option to sip and vote for the fan favorite, Marcelo Nascimento's deconstructed Pimm's cup with carbonated gin and a refreshing cucumber garnish.

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CultureMap Austin was proud to be a sponsor of Drink Local Night.

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Taste of 2025

Austin's Wine & Food Foundation announces 3 big events for 2025

Photo by Erica Wilkins Photography

Theses Wine & Food Foundation events raise funds for local initiatives.

Austin's food scene is booming, but smaller businesses could always use support. The Wine & Food Foundation is one of Austin's leading industry protectors, and it's just announced three events to help support its mission over the next year.

The three events — Big Reds and Bubbles, Toast of Texas, and the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala — are spread out between March and November of 2025, and all offer something a bit different.

They'll all benefit the Wine & Food Foundation and, by extension, the local organizations it supports. Those include Keep Austin Fed, which diverts food surpluses from grocery stores, catered events, and other sites of professional food service; and Sustainable Food Center, which helps Texans access healthy food through SNAP and WIC incentives, hosts farmers markets, connects farmers with resources, and more. The Wine & Food Foundation also offers scholarships for hospitality professionals.

Big Reds and Bubbles, held Friday, March 28, will bring together more than 100 red and sparkling wines for a tasting event. In addition to comparing wines back-to-back, guests will get to try them with bites from popular Austin restaurants to discover interesting new pairings. They'll also get to dress to impress and see the new LZR space — formerly La Zona Rosa, an old Austin music venue that had its last official performance in 2013.

Next up is Toast of Texas on June 8. This is another tasting event that focuses instead on 20 local wineries. The food menu at this event is also more specific, featuring local barbecue and paella, among other local tastes. It'll be located at Assembly Hall, an event space on East 7th Street adjacent to the East Austin Hotel.

Finally, there's the premier event: the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala on November 8. This is a big fundraising opportunity not just because of potentially high auction tickets, but the chance to experience something truly out of the ordinary for the wine industry. Guests will also enjoy "an elegant dinner" according to the press release and wines by a featured maker. It'll all happen at the JW Marriott Austin.

The release counts more than 50 other events slated for the year, so there are plenty more opportunities between the big three. Some of these include wine tasting courses, which will be available again soon.

wine tasting small businesses wineries nonprofits galas