Sports Scene

Olympic athletes take to local trails for new pro mountain bike series

Olympic and world-class athletes from around the world hit the trail this weekend in Central Texas to make mountain biking history. Cyclists had a shot at winning the richest cross-country pro mountain bike series in the world, and the first series of its kind in North America, the USA Cycling U.S. Cup Mountain Bike Race Series.

With an $81,000 purse and valuable UCI World Cup points at stake, top mountain bikers converged on the Flat Creek Ranch just outside of Dripping Springs for the first race of the four- race series. “Racing against the best racers in the world will also help the Olympic hopefuls elevate their skills, fitness and strategy ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janiero,” said Scott Tedro, owner of the Sho-Air Cycling Group, which is organizing the series.

Three-time Olympian Katerina Nash of Luna Pro Team took the top title in the women’s event on Saturday, while Olympian Max Plaxton of Cannondale Factory Team won the men’s division. You can see all the winners here.

The new series was hosted as part of the Mellow Johnny’s Classic, sponsored by the bike shop in downtown Austin.

The next race will be on March 15-16 at Bonelli Park in San Dimas, California. The third round is in Fontana, California, March 23-24 during the Fontana City National.
The series concludes with Round 4 on Colorado Springs on June 28.

Max Plaxton of Cannondale Factory Team celebrates his win as he crosses the finish line.

Photo by Charlie L. Harper III

Max Plaxton of Cannondale Factory Team celebrates his win as he crosses the finish line.

unspecified

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.

------

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