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Texas spirits to rock cocktail extravaganza
Mix: Celebrate Texas Cocktails will bring together Texas spirits makers and rock-star mixologists Friday, June 17 from 9 p.m. to midnight at The Mansion at Texas Women's Federation, a very cool event space in a restored mansion at 24th and San Gabriel in Austin. We'll be there featuring one PTO and one PTL cocktail served up by swingin' Joe Eifler of The Tipsy Texan and itinerant award-winning drink slinger Jeff Boley. Along with plenty of creative cocktails will be savory snacks from local purveyors. A portion of MIX proceeds will benefit Austin Involved, Austin's newest volunteer movement. All-inclusive tickets are $50 until noon Friday, but fans of Paula's can get a special $10 discount by using the code PAULA at the web site. Hope to see you there!
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Drink of the Month
Green with Envy
Recipe by Paul Grosso
Late spring and early summer, we go loco using as much produce from our garden as we can in a variety of ways. While our grape arbor is pretty, the ripe grapes are inedible, so Paul found a way to make use of the green ones. The juice of the green grape, called verjus, is very acidic and makes a deliciously unique alternative to the lemon or lime juice typically used in cocktails. Look at that color! It makes me green with envy.
 | | Green With Envy. |
2 oz. Paula's Texas Lemon 1 oz. Texas vodka Green grapes Generously cover the bottom of a mixing glass with green grapes, add vodka and muddle until the grapes give up their juice. Add PTL and shake with ice. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
You may not have green grapes handy, so here are a couple more ideas for using the bounty of the season. Use these as a starting point for your own fresh creations.
The Summer Garden
2 oz. Paula's Texas Lemon
1 oz. Hendrick's gin, or vodka
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
1-inch slice cucumber, roughly chopped
4 large basil leaves
Muddle cucumber, basil, and Paula's Texas Lemon in shaker glass. Add gin and lemon juice. Shake with ice and double strain into a cocktail glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with basil sprig.
Stonewall Fizz
Recipe by David Alan
For those of you not from central Texas, Stonewall is the center of peach production in the Hill Country.
¼ cup peeled, chopped peaches (about 1 small one)
1½ oz. Texas vodka
1½ oz. Paula's Texas Orange
¾ oz. lime juice
1-2 oz. well-chilled club soda
In a mixing glass, muddle peaches with PTO. Add vodka, lime juice, and ice and shake very well. Strain into rocks glass filled with ice. Top off with club soda and stir. Garnish with a sprig of mint. |
Are you a cocktail enthusiast?
If so, you may be interested in joining the Texas Temperance Society, a newly formed group in Austin dedicated to learning about and enjoying the multiple facets of cocktails. The group will take a private tour of Paula's Texas Spirits distillery in South Austin Saturday, June 25th guided by Paula herself and master liqueur maker Chris Roberts. For more information, email info@texastemperancesociety.org. RSVP required. |
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Local foraging of W Hotel Austin makes news
In an article recognizing the trend of stocking hotel rooms with local products, USA Today mentions the W Hotel Austin's mini bar, specifically Paula's Texas Orange, Tito's Vodka, and Fireman's 4. Yes, we have minis, and they are very cute. We send our thanks to Valerie Broussard, the Local Forager for the W Austin, and the entire bar staff for supporting us.
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So you want to start a liquor company?
It's harder and likely more expensive than you think, though the growth of small brands in the industry proves it can be done. Brad Dickson contacted me from Kansas a while back to ask if I could supply orange liqueur for his budding idea of a margarita popsicle. He sounded just crazy enough to be serious, and after a hilarious afternoon at the distillery testing recipes, I agreed. He has since had great success with his Shark Attack Margaritas and looks like he may be on to a winning idea. Read Brad's story at Fox News. |
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