Libations
December 20, 2023
Need More Reasons to Celebrate This Season? Try These 7 Holiday Cocktails
Whether you prefer bourbon, gin, or Pimm’s, we’ve got seven cocktails for you to sip on this holiday season.
Libations
Your guide to Texas bars, cocktail recipes, distilleries, wineries, breweries and more
Latest
1-50 of 247 Articles
Libations
November 16, 2023
These Texas Thanksgiving Recipes Will Give You Something to Be Thankful For
From starters to desserts, we’ve got the Texas take on traditional Thanksgiving recipes that’re sure to leave your family and guests full and grateful.
Libations
October 24, 2023
Remembering Ed Auler, Cofounder of Fall Creek Vineyards and Champion of the Hill Country Wine Region
Auler, who died at age 78, believed great wine could come out of Texas soil—and he proved that to be true.
Books
October 20, 2023
Belly Up to the Bar at Texas’s First-Ever Bookstore Speakeasy
Who wouldn’t want to drink a Murder on the Orient Espresso martini?
Libations
September 19, 2023
Black Winery Owners in Texas Hope to Leave a Legacy for Future Generations
Fewer than one percent of the country’s wineries are Black-owned, but these entrepreneurs are hoping to change the statistic.
Libations
September 12, 2023
At 90, Riley’s Tavern Is Filled With Smoke, Music, and History
This Hill Country bar and honky-tonk—the first in the state to obtain a liquor license after Prohibition—still fosters community after nine decades.
Tex-Mexplainer
August 31, 2023
Aguas Frescas Will Get You Through a Brutal Summer
Whether it’s creamy horchata or cooling cucumber, the various flavors of this sweet, refreshing drink act as potable air-conditioning.
Libations
August 29, 2023
Meet Three South Asian Brewery Owners Bringing Their Culture to Texas’s Beer Scene
The state has the most South Asian-owned breweries in the country, and those owners hope interest in beer and brewing will only grow in the diaspora.
Libations
August 16, 2023
A Historic Bar in Port Aransas Finds a New Home
Shorty’s Place, a coastal dive that has been around since the 1940s, cleans up and moves on while maintaining its signature charm as a community hangout.
Recipes
July 27, 2023
Texas Dinner Party: Start With a Berry-Forward Cocktail Fizz
Blackberries, basil, and bulb onions make for a subtle and surprising combination of flavors in this summertime sipper.
Libations
July 5, 2023
Is Sign Bar Celebrating or Capitalizing On Austin’s History?
The far–East Austin bar is an elephant graveyard for restaurant signs of decades past, but we’re still trying to figure out who it’s really for.
Libations
June 26, 2023
Eight Things You Need to Know About the History of Texas Whiskey
Andrew Braunberg, author of ‘Fires, Floods, Explosions, and Bloodshed: A History of Texas Whiskey,’ shares some fascinating details from his book.
Libations
May 18, 2023
Texans Can Now Get (a Little) Stoned From Seltzer
After federal restrictions around hemp loosened in 2018, Texas brands swooped in to provide drinks—from canned cocktails to seltzer to vodka—that deliver a light buzz.
Libations
April 24, 2023
Out-of-State Wineries Are Moving to Texas for Cheaper Land and Friendlier Competition
Vintners from more established wine states like New York and California can’t help but be drawn to the Hill Country’s welcoming community and more affordable real estate.
Recipes
April 18, 2023
Battle of the Alamo Cocktail
This alcoholic homage to Texas history and San Antonio’s great landmark features a cheeky ingredient—gunpowder tea.
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2023
As Lawmakers Turn Their Sights on Drag Shows, LGBTQ Spaces Have Been Disappearing Across Texas for Decades
There are fewer gay bars in Texas today than there were in the eighties. Owners of those that remain say they aren’t going anywhere.
Libations
March 20, 2023
Texas First: A Dr Pepper Loyalist Finally Tries Big Red
Mmmmm, tastes like red.
Style & Design
March 16, 2023
Austin Music Lovers, Your New Favorite Bar Is Hidden Away in a Former Storage Room
The Equipment Room, now open in the basement of the Hotel Magdalena, is a Japanese-style listening bar designed for serious audiophiles.
Libations
February 13, 2023
How to Become a Regular at a Texas Dive Bar
Follow these tips and tricks to becoming beloved at your local watering hole from the guy who literally wrote the book.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
The Texas Beer Industry Is Bubbling Over
We still love our Shiner, Pearl, and Lone Star, but our options are now bubbling over, thanks to hundreds of craft breweries across the state.
Libations
January 6, 2023
Texas’s First Nonalcoholic Bottle Shop Reflects the Shifting Culture Around Drinking
Sipple in Houston curates hundreds of nonalcoholic products, from liquor alternatives to functional beverages, including many Texas-based brands.
Libations
December 29, 2022
Texas Restaurants Are Adding Wines From This Up-and-Coming Region to Their Menus
Mexican wines haven’t had much recognition, but the tides are turning as sommeliers and shop owners struggle to keep them in stock.
Recipes
November 8, 2022
Spicy Paloma
While this cocktail is refreshing year-round, grapefruit season in Texas kicks off in the fall, making now an especially good time to enjoy it.
Libations
October 27, 2022
King Ranch Is Turning Its Invasive Mesquite Problem Into Bourbon
The legendary operation partnered with Old Forester in Kentucky to create a Texas-exclusive whiskey that benefits cattle and quail alike.
Libations
October 7, 2022
The Legend of the Avocado Margarita
An editor reflects on the impact of Austin’s Curra's Grill on her life—and its mystifying, rich, and ever-popular frozen drink.
Libations
September 27, 2022
Harrel’s Kingsville Pharmacy Near King Ranch Hasn’t Changed a Bit
Since 1916, the drugstore and soda fountain has maintained its retro charm and service to the community.
Libations
August 25, 2022
A West Texas Winery—Once the Largest in the State—Has Closed Up Shop
Ste. Genevieve, which debuted in the 1980s, was the pride of Fort Stockton. Now the community and the state’s wine industry mourn its loss.
Libations
July 19, 2022
Invest in Hefeweizens During This Hotter-Than-Hell Summer
The easy-drinking German beer pairs perfectly with high temps. Luckily, there are several Texas breweries making excellent versions.
Libations
July 13, 2022
The Strange, Symbiotic, Political Relationship of Two Amarillo Coffee Shops
On opposite sides of the street and the aisle, these coexisting cafes represent a lot more than just a good cup of joe to their customers.
Libations
July 1, 2022
Martin House Brewing Is At It Again With a Barbecue Sauce–Flavored Beer
The Fort Worth–based company has come out with another unusual, savory beer, this time in collaboration with Weatherford’s T&D Barbecue.
Libations
June 30, 2022
Are Age-Exclusive Bars the Way of the Future?
Two bars in San Antonio are blazing a new, mellower trail, one where being 21 and legally able to drink won't get you very far.
Libations
June 6, 2022
Texas Brewers Are Using Native Yeasts to Create Some Truly Wild Beers
San Antonio’s Community Cultures Yeast Lab—the only one of its kind in the southern U.S.—collects indigenous strains for craft breweries.
Libations
June 1, 2022
11 Texas Wines to Beat the Heat
This summer is already too . . . summery. Cool down with citrusy whites or cherry reds that will take you from poolside to grillside.
Libations
May 25, 2022
Who’s Allowed to Make Sotol?
A group of Mexican sotoleros, an activist, and some Mexican government officials take issue with Texas-based producers of the rising spirit.
Libations
May 12, 2022
Step Into the Wild, Wild World of Fermentation at This Festival
Taking place May 14–15, the Wild World Festival sets up in Austin to showcase natural wines, kombucha, and other “science fair” drinks.
Libations
April 25, 2022
For Beer That Tastes Like Texas, Go “Farm to Glass”
These six Hill Country breweries use sustainable practices and ingredients grown on-site (or very nearby) for brews and food that capture Texas’s terroir.
Society
April 1, 2022
Dallas Is Without a Leather Bar. What’s a Guy on a Leash to Do?
The Eagle, a gathering place for kinksters and activists for 25 years, closed in 2020. Now, the local leather community has an uncertain future.
Recipes
March 22, 2022
West Texas Smash
Seeking to make a refreshing cocktail, Amarillo bartender Tiffany Reagan turned to an unorthodox ingredient growing in her garden.
Style & Design
March 3, 2022
The 76-Year-Old Party Boy With 1,500 Cocktail Shakers
When not on display at the Dallas Museum of Art, Walter Erwin’s beloved collection lives in a custom-built addition to his home.
Libations
February 14, 2022
What to Drink Now: The Best New Texas Beers, Wines, and Spirits
Even during the worst of times, Texas keeps producing top-flight beverages.
Libations
January 11, 2022
Three Texas Brands Pay Homage to the Spirits of the Desert
These iterations of tequila, pechuga, and sotol—all made from desert plants found in Texas and Mexico—are indicative of the trans-border spirit.
Libations
January 5, 2022
Troy Aikman’s Light Beer, Eight, Is Available Only in Texas
We cracked open a cold one with the former Cowboy to learn about his latest business venture, a beer aimed at the calorie conscious.
Recipes
December 9, 2021
The World’s Easiest Winter Cocktail
The one caveat? You have to use fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, or fear the wrath of your local tiki expert.
Libations
November 29, 2021
A Whiskey Drinker’s Guide to the Craft Distilleries of Dallas–Fort Worth
The Metroplex is in the midst of an artisanal spirits boom, with 35 distilleries slinging locally made booze. Visit now—before the secret gets out and the lines get long.
Libations
November 19, 2021
Escape to the Tropics at Austin’s Tiki Tatsu-Ya
Indulge in over-the-top cocktails like the Skeleton Cruise, which comes in a boat with dry ice and activates bar-wide light and sound effects.
Libations
November 12, 2021
Hey, Old Pal
This Lockhart newcomer offers classic cocktails and excellent food.
Libations
October 27, 2021
Free-spirited: Why More Bartenders Are Mixing Cocktails Minus the Booze
Tucked somewhere between the wine list and the dessert menu, Texans are more likely than ever to find—and order—no-gronis, no-jitos, and other alcohol-free drinks.
Tacos
October 26, 2021
Urban South’s “Combo Plate” Beers Are a Drinkable Ode to Houston Tex-Mex
Don’t worry: there’s not actually taco meat brewed in.
Libations
October 22, 2021
Everything We Know About Elon Musk’s Tesla Beer
The billionaire announced the launch of Cybertruck-inspired "Giga Beer," and a Texas brewery may or may not be planning to sell it.
Recipes
October 12, 2021
Recipe: Pecan Old-fashioned
A Denton bartender created this take on a classic to appease his bourbon-loving grandmother, Joyce, with the fall flavors of salted pecan, orange, and chocolate.