For all their goofiness, Canadians sure know how to get their drink on. We Americans learned an important lesson the day we turned on our television sets, and realized we officially got our asses handed to us by the Canadians (and also, Team China) in the curling competition. As it turns out, underneath their exceptionally polite, quasi-French exterior, Canadians are deadly curling ninjas. And they were ready to clean up the ice with our cocky American egos. So countrymen, how shall we respond? By beating them at their own game. As I have recently discovered, whiskey is another area in which Canadians excel. If victory cannot be delivered by a piece of athletic equipment strongly resembling a Swiffer, then it shall have to come in a lowball glass. more ›

Local cocktail impresario Dave Alan knows a thing or two about alcohol any time of year, but come winter, he takes a walk on the wild side. more ›

Not to point out the obvious Austinites, but did you know that the holidays are here? Of course you did. That's why you've traded your morning breakfast for gingerbread lattes! Your ironic Christmas sweaters are ready to be donned. Your television repeatedly offers goofy Chevy Chase and/or Tim Allen flicks. There's just one thing missing, and I think you know what it is: your holiday spirit(s). more ›

Raise your hand if you've ever enjoyed a Mojito, a Mai Tai, a Dacquiri or a warm cup of egg nog (real egg nog, folks). Did you know you have Columbus, in large part, to thank for those rum-spiked libations? In typical Euro-enterprising fashion, Columbus brought sugar cane cuttings to the Caribbean islands on his second major voyage. The tropical climate agreed with the crop, and shortly after, a sugar cane industry was born: hooray, sugar! more ›

Tito Beveridge of Tito's Handmade Vodka gives The Informed Drink the scoop on time-honored recipes, how he got started, and accidentally making green vodka one time. more ›

Though it may come as a surprise to many, The Informed Drinker is something of a wino. For as long as she can remember, wine seemed to be the logical complement to any classy affair. Date with husband: wine. Dinner party: wine. Ladies' lunch with Leslie after absolutely exhausting morning shopping for hats and matching thong bikini bottoms: Waiter, your finest vintage, please. However, the longer The Informed Drinker lives in Austin, the more she realizes that things like gin and rum can be classy, too. Tequila needn't be consumed after licking salt off one's wrist. Vodka needn't be inserted into a cherry Jello. In other words, alcohol can be sipped and savored, rather than dashing it away as quickly as possible in frat party-like fashion. Since The Informed Drinker has far less familiarity with spirits than her dear, fermented grape however, she has called in a team of experts to help her study these more serious alcohols. First up: Armando Zapata, tequila expert. more ›

A few weeks back, The Informed Drinker spoke to FINO'S Bill Norris, one of Austin's best-known bar darlings. Last June, his protégé Dave Alan—one of two gentlemen behind Austin's local cocktail catering operation, Tipsy Texan—took over the bar at Annies on Congress. Originally a quaint lunch spot/bakery and catering service, Annies has recently expanded into a bustling Euro-bistro café and happy hour destination. more ›

As students of alcohol history know, the production and importation of absinthe was illegal here in the United States until very recently: December 2007. Thanks to the Prohibitionists (seriously, thanks guys), the stuff had been banned Stateside since 1912, due to health concerns that its high alcohol content and compositional character caused madness. But who's madder than a drunk Austinite? No one, that's who. more ›

For the past couple of weeks, we've been speaking with local bartenders about their recommended libations. But you know what? The Informed Drinker has some drinking recommendations of her own, based on thorough field research gained from office happy hours, various dates, Alamo Drafthouse sing-alongs, “you go girl” confidence-building sessions, lunch meetings gone awry, feigning interest in spectator sports, and celebrating the fact that it's Tuesday. more ›

The Informed Drinker is Austinist's new cocktail column. Each week, the city's bartenders tell us what to drink when. If you haven't already, check out last week's inaugural column on East Side Show Room. When it comes to Austin business establishments, FINO is kind of like the Meryl Streep of bars. What praise hasn't already been lavished? What can FINO not do? A stellar brunch. A cunning cocktail menu. Nice waiters, even. It speaks to FINO's spotless reputation that we willingly let Bill Norris, resident mixologist, use us as guinea pigs on the weekends for his divine cocktail inventions. more ›

Open less than a month, East Side Show Room has managed to make Austin's hipsters, foodies, and interior décor enthusiasts all terribly weak at the knees. The vibe. The precious entrees. The steampunk-meets-Amelie aesthetic. Oh, and they support local farms! (Of course they support local farms). Can you help ESSR's diners from becoming near-evangelical? more ›