Watch as Sandra Spalding talks about great New Year's Eve Cocktails.

Watch as Sandra Spalding mixes up some interesteing drinks for Father's Day 2009.

This installment of SIT at the BAR was going to be our first video blog. I wasn’t just going to SIT at the BAR, but rather, I was going to hang out at “Tales of the Cocktail” in New Orleans with bartenders from all over the country and talk philosophy and passion, and make it all into a slick video, with the help of my creative partner, Brent Herrmann. However, the day before I left town, I found out that Brent passed away suddenly the night before. Brent was a very special person; everyone at Twin Liquors respected, appreciated and knew him well. He was I.T. so he went around fixing everyone’s problems. That’s who he was, a problem solver. What started out as I.T. led to web developing, and eventually, he became part of our creative marketing team. He was responsible for the “Sandra & Jessica” videos, the “Dan Aykroyd, Crystal Head Tour” video and so much more. He always had a plan and was ready to execute.

I love to have the last word… but made by a bartender, or a mixologist? 

Join Sandra Spalding as she mixes up a drink for Dad this Father's Day.

New York City? Get a rope! For all you Austinites who are getting into what we are calling our year of Mixology, New York is worth a trip for Happy Hour, not that you will find any cheaply priced drinks, but at least to explore the vibe and see what is already in full swing at many establishments there, from the most luxe restaurants to the bars in the Jet Blue/JFK terminal!

by Paul Gingrich

I have been a Maker’s Mark Ambassador going back to before I got into this wonderful life I live.  For those unfamiliar with what a Maker’s Mark Ambassador is, I will explain.  Maker’s Mark has a group of core enthusiasts that love Bourbon and more to the point love Maker’s Mark.  They have an online program that you join, for free, to become an ambassador for the brand.  You swear your undying love for the brand (not a hard thing to do if you love Bourbon) and you are not only assigned a member number, but your name, along with a few others, is put on a plate and attached to a barrel at the distillery in Loretto Kentucky.  When your barrel comes mature and ready for bottling, you and the other Ambassadors that have been assigned to that barrel are invited to come down and not only purchase a bottle or two from your barrel, but actually do the red wax-hand dip of the bottles that is the signature of Maker’s Mark. You also get notified, via email, of events that are geared to Ambassadors only.  The most famous of these events is the Maker’s Mark Ambassador’s weekend.  This year it took 

Dan Aykroyd visits Twin Liquors in Austin, Texas to sign bottles of Crystal Head Vodka. Thanks to our customers and Twin Liquors staff for making this an incredible event! Stay tuned to twinliquors.com for more fantastic events.

A lovely afternoon with friends, Maker’s Mark and ponies…what a great way to spend Derby Day! The Tipsy Texan and Maker’s Mark hosted this lovely party at Rain Lily Farms on the East Side. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, warm yet dry. I arrived on the scene early enough to stroll the grounds quietly and watch folks trickling in clad in seersucker and big hats. I grabbed my official Churchill Downs glass, dipped in red wax (thank you, Adam Harris of Maker’s Mark!), and headed to the bar. In one booth the classic Mint Julep was being served. And, in the other there were a few takes on the julep…a Raspberry one, a great orange and thyme twist and a cinnamon julep. All the variations were creations by Tipsy Tech students…my classmates! Yay!

I was headed to the Four Seasons for our final board meeting for the Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, when I realized that I hadn’t eaten all day and it was 3pm!! Well, I was on South Congress, so I popped into my favorite place in the neighborhood: South Congress Café.  Even though it was 3pm and I knew I wasn’t going to drink, I decided to SIT at the BAR anyway. I was greeted by adorable Kelly and, upon asking her about the burger, she advised me that it was “one of the best burgers in town”. So I gave it a shot and, boy was it yummy. Thick and juicy and full of flavor-on a sweet & buttery, potato roll!! Between big bites, I peppered Kelly with questions about the new spirit Veev, which I noticed sitting behind the bar amongst a bunch of half drunk drinks. She happened to be experimenting with Veev cocktails just as I walked in…how serendipitous! So, if you were wondering, Veev is an Acai spirit that has hint of the fruit (kind of a blueberry flavor)