With the close of the 2019 San Antonio Cocktail Conference comes a lot of much needed rest. That’s probably why I’m publishing this recap a few days later than usual. With countless events, classes and secret parties it’s no wonder I stocked up on Topo Chico and Teaonic ‘I Love My Liver,” in the days leading up to the conference.

Wednesday Night- Women Shaking It Up: The Art of Being Awesome

With the first night of Cocktail Conference off to a start we got a taste of girl power! With several cocktails being made including an amazing margarita by Chamucos Tequila and my personal fave the “Chandown the Rabbit Hole,” featuring Chandon Rose you can bet that the cocktail game was strong. Multiple local restaurants served up various delicious grub including the new Eastside Kitchenette by Chef Jeff White, who plated up some delish mac and cheese. If you know me, my favorite drunchies is mac and cheese. There was also an Italian Sushi by Bite and a decorate your own chocolate by Chocollazo.

As a girl who’s all about empowering women, especially in the kitchen and behind the bar (other places too, just this is a culture blog and we’re not gonna get political) it’s amazing to see that we can celebrate their creations and have a night especially for them.

Thursday Night: Come & Taste It!

by Andrew Ramirez

One of our favorite shows is Drunk History. If you’re not familiar with it it’s basically drunk storytellers retelling history with comedians acting them out. Sounds funny, right? So naturally when we heard the Come & Taste It party would be held inside the Battle For Texas, The Experience we jumped on the opportunity to have a real life Drunk History party. Filled with loads of food including Il Forno, Sangria on the Burg, and Nola and sweets provided by Art of Donut and Bakery Lorraine there were a lot of great options to choose from. Overall cocktail winners include drinks made by Deep Eddy Vodka, Garrison Brothers Whiskey, Casamigos Tequila But between you and me and Davy Crockett, this was a win for the wild frontier.

Friday Night: Waldorf on the Prairie

I know my 10 year high school reunion was supposed to be two years ago but let me live for a second. We had our class prom at the St. Anthony’s and to me this was a perfect reenactment of how the night went. I cried like usual and drank way too much… punch. With that being said Friday was the day we pretty much partied all day and rested minimally. With trying the Calvados Boulard at noon to pretty much ending the night at Rosario’s. This was the best night of 2019 so far.

To recap the event, or what I remember because I ended up taking off my glasses to see blurry on purpose.  The night was filled with plenty of friends, booze and great conversation with honorary mentions to the true MVP of the night: The Gorditas in the Patron Courtyard. I usually scream out that I’m from LA at least 10 times a day but when I drink, I usually say I’m from Guadalajara. Which is true, my mother’s from there, plus I spent a large part of my childhood there. So naturally when you have a unique alcohol with rules that dictate it can only be made in Jalisco (there’s other places but for logistics, we’re not talking about them) you simply have to indulge. Most tequila booths were even more than happy to start the tasting with a shot in the name of the Land of Tequila and naturally  like a true Tapatía I was more than happy to oblige. As a matter of fact I made it my personal mission to try all the tequilas and mezcales like a good Mexican woman. Honor the ancestors, right?

Saturday Night: Cocktails in the Enchanted Forest

So it all started with a carb water and loads of laughter because of some keys but this night was sure to be a night of, “but really though?” Of course none of that sentence made any sense at all because the whole night didn’t really make sense at all.

We almost died at the hands of High West Whiskey, and still had some of the best cocktails by Barry’s Tea Gin and Leblon Cachaça. There was El Silencio Mezcal, Tito’s Vodka and Metallica’s whiskey: Blackened which in my opinion is pretty dope inside a cocktail. 

Shout out to the food that kept me functioning more Eastside Kitchenette (their chicken and dumplings are the best. Seriously @ me if you disagree and we can argue). More Art of Donut, Toro Kitchen + Bar, and Cover3 coming in clutch with that mac n cheese.

I’ve only been drinking for a year and that’s for personal reasons but that’s a wrap on the 2019 San Antonio Cocktail Conference. Here’s to more memories, better knowledge of alcohols and the best friends a girl could ever ask for.