People

That’s the Beer Talking—and Saving

Homer Simpson famously called alcohol the “cause of—and solution to—all of life’s problems.” Craft brewers (and husband-and-wife team) David and Quynh Rathkamp wouldn’t exactly agree with ...

Tea Time for Yaupon

Like Game of Thrones’ Cersei Lannister, yaupon is a complicated villain. A native Texas holly, it’s grown out of control in the Piney Woods near Bastrop ever since the devastating fire of ...

A Whiskey 100 Years in the Making

To become the first whiskey distillery in Austin since Prohibition, Still Austin Whiskey Co. had to fight against the architect of Prohibition himself. Long-dead Senator John Morris Sheppard of Texas ...

Gary and Dee Kelleher

As the founders of Empresario, LLC (Texas’ first self-appointed “Spirits House”—sort of the Condé Nast of Texas booze brands), Dee and Gary Kelleher are at the helm of distilling, importing, ...

Back to the Grind

Coffee had been in the blood of the Alvarado family for five generations, until Nicaragua decided it shouldn’t be. During the country’s Contra War in the 1980s, the government seized the ...

Gimme Some Lovin'

After years spent perfecting his pickling, meat-curing and jam-making skills, Chef Jonathan Mayfield thought banging out a little flavored tonic water would be no sweat. He hardly even used the stuff ...

Texas Sparklers

Some Texas wineries are expanding their repertoires to include sparkling wines. These winery owners and winemakers see Texas sparklers as a way to distinguish themselves in the increasingly crowded ...

Ben Calais

Ben Calais of Calais Winery doesn’t particularly care what you think, as long as you think it while drinking his cabernet/merlot/malbec/cabernet franc blend, the 2013 La Cuvee d’Elme. ...

Hops & Grain

The process of brewing beer begins early at Hops & Grain craft brewery. Even before the sun rises, brewer Danny Clay has already measured out the grain for his long-standing recipe, then milled ...

Kelly Railean

Kelly Railean is a woman with a mission. Her official goal is “Restoring American Rum,” and since 2005, she’s been doing just that at Railean Eagle Point Distillery in the tiny ...