Aaahhh...6th Street in Austin, TX on a Saturday night. For those of you who have missed this spectacle - think Bourbon Street meets Woodstock with a little yuppie/cowboy thrown in for good measure.
“Historically, the Cocktail Lounge was a place of sophisticated taste and social civility, and thrived in the time when a drink was served to stand on its own merits of distinction and nobility. Surveying the back bar you will be enticed by an overwhelming array of hand selected spirits from around the world, chosen not for their marketing or celebrity endorsements, but rather their unique and unfamiliar flavors and historical integrity.”
When I read this excerpt from ESSR's cocktail philosophy I was instantly intrigued. I had run across a few mixology reviews of the up and coming East Side bar before heading down to Texas and a visit to the mother-daughter owned establishment did not disappoint.
Heading into the door, the quirky decor is quick to set the place apart from its competitors. A periscope draft system (designed by owner and metalworker Mickie Danae Spencer) and a projector streaming old silent movies into an empty picture frame are among the first things to catch the eye. Sitting down at the bar, I can see the bartenders passing drinks to servers through a counter set into an antique looking whiskey barrel.
Once BW and I have made the acquaintance of bartender Alfonso, we begin plying him with
questions about the cocktail offerings, which at first glance seem to be mainly classics with various twists. Upon further inquiry, however, it turns out that ESSR on the cusp of rolling out the fall version of their signature cocktail menu.
Of course I want a preview of the new menu. I ask Alfonso for a gin based recommendation on this list and he immediately suggests the "Farewell Waltz" which turns out to be a perfect blend of Bols Ginever, Yellow Chartreuse, Combier and fresh lemon. The sweetness of this "original gin" is perfectly balanced by the citrus notes in the Combier and the lemon.
BW decides to go with tequila and orders a "Restraining Order". Restraint, or maybe subtlety, is definitely apparent in this scintillating blend of wonderfully delicate Ocho Reposado, Aperol and locally made celery bitters. The celery makes an excellent highlight to the Ocho tequila without overpowering it.
Although we wandered in a bit late for dinner, I would love to try their local, sustainable cuisine on the next trip down there (although if you get there late, the food truck park across the street is not to be missed for late night munchies). All in all, ESSR is definitely on the forward edge of Austin's mixology scene and I'll definitely be heading back on my next trip.
Cheers! from the Bar Fly.....and hey, Keep Austin Weird!!
