Sip advisor: The local’s guide to Austin’s coolest cocktail bars
Equipment Room: Austin is home to A-list artists – and an all-star lineup of cocktails. Picture: Grant Pifer
Famous worldwide for its buzzy music scene, Austin, Texas, is no slouch when it comes to whiskey. In fact, the city’s cocktail set-up is just as lively, and trend-setting, offering imbibers delicious drinks in a variety of hip and homely venues. Barley asked local resident and whisky writer Gabrielle Nicole Pharms to pick her favourites. Pull up a stool and place your orders y’all...
The main bar at The Roosevelt Room
1. Homage to the 1920s: Step back in time and sip in style at The Roosevelt Room
I’ve always been a fan of retro relics and antique architecture. Couple my love of history with my appreciation for well-crafted cocktails, and you’ll understand why I’m a massive fan of The Roosevelt Room.
Like many hotels, shops, bars, and restaurants in Austin’s Warehouse District, The Roosevelt Room is housed in a revamped, historic warehouse. The building was constructed in 1920, and the first ten years of the structure’s life took place during Prohibition. Justin Lavenue, owner and operator of The Roosevelt Room and The Eleanor, tells Barley, “It started as a railroad warehouse, and some of the ingredients used to make these drinks were being transported right in front of the space, which is pretty cool. In a full-circle way, this aligns with the ambiance The Roosevelt Room goes for today.”
‘There’s intention in every facet of the bar – from the dim lighting, strategic pops of greenery, and vintage-inspired décor to the delicate drops of tincture added to house-made cocktails’
I’ll drink to that. Push through the dense black velvet curtain and you step back into the Roaring Twenties, characterized by contagious exuberance and innovative bartending. There’s intention in every facet of the bar – from the dim lighting, strategic pops of greenery, and vintage-inspired décor to the delicate drops of tincture added to house-made cocktails. The intimate space provides an authentic speakeasy vibe with only a few table and chair options, as well as a smattering of comfy tufted booths.
Above the long bar table towards the middle of the lounge is an immense chalkboard that takes guests on a heady cocktail history lesson. The menu is split into eras, from the late 1600s to modern classics. “When we created our menu we wanted a list of solid cocktails, so we started with eight classics”, Lavenue says. “We introduced a variety of drink styles with each era to give guests a full perspective of what drinks were like during that time. As you go down the menu, it’s listed in a way that each drink gets boozier and richer.” Ultimately, The Roosevelt Room pays homage to classic cocktails through contemporary techniques, ingenious chops, and unique ingredients that make for a menu of balanced and accessible drinks.
While I tend to gravitate to an Old Fashioned – which the bar does really well – tonight I give myself up to the creative expertise of Chris Rhoden, The Roosevelt Room’s senior bartender, who brings an attentiveness and ingenuity to my cocktail experience. First up is the power-packed, subtle and sweet Buck to the Future. The punning cocktail comprises George Dickel Rye Whiskey, Lustau Manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil-balsamic purée, Nardini Amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, and barrel-smoked black pepper. I’m certain Michael J Fox would approve.
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Since I’m a sucker for anything combining flames and Scotch, I opt for the Prohibition-era cocktail Blood & Sand for my next drink. The Roosevelt Room’s riff is made with Johnnie Walker Black Label, Ardbeg 10 Years Old and their in-house sweet vermouth; it’s pepped up with Heering cherry liqueur, orange juice, citric acid, and flamed orange peel. While the idea of mixing the smokey, peaty notes from Ardbeg, citrusy orange juice, and bittersweet cherry liqueur makes me slightly nervous, I entrusted my palate to Rhoden – and neither he nor the cocktail disappointed. The oils and sugars from the flamed garnish slightly caramelize, adding a rich flavour profile teetering between roasted and fresh orange peel. It’s a balanced, multi-dimensional drink with smoky fruit as the foremost note.
‘Roosevelt Room is distinctly Austin, a melting pot of cultures, experiences, and backgrounds wrapped into one beautiful bar’
For my last drink, I tap into Rhoden’s New Orleans background and order a Sazerac. It’s a matter of debate in the drinks world whether a Sazerac should use Cognac or rye whiskey. The Roosevelt Room neatly sidesteps the issue by simply using both. And, like a masterful chef who thoroughly knows their ingredients, Rhoden flawlessly combines the carefully measured ratios of George Dickel Rye Whiskey, Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac, Demerara syrup, Peychaud’s bitters, and Kubler & St. George Absinthe, with a flourish of lemon peel. The fruity notes from the Cognac met with the spice from the rye, make for an immensely enjoyable, well-rounded cocktail.
As the late summer sun begins to set and my evening draws to a close, I can’t help but feel a measure of gratitude for having another delightful experience at The Roosevelt Room. It’s distinctly Austin, a melting pot of cultures, experiences, and backgrounds wrapped into one beautiful bar. Cheers!
Gabby’s choice: Buck To the Future, $16
Roosevelt Room, 307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701; www.therooseveltroomatx.com
Swift’s Attic
2. Swift cocktails (they promise in under 5-minutes) at Swift’s Attic, an effortlessly stylish speakeasy
I love this classy speakeasy, with its moody lighting, muted hues, and industrial chic décor. The bar has the original flooring and exposed bricks from when the building was initially built in 1905. The enduring story of Swift’s Attic is one for the textbooks. The bar opened in 2012, outlived a fire in 2019, and survived the onslaught of the Covid pandemic merely months later. Despite the hurdles, Swift’s Attic has maintained its commitment to serving delicious cocktails efficiently – and with a twist.
“The whole idea of this bar was to get craft cocktails out in sub five minutes or three minutes, so nobody’s ever waiting,” says Bar Manager Curtis Hansford. “Our big line here is ‘no pretence.’ There's no pretentiousness here at all.” I can attest to Hansford’s description. The bar’s towering shelves hold a stupendous array of more than 200 different whiskeys, ranging from bourbon to Japanese whisky to Scotch, and other styles. Feeling a tad overwhelmed? Never fear, there’s a seasoned bartender to help guide you to the perfect cocktail.
Ice Ball Oldie
As a 20-year veteran in the spirits industry, Hansford is the mastermind behind one of the bar’s most famous whiskey cocktails, the Ice Ball Oldie. The drink has an ice ball made of Heering Cherry Liqueur, orange and lemon zest and juice, Angostura bitters, and simple syrup. The ice ball is placed in the rocks glass first before being topped with an ounce of Tin Cup Whiskey. This “evolving cocktail,” as Hansford coins it, unveils different layers of flavors. So, the first sip is the booziest before it opens to a traditional Old Fashioned taste profile.
Gabby’s Pick: Ice Ball Oldie $16
Swift’s Attic, 315 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701; swiftsattic.com
Escape the Austin clamour at Here Nor There
3. Here Nor There: Appointment-only basement bar with hip-hop and a signature cocktail like no other
I’m a sucker for anything that even remotely hints at a whimsical fairytale – and Here Nor There goes the extra mile by capturing this motif but with fantastic libations and a firey hip-hop soundtrack.
The underground bar is in an alleyway in downtown Austin, directly next to The Driskill. After you make reservations through a mobile app, you’ll receive a secret code before your scheduled time to let you through the gate. Then, the fun really begins.
You’re first greeted by a life-sized stuffed bear holding a tray of champagne for you to cleanse your palate before being seated at an intimate booth or nook. There’s classy detail everywhere – from each hand-lit candle, twinkling of overhead stars, and, of course, the cocktails themselves.
‘You’re greeted by a life-sized stuffed bear holding a tray of champagne for you to cleanse your palate before being seated at an intimate booth or nook’
The bar’s cocktail line-up is changed every 12-14 months around the launch of their conceptual menus, but don’t let the ‘C’ word put you off the concepts really do work. “It’s always been our goal to get as creative as possible and do things nobody else has done,” says HNT’s Beverage Director Conor O’Reilly. “When it comes to spirits, we make sure to display a broad range across our menu, even placing great importance on our non-alcoholic beverages. As much as we focus on having a diverse range of spirits, being in Texas, you can bet it's mostly going to be bourbon and agave spirits.”
Bear necessities: the welcome party at Here Nor There
“This current menu is Moments in Time, a menu curated around experiences we may have had in life, using flavors and ingredients to bring us back to that given moment,” adds Vincent Glackin, HNT’s lead bartender. The physical menu is reminiscent of the Little Golden Book series of my childhood – which is what the bar is aiming for with striking up memorable moments of your past tied in with unique flavors. There are hand-drawn illustrations of memories – such as an actual family dinner for the Family Gathering cocktail – accompanied by a mini story and ingredient list.
Campfire cocktail
Jefferson’s Bourbon, hazy IPA, PX Sherry, and… prosciutto
My cocktail heading into this fall is HNT’s Campfire, comprised of Jefferson’s Bourbon, hazy IPA, PX Sherry, and prosciutto. With each nibble of prosciutto and sip of Campfire, I was brought back to my teen years, where I enjoyed bonfires and BBQ on the beach – a good memory made perfect by this cocktail.
Gabby’s pick: Campfire $23
Here Nor There, 612 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701; hntaustin.com
Equipment Room, the dream bar for Austin audiophiles Picture: Grant Pifer
4. Retro sixties vibes with a side order of vinyl at the opulent Equipment Room
Located in the basement of the award-winning Magdalena Hotel, The Equipment Room is an authentically Austin vinyl bar offering a serious drinks menu amid a laidback ambiance filled with throwback tunes. The interior has the retro feel of a 1960s-esque swanky living room – intimate and relaxed.
The Equipment Room is inspired by mid-century Japanese listening bars – but with a modern Texas riff. You’ll find a handpicked collection of around 1,200 LPs spanning a highly curated blend of genres and eras on custom vintage hi-fi equipment. The Equipment Room leans into its music theme with a drinks menu split into A and B-Sides.
“The A-Side is all our favorite classics that we like”, says Equipment Room General Manager Jennifer Mitchell. “So, we try to make it balanced between cocktails that are stirred or shaken. Then, the bartender was assigned a spirit and an assignment for the B-Side. So, we all created a cocktail each and worked on connecting, and then launched the menu. I think there's a lot of heart on both sides of the coin, music and cocktails here, and I think that's the allure.”
The Equipment Room’s Crab Toast works perfectly with their signature ‘Return of the Mack’ cocktail
Picture: Grant Pifer
I quickly got lost in music and quenched my thirst with the Return of the Mack, a less smokey yet still richly flavorful revamp of a Penicillin, made with Lost Irish Whiskey, lemon, ginger, honey citron tea, cardamom, and C.C. Lemon.
Gabby’s pick: Return of the Mack $18
Equipment Room, 1101 Music Lane, Austin, TX 78704; quipmentroom.com
The Golden Rule - well worth a trip out of town for
5. Book your own whiskey locker for bespoke cocktails at The Golden Rule
Craving a break from the bustling city? The Golden Rule is the ideal getaway. This whiskey bar and restaurant is in Georgetown, about 27 miles outside of Austin, and has an excellent selection of over 100 different whiskey options and delectable food. Since opening in 2020, I’ve been a big fan of their cocktails and overall atmosphere. The outdoor patio has a massive flip-out window that opens to the interior, where you can see the bartenders work their magic.
TGR also has designated whiskey lockers guests can purchase to stash away their spirit (mostly filled with bourbon) collections. “We have 90 lockers available for our guests to rent yearly. The original idea was for our members to stock them with their favorite hard-to-find bourbons, but it has morphed into people stocking them with a little bit of everything,” says co-owner Brad Strittmatter. “When a member comes in, they can let the bartender or server know they would like a cocktail made with something from their locker. We special order the items for their lockers based on their requests.”
Hide that special bottle away in one of 90 whiskey lockers made available to guests at The Golden Rule
Enjoying whiskey with loved ones remains the core of what TGR is all about. “A few years ago, we were lucky enough to do a barrel pick at Buffalo Trace with Freddie Johnson. He has a saying that his father passed down to him: ‘There will always be old barrels of bourbon. So, never save old bottles of bourbon. They are meant to be enjoyed by friends and family at the moment,’” Strittmatter recalls. “The way that I take that is that right now, this moment we are in is the special occasion, so break out that special bottle!”
‘The Golden Rule has 90 designated whiskey lockers guests can purchase to stash away their spirit collections and order something special from it when the mood takes them’
Recently, TGR partnered with Heaven’s Door to make a barrel-aged whiskey in-house – just the kind of pour and experience you can expect to enjoy at this underrated gem. My go-to is the citrusy, boozy Whiskey Business made of Sweetens Cove Tennessee Whiskey and Cointreau, plus cranberry, orange, and lemon juices.
Gabby’s pick: Whiskey Business $11
The Golden Rule, 606 S Church Street, Georgetown, TX 78626; www.goldenrulegtx.com
Gabrielle Nicole Pharms is an award-winning writer and journalist, specialising in the drinks industry and based in Austin, Texas.
