Meet the Cocktails: Half Step in Austin, TX

Austin's newest cocktail bar, Half Step, is now open on Rainey Street. And it's awesome. Chris Bostick, native-Texan and the guy who used to manage the Varnish in LA, brings you this new bar, along with some help from his infamous friend Sasha Petraske, the Milk & Honey dude. Every aspect of this bar was meticulously planned––from the intensive bartender training regiment to the elaborate ice program to the chill interior and lively exterior. Take a look at how beautiful this interior is:





If you choose to sit inside, you'll be treated to table service and, if you're lucky, some music:



If you prefer the freedom to roam, or just want to enjoy the weather, there's an outside bar, which, unlike the inside, will never get too full:



Ok, now on to the good stuff. The cocktails are spot-freakin'-on. Take a look at the menu:



It's nothing but classics, and all of them are made to perfection. Much of that is thanks to a group of bartenders who care a lot about what they're doing, Christ Bostick and Sasha Petraske's meticulous oversight, and an overall ridiculous attention to detail. Take a look at this Negroni:



I brought it back to my table, had a few drinks, and then took this picture––and the glass is still frosty! Half Step takes their mixing seriously. First, every piece of mixing equipment is chilled, all the serving glasses are chilled and their clinebell ice machine spits out perfectly (and I mean perfectly) clear blocks of ice. I cannot stress how clear and cold this ice is. It's beautiful.. Here's Justin prepping a Remember the Maine, note the mixing glass:



The Remember the Maine itself was perhaps one of the best I've ever had. The cherry heering was noticeable but not too strong, the sweet vermouth adds depth without too much sweetness, and the absinthe adds a nice spice to the finish. I think I liked it because it was a little drier than the usual:



The Prescription Julep is a mixture of cognac and rye. It's more refreshing than your average julep, thanks to the cognac. It's almost peachy:



If I haven't made it clear, Half Step is a gem. It's definitely worth a trip to Rainey if you're a habitual avoider. If you often find yourself there, you just met your new favorite bar.

Half Step
75 1/2 Rainey Street
512.391.1877

Tuesday-Sunday, 7pm-2am.
Outdoor bar open weather permitting.

Where to Drink: Weather Up (Austin, TX)

The Joy of Drinking now has an Austin office! In other words, I moved to Austin and am exploring the cocktail scene. The first place I went was Weather Up.



Here's the menu:







It's a solid mix of new and old, all executed very well. I made it for happy hour and enjoyed an Army Navy.



Then I moved on to an experimental drinking the bartender has been workshopping:





It's essentially a port sour with a champaign float, garnished with cinnamon. I hope this drink finds its way to the menu. The port makes it rich and deep, but the champaign dances on your tongue. The port, the champaign, and the cinnamon all makes me think of Thanksgiving.

Finally, a Gin-Aperol Smash:





Look at the crystal-clear ice in this bad boy. Weather Up's ice program is amazing. They use 300lb blocks of ice, cut it up into useful chunks, and break those down to size for each drink. Ice like that makes a beautifully cold drink to enjoy of Weather Up's patio on a warm Austin day:



The vibe at Weather Up is great. I've been there twice so far, and each time I make a few new friends. I love the music there, and I love even more that it's quiet enough to talk.



Weather Up
1808 E Cesar Chavez
4pm-12am every day except Saturday, when they close at 1am.