The Dale/David Project reaches an inspiring landmark tonight with drink number twenty five, which means that we are 1/20th of the way through the book. I hope that all mixologists around Austin and the world can take a look at this accomplishment and realize that they, too, can reach for the stars. Drink up, friends! The heavens await you!

The Jacana, a Dale DeGroff original that would fit in on any Texas bar's tequila drink menu.

When I first flipped by this entry in the Dale it caught my attention because it looked at a casual glance like one of those unfortunate Kitchen Sink Margaritas that you get at many bars in Austin that think they know more about cocktail mixology than they actually do. Last Friday night we met some of Tipsy's coworkers at 219 West, a bar known more for douchebaggery and never-ending happy hour than for cocktail quality. Usually at places like this I order a beer, but liquor lust and the generous happy hour pricing tempted me to order a margarita. The good news is that I now know that I don't ever have to try that again; the bad news is that the margarita tasted like Gatorade.

A little while later, seeking redemption, I walked across the street and described to the bartender the Margarita del Muerte that I'd just had at 219. He scrunched up his nose at all of the right times and judged the 219 rita with the proper "Ewwww!" that it deserved, and I asked him if he could make me a real one, with good tequila, fresh lime, and Paula's Texas Orange. He said of course, and set about building the drink. It looked good at first. Herradura silver went into the shaker, then the Paula's, then he squeezed some fresh limes. He had me and then he lost me. He didn't just lose me, he bitch slapped me and knocked me off of my stool!; by that I mean he went to the soda gun and put sour mix and soda gun oj in the tin, and topped it off with a dollop of olive juice from the garnish tray! Mmmmm... Nothing like high fructose corn syrup and finger juice of unwashed 4th St. bartender hand! I learned my lesson and stuck with beer the rest of the night.

Now for the Jacana, a DDG original that he reportedly created for Sharen Butrum on board the yacht Jacana, on the occasion of her birthday (the woman, not the yacht). This drink is margarita-like, involving Tequila, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, and fresh lime and grapefruit juices. Pretty good, pretty Texas-y.