2010 was a hell of a year for your Tipsy Texans. Thank you to Edible Austin, the Austin American Statesman, the Austin Chronicle, L Style/G Style and all the other publications that supported us throughout the year. Thanks to Twin Liquors and all the spirits companies who sponsored our first two semesters of Tipsy Tech, as well as all the numerous events we produced throughout the year. And thanks to all the folks who stopped by to have a drink and conversation with us wherever we were.

So, where were we in 2010?

Of course, there were the events. More than I can recall. We made a shitload of cocktails for people who don't work daily behind bars. Here are a few of the places you may have seen us mixing, shaking, stirring, or ladling:
Winter Luau at Eastside Showroom
Cocktail Showcase, Coyote Café, Santa Fe, NM
Beignet Breakfast featuring Chartreuse, SXSW 2010 at Frank
Marfa Film Festival SXSW Preview Party featuring 42 Below
SXSW Google Party featuring The Macallan

Joe and David at the 2nd Annual Derby Day Austin at Rainlily Farm, brought to you by our good friends at Maker's Mark

Here is Tipsy (r) assisting Adam Harris of Maker's Mark. We served over 2,000 Mint Juleps at Sunday Fair, 25th Annual Hill Country Wine & Food Festival

With Rebecca Rather and the crew of Camp Javelina, we rocked the Building 98 Brunch at Marfa Film Festival. I did St. Germain Cocktails by the carafe, and a fresh Bloody Mary Bar with fresh mix from the local Marfa hydroponic tomatoes, pickled vegetables, and boiled shrimp. Thanks to Bombay and Tito's for sponsoring the goodies

We threw a two-night After Party for Marfa Film Fest at Blue Javelina, Marfa. There were so many of us staying at "Camp Javelina" that I slept in the bar the first night. Thanks to Bacardi for supplying my bar that weekend.

Tipsy Tech Graduation Party at the Tigress
2nd Annual Tales of the Cocktail Send-off Party at the Swoop House
Spirits of Texas Luncheon, Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans
Zhi Tea Third Anniversary Party
Chef Zach Northcutt's Meaty Monday Madness
Farm to Plate benefitting Sustainable Food Center
Sustainable Foodies Fundraiser benefitting Sustainable Food Center sponsored by Republic Tequila

The most unexpected reunion of all! Annies on Congress First Anniversary Party. I got the opportunity to jump back behind the bar with then-bar manager Tiffany Short. Afterwards Bill Norris (original consultant for the project) and Christa Haxthausen (bartender during my tenure) joined for a reunion picture.

Essential NY Times Cookbook, Cocktail Demo for Launch Party at Rainlily Farm
Third Annual Oyster Club benefitting the Rude Mechanicals, The Plant at Kyle
Official Cocktail, 2010 Dolce Vita at Laguna Gloria benefitting Austin Museum of Art
Little Lucifer’s Luau, benefitting Transgender Education Network of Texas
Bourbon, Bluegrass & BBQ at Stubbs
HELM Handmade Trunk Show at Stag
Blue Javelina Cocktail Showcase, Chinati Weekend, Marfa
Swine Flu Shot! For Wine & Swine Weekend, Hill Country Wine & Food Festival
Third Annual Drink Local Cocktail Contest, benefitting Urban Roots
Potocki Vodka VIP event at Austin Wine Merchant

We made a special punch for the Contigo Ground-breaking Party. Joe obviously wasn't taking his shoveling task very seriously, since he didn't even set his cup down long enough for the photo opp

We picked up a few Awards & Recognitions along the way...
Austin Chronicle Restaurant Poll—“Most Critical Thinking About Drinking”
Austin Blogger Awards---Best Cocktail/Beer Blog
2010 Local Hero Award—“Beverage Artisan”
Out & About 500—“Food Stars”

I'm most proud that we graduated our first two classes of Tipsy Tech students. Here we are on our first semester field trip to the Balcones distillery in Waco. We won the Austin Chronicle Best of Austin Award—“Best Tippler Teach-ins” for Tipsy Tech

A few people, amazingly enough, wanted to hear me blab on about this subject even more than I usually do:
Out & About Interactive Chat with Michael Barnes, on the state of Austin nightlife
Southwest EXPO, Houston—“Texas Booze: More Homegrown Choices for your Bar Menu”
Growing Concerns, back-to-back interviews w/ Cecilia Nasti, KUT Radio
Heath Riddles, OUTcast Radio, KOOP
Spirits of Texas Cocktail Showcase at Twin Marketplace, Waco
Nerd Nite Austin—“History of the Martini”

Tipsy Tech alumn Emma Janzen curated a massive Austin 360 Cocktail Database, at Austin360.com. I had the pleasure of doing the first 20 or so videos of what will grow to be a great collection of cocktail instructional videos and recipes from Austin's craft bartending scene. (The astute observer will notice that I underfilled the jigger when pouring the Cachaca--no meniscus--what else did I mess up? Discuss)

Me with Tom Michael after our interview at the Marfa Public Radio studio

We made a few appearances in the media:
“Luck of the Irish coffee” Austin American-Statesman Glossy
“Punch Up Celebration with Old Favorite”—Austin American-Statesman
“Blogging Pair Has Imbibe and Scribe Down to a Science”—Austin American-Statesman
Treaty Oak Cocktail made on KXAN live morning show
Holiday Cocktails, Jewell Magazine Winter 2011

And had good luck at a couple of contests this year as well...
1st place, Don Julio Luxury Drop (Team with Ben Craven, Jenn Tucker, and Bill Norris

Look at these hard-ass gangsters. Tara, Bill, Jeff, David: The Austin delegation arrives in Dallas for Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Showcase. My cocktail advanced to the national round in 2011

Then there were all the private events, the events I forgot, and a few events that we didn't have to work! Thanks to everyone who made 2010 a great year. Looking forward to seeing you all again, on one side of the bar or another, in 2011.

Note: This blog software is out of date and the the comments feature doesn't work. Please look for a new Tipsy Texan early 2011