Dolce Vita was a raging success tonight with a sell-out crowd showing up for the 20th anniversary event. As far as crowds go, the Tipsy Texans entertained a sizable line of party-goers in the Scotch & Cigar Lounge, which was a $20 upgrade to the regular ticket--a steal, in my opinion, because that means you get to drink high-proof hooch instead of just wine.

We originally planned to do the Debonair Cocktail but there appeared to be a shortage of scotch, so we switched gears after the first hour and focused our attention on the case of Paula's Texas Lemon that they'd given us to work with. Tipsy came up with a refreshing Port punch.

I didn't get a glamour shot of the Debonair but Jennie Chen managed to catch me drinking one

Paula's Porto Punch
2 oz Paula's Texas Lemon
3/4 oz Port
3/4 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime
Angostura bitters
Shake all in a cocktail shaker and strain into a bitters-rinsed glass

We were also fortunate to have a guest barista at our table, none other than Dan Streetman of Cuvee Coffee. He brought his La Marzocco espresso machine and did some great coffees. We debuted a new coffee cocktail that I have been working on, a brown butter-infused Macchiato with Strega and absinthe:

The Brown Witch

The Brown Witch
1/2 oz Brown Butter
4 oz Whole Milk
1 oz Espresso
1/2 oz Strega
Barspoon (scant) St. George absinthe
Pour spirits into a demitasse. Steam the brown butter and milk, pour artfully into demitasse. Serve.

Time is running out to submit recipes for the second annual Tipsy Texan Drink Local Cocktail Contest. The contest takes place Sunday, December 6, as part of Edible Austin Magazine's Eat Local Week. Last year's contest featured some of the best talent in the state, with Bobby Heugel (Anvil, Houston) taking the gold. Who will take the top prize this year? The contest is open to professionals and amateurs alike, as long as you follow the rules.

Contest Rules are adapted from the United States Bartenders Guild official contest rules, and follow the jump.

Today is the deadline, midnight Central Texas Time. Send in recipes for Drink Local Cocktail Contest or watch some douchebag with a crappy drink rake in all the prizes that could have been yours.

Get to shaking! Complete rules and directions are here.

The results are in for the first round of this year's Drink Local Cocktail Contest. The judges expressed great difficulty in selecting just five contestants and an alternate. Here are the finalists in no particular order:

Jeff Boley (Paggi House)
Bill Norris (FINO)
Lara Nixon (Boxcar Bar)
Benjamin Craven (Perla's)
Garret Mikell (Some place that hasn't opened yet. What's it called?)

Alternate:
Nate Wales (La Condesa)

The contest takes place this Sunday, Dec 6 from 6pm-9pm at Palm Door, 401 Sabine in Downtown Austin. The event is open to the public. A suggested donation benefits Urban Roots.