| MEET THE MIXOLOGIST |

What ’ s your current go-to cocktail or beverage ? When the weather is warmer , gin is my go-to spirit for any cocktail or beverage . I particularly love the Malfy Gin Rosa , which features Sicilian pink grapefruits , Italian lemons and bright botanicals .

Would you share one of the recipes from Landrace ? Here ’ s one for our Tequila Old Fashioned .

Steve McHugh , a James Beard Award-nominated chef , is the principal of Landrace restaurant in San Antonio , TX .

What was your first job in the beverage or hospitality industry ? I grew up on a farm in a small Wisconsin town so my appreciation for our land and its natural bounty started at an early age . My first job in the restaurant industry was at age 14 , working at a nearby tavern washing dishes . It wasn ’ t too long before I was elevated to short-order cook , flipping burgers and loving every minute of it .

It was just the beginning ! A jazz saxophone scholarship got me into college , but I soon realized that I would rather study cooking — and I made my way to the Culinary Institute of America .

What is your favorite spirit to work with at the moment ? Waterloo barrel-aged gin is a Texas brand , and one of my favorite spirits at the moment . One of my favorite cocktails is an Old Fashioned , but I actually prefer gin over whiskey . At Landrace , we have a custom cocktail cart that roams the restaurant . It shares unique combinations — from house-made bitters and syrups to curated spirits , like this Waterloo barrel-aged gin — to bring guests fun riffs on the classic Old Fashioned .

Landrace uses native Texas ingredients in the beverage program ; how do you determine what to use and how ? Seasonality is key to deciding which ingredients will be featured on our cocktail menu . We use native Texas ingredients across the beverage program . For example , the Pequin Your Interest cocktails features pequin pepper agave , which is complemented by El Jimador blanco tequila , Cointreau , grapefruit and lime .

Are most guests familiar with the more exotic ingredients , such as sotol ? Guests who are familiar with Landrace know that we appreciate fun , different and funky ingredients for a robust flavor profile . They may not know of each specific ingredient , and our team loves to be part of the ordering process and share details on the unknown .

What drinks do you see guests enjoying or asking for these days ? We have a great selection of beers from Texas — it is exciting for people to sample a bit of the local brewing culture . When I travel , I love to explore the local beer scene — in the process , I always learn more about the city !

TEQUILA OLD FASHIONED

1 ½ oz . Añejo tequila ¼ oz . Agave nectar 3 dashes Mole bitters Lime and lemon peel twists for garnish

Place the bitters in a mixing glass and fill with ice . Add the tequila and agave and stir until well chilled . Strain into a rocks glass over a large chunk of ice . Express the lime and lemon twist over the glass . Drop twists into glass for garnish .

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