Congratulations on being the potential winner of two spots on the guest list for the 2009 Austin Cocktail Throwdown! If you win, you’ll be part of the exclusive event at the super cool Gibson Guitar Showroom in Penn Field on Thursday, Sept. 24. This is an invite-only event where the drinks will be free and a’flowin!

Since 2004, the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) and Tito’s Handmade Vodka have awarded “The Official Drink of Austin” to a local drinking establishment. For the first four years, bartenders competed to create a “Batini” in honor of our local bat community that captures the flavors of Austin. For the first three years, just a few local hotels were invited to compete and the Four Seasons took home the title year after year.

In 2007 the organizers mixed it up — pun intended, and invited bartenders from throughout the city to submit recipes. That year, Lamberts Downtown Barbecue took over the title with their spicy Batini recipe.

Redbud

I don’t know about you but a Batini doesn’t sound all that appetizing to me…I picture murky waters and the smell of bat guano that overtakes my senses when running under the Congress bridge on Town Lake. I get where the idea came from…bats come out at night, people tend to drink the most at night, bats are a big tourist attraction in Austin, etc.

In 2008 the organizers stuck with the “Official Drink of Austin” title and dropped batini — the drink could now be called whatever it darn well pleased. The winner was Ranch 616 with their “Fire in the Hole” — a shot made with Paula’s Orange Liquor, lime juice, cayenne and chili powder served in a jalapeño and with a Lone Star chaser.

This year’s winner will be determined next week…on Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in Penn Field. Activities will include hot dogs from Frank, sipping Tito’s and local beer, listening to live music, and hanging out with old and new friends. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some debauchery as well…stay tuned for incriminating Facebook pics (yes, I’m bringing my camera).

The five finalists highlighting Tito’s Vodka in their drinks include:

Mole on the Rocks, by Fino’s Bill Norris
Treaty Oak Rum, Paula’s Texas Orange, chocolate bitters, and Norris’ house made mole syrup

Enlightened Austin Martini, by La Condesa’s Nate Wales
St. Germain Elderflower Liquer, watermelons, agave nectar, lime

Lady Bird, by Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace’s Nicholas Patrizi and Danelle Awtrey
St. Germain, Paula’s Texas Lemon, garnished with a lemon carved like a Texas rose!

Redbud, by Paggi House’s Tori Tinnon
Pepper, Grenadine, orange, lime, grapefruit bitters

Shirley Bird Tea, by Hyatt Lost Pines Resort & Spa’s Larry Lanctot
Ginger liquer, hibiscus mint tea, honey, lemon, mint

How can YOU win tickets to taste these amazing drinks and vote for your favorite?

Lady Bird

Just comment below and share a little-known local food secret. I’m talkin’ bout insider information like where to get free food, amazing discounts, fabulous experiences, etc. To give you an idea, this might include the best time and grocery store to taste free samples, a bar that offers complimentary snacks with your drink, etc. No tip is too low or too highfalutin for me!

I’ll award a PAIR of tickets to the author(s) of my FIVE favorite insider tips. Please feel free to submit more than once — if you have a couple great ideas that are new to me, you can win ‘m all as far as I’m concerned.

Submission deadline is this FRIDAY, Sept. 18. I’m compiling a list of these insider tips and will share them with you in an upcoming post and/or KGSR Thursday morning show. Everyone wins!

Speaking of KGSR and drinking, tune in tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. CT Thursday when the boys and I are joined by June Rodil, beverage director at Uchi and winner of the 2009 Texas’ Best Sommelier at the annual conference last month. She’ll talk — and we’ll sample — sparkling wine, white wine, and sake.