Featured drink Ramon’s Revival, a sesame horchata-infused tequila sipper, won a 2018 Espolon cocktail competition. On March 22, she will be debuting Daijoubu, a pop-up featuring Asian flavors and techniques, along with fellow Tastemaker nominee Sharon Yeung. Esler has a wealth of knowledge and a killer palate, creating some of Austin’s most innovative drinks without an ounce of snobbery.Ĭaer Ferguson already wears two hats in The Roosevelt Room organization, bartending at the main lounge while serving as the bar manager to The Eleanor next door. There’s a reason food and drink reporters reach out to him as their go-to guy. He’s been featured in everything from industry magazine Chilled to Maxim - not to mention every local outlet imaginable. Patrons can still find Brett Esler behind the bar at Whisler’s, but his influence can be felt far beyond. There, he is still able to showcase his far-ranging palate, this time working with one of the most astounding selections of sake and Japanese whiskies in Austin. While last year Ricky Cobia was a nominee for former Georgetown restaurant The Hollow, he now can be found at Watertrade, the bar serving South Congress Hotel’s Otoko.

Get acquainted with them below before joining us in toasting the winner at our annual awards ceremony and party held April 10 at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. These eight finalists stand out not just because they make a good drink, but because of their unflagging commitment to hospitality and innovation. So imagine how difficult it was for our judges to winnow down the nominees for the CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Bartender of the Year. Some city’s have a few notable bartenders, but Austin has an embarrassment of riches.

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