Friday, April 25, 2025

Meet The Maker Brings The Best Drinks At Austin Food And Wine Festival

Austin Food and Wine Festival took place at Auditorium Shores on November 5-6, 2022. In addition to some of the biggest chefs in the business, the festival also offered a world-class selection of wine and spirits.

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston Present Dos Hombres Mezcal

The Meet the Maker tent welcomed high-profile spirit brands that shared insights and sips of their products. One of these was Dos Hombres Mezcal, founded and ran by Breaking Bad co-stars and business partners Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. 

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Guests lined up for more than an hour in advance to grab a seat for the charismatic duo’s presentation. The actors took the stage while the luckiest attendees were seated at tables to taste the mezcal.  

Attendees could sample the brand’s offerings in the straight form and in a perfectly mixed Paloma Roja made with Dos Hombres Mezcal, grapefruit, agave, nectar, lime, red chili and ginger.

The Best Drinks At Austin Food And Wine Festival
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Cranston and Paul told the story of how they found the perfect blend and partner for their mezcal as they traveled across Mexico. Ultimately, they found the perfect unique blend of the finest Espadin agave, hand-selected from the hillsides of a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The Best Drinks At Austin Food And Wine Festival
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

After taking the stage to share the brand’s story, they headed over to the Dos Hombres pop-up trailer to pour cocktails for eager fans.

Don Q Rum Makes The Best Pina Colada EVER

I have to admit that before my weekend at Austin Food and Wine, I had not drank a lot of Don Q rum and now I know what I was missing out on. My eyes were opened at the Discover Puerto Rico event on Friday night.

The lucky attendees who came to the Don Q presentation at the Meet the Maker tent on Saturday were treated to a flight of straight Don Q rums as well as the perfect Pina Colada served in a pineapple shaped glass and umbrella.  

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

I don’t drink a lot while I am working but I made an exception to try the Pina Colada and I almost couldn’t believe how amazing it was. It was hand shaken and it deserves its own post to discuss in great detail. It was also the perfect drink for a day in the sun at the festival.

Director of Brand Advocacy Yisell Muxo and Don Q Master Distiller, Sylvia Santiago took the stage to walk through the history and blending of the famous Puerto Rican classic. Sylvia has been with Don Q for 48 years and has a limitless wealth of knowledge about the brand and the rum production. 

The Best Drinks At Austin Food And Wine Festival
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Don Q refers to Don Quixote, the main character from the eponymous novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Don Q is also the number one selling rum in Puerto Rico.

New and old fans of the rum walked away with a new appreciation of the brand both in taste and quality.

Meet the Maker With Maker’s Mark Bourbon 

For all those dark liquor conosiers, fret not Austin Food and wine has you covered with a stellar presentation from Maker’s Mark Bourbon.

The Best Drinks At Austin Food And Wine Festival
Photo Credit: Dusana Risovic for Austin Food and Wine Festival

The distillery was founded in 1953 by Bill and Margie Samuels and is located at Star Hill Farm’s in Loretto, Kentucky. Maker’s Mark is a must stop location on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Maker’s Mark signature red wax toppers is a feature that helps Maker’s Mark stand out from the crowd. 

Guests at the brand’s presentation were walked through a tasting of a generous flight of bourbons from the world-famous brand.

The Best Drinks At Austin Food And Wine Festival
Photo Credit: Dusana Risovic for Austin Food and Wine Festival

Voodoo Doughnuts are always one of my favorite treats. I have no idea how I missed the Maker’s Mark Mint Julip Donut samples at the Voodoo Doughnut booth, but it is my biggest regret of the festival.

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Amy Harris
Amy Harris is a writer and photographer who has been traveling for 20 years and flown over 2 million miles to visit over 80 countries on 6 continents. She is a freelance photographer for Invision by Associated Press, AP Images and Rex/Shutterstock. Her work can be seen in various publications and websites including: Rolling Stone, AP Images, National Geographic Books, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Forbes.com, Lonely Planet Travel Guides, JetStar magazine, and Delta Sky Magazine.

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