Dudes in Drag Shake Speedy Cocktails for Charity, Part 2

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Chris Bostick, aka Rackie Onassis (photo Mara Flynn)

Walking into Tuesday night’s Tipsy Texan event felt a bit like roller derby running into a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the West Village with a stocked bar and a time clock.

The Swoop House was packed with bar industry veterans and cheering, bundled onlookers as eight of Austin’s best-known bartenders donned dresses and shook four cocktails in a speed competition to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Speed Rack, a national, all-female speed bartending competition that raises money for the cause, co-hosted the event along with the Tipsy Texan. Founder Ivy Mix thanked all the participants and guests for coming, and explained the rules of the friendly competition to see which state could raise the most money before this weekend’s San Antonio Cocktail Conference. Perhaps the most fun aspect of the evening was the introduction of the bartenders. These guys really dolled up for the evening and even came up with competition names: think Tallulah Tonsils and Rackie Onassis.

The Swoop House made for a lovely party venue and small bites from 2Dine4 Catering were devoured before the main event. In the end, the party raised $700 for breast cancer awareness, and organizers say they have great ideas about how to generate even larger numbers next year. Competitors mixed four cocktails for time and each was judged on taste: a Margarita, a Daiquiri, a Rob Roy, and a Slow and Low on the rocks. Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” blared behind one bartender’s turn. Cursing and hilarity filled the room. The final winner was Matt Ross from La Condesa, aka Sofanda Cox.

Other participants included: Chris Bostick (formerly of LA’s Varnish) aka Rackie Onassis, Miles Worrell (Contigo Austin) aka Rosie Cheeks, Mark Kuchesky (Peche) aka Tess Tosterone, Travis Tober (Four Seasons) aka Na Gnomie, David Alan (the Tipsy Texan) aka Davida Loca, Michael Sanders (drink.well.) aka Rachel Tensions, and Steve Robbins (Contigo) aka Tallulah Tonsils.

The following Austin bartenders will be at the San Antonio Cocktail Conference Sunday, Jan. 20, competing in Speed Rack’s ladies cocktail event: Amber Billiard (Drink.Well.), Rachel DelRocco (Midnight Cowboy), Joyce Garrison (The W Hotel), Whitney Hobbs (La Condesa), Karen Kirchem (Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater), Madelyn Kay (Haddington’s), Lana Lindsley (Frank), Pamela Pritchard (The Tigress), Tacy Rowland (Drink.Well), and Jessica Sanders(co-owner, Drink.Well). We wish the best of luck to all our local ladies. Be sure to check the print edition of Thursday for more about the San Antonio conference soon.