Francis Bogside, an Irish pub in the heart of Southtown, has been the go-to spot for many a folk looking to grab a drink and a bite in a low key, relaxed neighborhood bar since 2015. It’s the kind of spot where you’re bound to run into somebody you know. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I’ll leave that up to you.

One of those people you may recognize is barkeep Eddie Martinez. A Corpus Christi-native, Eddie made San Antonio his home 28 years ago, and spent the last 27 of those years tending bar, including the storied SoHo, one of San Antonio’s original cocktail bars.

While he personally prefers imbibing his favorite spirits neat, and he’s cocktail affinity is for the boozy-sort, the likes of a Manhattan or a tequila Old Fashioned, Eddie’s Brandy Alexander at Francis, The King High, is a beautiful twist on the classic using a HighWheel Porter syrup, a combo of turbinado sugar, water and HighWheel Porter.

This syrup added to any cocktail would taste really great, but used here, it adds a depth of interesting bittersweetness that plays well with the Solerno blood orange liqueur and Kinsman Rakia.

Something tells me Tour veterans will sip on quite a few of The King Highs during the holiday season, and so should you. You might even spot a few of your friends there doing the exact same thing. And if you find yourself asking why didn’t they invite you, just order another drink and let it go… you’re at Francis, enjoy the bar team, and another King High!