Pastiche, the European-inspired cocktail bar nestled on San Antonio’s Eastside opened in 2019 to rave reviews. Step one foot inside, and you’ll see why.

Run by proprietor and San Antonio barkeep veteran Benjamin Krick, Pastiche is located in a cozy 1930’s house off East Houston Street and celebrates all things old-world. In fact, pastiche is French for “an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another… period.” It definitely succeeds in that, which as a lover of history and storied past, explains why I could spend all day sipping cocktails here. Fortunately for me, Pastiche is participating in this year’s Kinsman Brandy Alexander Tour, so I can do just that, and still feel productive.

Ben, a French red wine loving native of Atlanta, uses Kringle Cream in place of traditional heavy cream. And if like me you’ve never been to the Wisconsin area, you may have never heard its their official pastry.

The Kringle is oval-shaped, flaky, buttery dough filled with fruits, nuts and spices and baked. And if you aren’t watering at the mouth yet, imagine all that in drinkable alcohol form? Lucky for us we can do more than imagine!

The Kringle Cream adds a nutty, buttery savoriness to the cocktail that’s unique among this year’s participants. A half ounce of extra creamy oat milk gives the cocktail a silky mouthfeel. Poured over crushed ice and finished off with freshly grated abuelita chocolate, cinnamon or nutmeg (or all three), the Kinsman Brandy Alexander is an instant classic that’ll have you coming back to Pastiche for more.