Nestled at the intersection of East Houston and Cherry streets, Tucker’s Kozy Korner, has been around since the late ‘40s and continues to be a gathering spot for those seeking good company and great drinks. 

This holiday season one of those great drinks is the Tucker’s Brandy Alexander. I’m of the school that believes any time Fernet is in a cocktail, it’s probably gonna be a good cocktail. It’s always a welcomed addition.  Like cocaine to an 80’s party, so is fernet to a cocktail. 

This Brandy Alexander has just enough Fernet to give it a hint of that herbal, bitter deliciousness I love so much. And with two ounces of a house-made apricot cream (apricot preserves diluted with water and then added to heavy cream), it has that creamy mouth feel you expect from a rich, decadent cocktail like the Brandy Alexander.    

And our trusty barkeep behind this year’s Tour entry, Julio Cepeda, supplements the cocktail with great company. Hailing from Laredo, a border-town west of San Antonio, Julio began his bar career as a bouncer, of all things, and has been tending bar for more than half-a-dozen years.

My eyes-lit up with discovery of his collegiate tennis career, but the bar was beginning to fill up and get busy just as we were about to geek-out on our shared love for the sport. With the crowd, came my exit.

After all, Julio had a bar to run, and I thought it best to shut up and act right. But when I return to slam a few Brandy Alexanders, you damn right I’m gonna circle back around to the current state of tennis.

Join in on the imbibing, the conversation or both now through NYE, at Tuckers.