The Hayden, the classic Jewish deli does Texas diner, has been serving up deliciousness at The Boardwalk on Broadway for more than a year, and the deliciousness extends far beyond the kitchen, as the bar struts its stuff into their second Brandy Alexander Tour.

Alice Young, the Magic: The Gathering (or if you’re in the know, just MTG or Magic) -playing barkeep behind this year’s Brandy Alexander has been with The Hayden since day one. It was actually MTG that got her into bartending. She used to play Magic with a friend who owned a bar, and he eventually gave her a job barbacking. We’re sure glad he did too. Otherwise, we may have missed out on True to Form, her take on the classic Brandy Alexander.

Alice, the talented guitar and piano player barkeep, bucked tradition on this year’s Tour by using apricot puree and honey in place of the more traditional crème de cacao. And why not? Aside from using Kinsman Rakia, the only rule of the Brandy Alexander Tour is there are no rules. It’s like my old friend Forrest Gump’s mom said, “life was like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re gonna get.” With the same holding true for this year’s Brandy Alexander Tour, we’re all about it.

While this gamer at heart enjoys her spirits neat, her jam at the moment are un-aged apple brandies, or rakias, for those entrenched in the world of Kinsman. Her daily-commute from Schertz is one less-desired chore, but we sure are glad she makes it, ‘cause we are a better cocktail-city for it.

Visit The Hayden this holiday season, and pull up a seat at the bar to enjoy your True to Form cocktail while chatting up barkeep Alice Young. We’ve given you plenty to start a conversation with, so any awkward silences will be on you.