CHECK OUT MAY's BARTENDER OF THE MONTH @TOMBO GRILLE!!!

In the heart of Forest Acres lies Tombo Grille, THE neighborhood restaurant in Forest Acres. The same flair for creative comfort food as sister restaurant Motor Supply in Columbia’s bustling Vista … without the drive downtown.

Since 2002, Tombo Grille has blossomed into a tried-and-true hotspot for incredible food, new-favorite wines, high-gravity beers and desserts too good to be missed. Tombo Grille’s friendly, knowledgeable servers stand ready six days a week in a quiet corner of Forest Drive.

Casual or formal. Inside or out. Families, friends or two by candlelight. Tombo Grille is a warm, inviting place just right for any occasion.

Click the link above or call 782.9665 to reserve your table.

CHECK OUT COLUMBIA's BARTENDER OF THE MONTH

The only bar at Williams-Brice, you can walk down Stadium Road to TLC Sports Bar & Grill, where we have energy game thats televised, pay per view or otherwise, on seven high-defination plasma big-screens as well as on mini TVs that are in every booth.
It's a great staff, led by Kelly Whitlock (of Kelly's in the Vista fame and a great human being), Attorney Amye Rushing, Hoss, Dallas, and many more all of whom know hot to make dure guest have a blast. Rest assured that the shots flow wildly pregame,during the games and of course after the game. Exhausted your beer supply after the game? Go down to TLC and get all your needs covered, including tasty bar food to put something in your stomach, a crucial component for all-day drinking!
Of course you don't have to wait until gameday to head down. They are open Monday-Saturday with live music, special events and MUCH MUCH more!!
Hours:
Mon & Tues - 3pm - until
Wed-Fri - 11am - until
Sat - 3pm - until

!!!!!!COME OUT AND CHECK OUT HOSS - GOING OUT SOUTH CAROLINA's (COLUMBIA) BARTENDER OF THE MONTH!!!!!!

CHECK OUT OUR NEW TEQUILA!!!!

Familia Camarena Tequila Silver

Familia Camarena Tequila Silver is 100% Blue Agave sourced from the Los Altos Highlands region of Jalisco, and distilled at Casa Camarena.

Fine Tequila doesn't happen by chance. For the Camarena Family, Tequila is a legend more than a century in the making.

In 1860, the Camarenas began cultivating fine altos Blue Agave for Tequila, soon becoming one of Mexico's top producers. Today, the family grows more than 3 million Agave plants, some at an altitude of 7,700 feet in the world's highest Agave fields. The fortuitous combination of elevation, a temperate growing cycle and indigenous red earth in Jalisco's highland region translates to delicate flavor and character in each bottle of Familia Camarena Tequila.

By 1938, Don Agustin Camarena founded the family's first Tequila distillery, Casa Tequilera Casco Viejo (soon to be renamed Casa Camarena), in the town of Arandas. Decades later, Don Agustin's daughter-in-law, Doña Elena Herrera Orendain - the great, great granddaughter of the legendary Don Jose Cuervo - became Managing Director of Casa Tequilera Casco Viejo in 1970. Today, Doña Elena is the Camarena Family matriarch and Casa Tequilera Casco Viejo is among the world's top four Tequila distilleries by volume.

Aroma: A lightly vegetal nose with clear hints of grass.
Initial taste: A thin mouth feel tequila, very sweet on entry with no burn. Floral was the fist taste I detected.
Body: A great Arandas agave body with lighter hints of fruit (berry) and ever so slight earth.
Finish: A nicely heated finish of medium duration with a nice agave lingering.

A little St. Patrick's Day history...

The First St. Patrick's Day Parade

The

first St.

Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

Over the next 35 years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.

In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies decided to unite their parades to form

one New York City St.

Patrick's Day Parade. Today, that parade is the world 's oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants.

Each year, nearly three million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades involving between 10,000 and 20,000 participants.

No Irish Need Apply

Up until the mid-19th century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to a million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics began pouring into America to escape starvation. Despised for their religious beliefs and funny accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.

However, the Irish soon began to realize that their great numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in America.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and Russia.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows.

Come out to The Loose Cockaboose and celebrate Columbia style! Tackiest / Hottest Dress Party, drink specials and more!

Come out to Calloways, have some Evan Williams and meet our Bartender of the Month!!

As America's second-largest selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Evan Williams honors the man recognized as Kentucky's First Distiller, who set up his stills in 1783 on the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville. Evan Williams Black Label, 86 proof, was a Silver Medalist at the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition, defeating brands costing four or five times its price. It is a nationally and internationally known Bourbon, with distribution in select markets in Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Come out to Calloways and enjoy some delious Evan Williams Or Evan Williams Cherry with our Bartender of the Month!!

Shot Ski Promo with Fireball!!! Come out & join us!!!

It all started in Atlanta back in 1996.  We were originally located in Buckhead where the locals kept the place packed and the musicians kept the place rocking.  With great live music being such a driving force for our success, it made perfect sense to move the concept to Music City, USA.  In February of 2002, we opened the Tin Roof on

Demonbreun Street

at the base of Nashville’s famed music row.  The Roof (as it’s known to our Regulars) has been a hit ever since.  Our customers love our laid-back feel and live entertainment—not to mention our made from scratch food served up by a friendly and eclectic staff. Since then, we’ve opened additional locations in Cool Springs TN, Lexington KY, Knoxville TN, and Columbia SC.  We have our eyes on a few other great new locations as well.  No matter which Tin Roof you visit, you’re sure to become a Regular.

So come on in and hang out where there’s no bitchin’ or whinin’ — just a laid-back atmosphere where you can kick back and have a good time. Bring us your stuff—we’ll hang it up! And remember… Relax! You’re at the Roof! Where everybody is somebody!

Bourbon Dinner @ The British Bulldog -Feb. 26th.Get your tickets NOW!!!

The British Bulldog Pub is locally owned by Mark Bowyer, Bill Quirk and Rob Sharpley.  Mark and Bill are originally from Liverpool, England, whilst Rob was born in Austin, Texas and raised in Irmo.

The pub came about by a strong desire to serve quality ales and spirits, as well as a combination of traditional English food and select international cuisine.  Chef Damian Wanek  has worked in a variety  of settings, and brings a host of experience to the kitchen.

We strive to maintain a comfortable and friendly atmosphere with good quality food and drinks. So if you’re in the area…..Stop in for a pint!!!!!

Join us tomorrow night, Tuesday, Feb. 26th for a Bourbon dinner starting at 7:00pm. Chef will prepare a wonderful dinner paired up with some of the worlds best bourbons. Tickets are on sell now!!

CHECK OUT OUR MAY's BARTENDER OF THE MONTH!!!!

In the heart of Forest Acres lies Tombo Grille, THE neighborhood restaurant in Forest Acres. The same flair for creative comfort food as sister restaurant Motor Supply in Columbia’s bustling Vista … without the drive downtown.

Since 2002, Tombo Grille has blossomed into a tried-and-true hotspot for incredible food, new-favorite wines, high-gravity beers and desserts too good to be missed. Tombo Grille’s friendly, knowledgeable servers stand ready six days a week in a quiet corner of

Forest Drive

.

Casual or formal. Inside or out. Families, friends or two by candlelight. Tombo Grille is a warm, inviting place just right for any occasion.

Click the link above or call 782.9665 to reserve your table.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!! Enjoy some PAMA!!!!

 

PAMA^® captures the complex, sweet yet tart taste and seductive ruby color of all-natural pomegranates.

PAMA is made with all-natural pomegranate juice, premium vodka and a touch of imported tequila. Bottled at 34 proof, PAMA is highly mixable in a range of cocktails such as PAMA and Champagne, PAMA Cosmo and the PAMA Mojito. PAMA’s versatility gives you endless PAMAbilites.^™

No fruit compares to the pomegranate. The deep crimson color; the dense pulpy flesh; the rich red juice; even the time of year when it ripens – all of these singular characteristics, along with the tales of mystery and romance woven around it, make the pomegranate rare and unequalled.

The pomegranate has come a long way since the beginning of time, revered throughout history as a symbol of health, fertility, and rebirth. It is believed that the pomegranate may have been the “apple” in the Garden of Eden. Ancient Greeks believed it was a symbol of love and war. Another Greek myth tells how Hades, god of the underworld seduced Persephone with a pomegranate.

The fall harvest offers a freshness and juiciness within the tempting fruit that cannot be experienced any other time of year. The pomegranates chosen for PAMA are selected at their peak for ripeness and flavor.

Try a: PAMA-tini today!!

Ingredients:

2         oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur

3         1 oz. Premium Vodka

4         1/4 oz. Orange Flavored Liqueur

Instructions: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon zest.

Check out this months "Bartender of the Month" at The Tin Roof!

It all started in Atlanta back in 1996.  We were originally located in Buckhead where the locals kept the place packed and the musicians kept the place rocking.  With great live music being such a driving force for our success, it made perfect sense to move the concept to Music City, USA.  In February of 2002, we opened the Tin Roof on

Demonbreun Street

at the base of Nashville’s famed music row.  The Roof (as it’s known to our Regulars) has been a hit ever since.  Our customers love our laid-back feel and live entertainment—not to mention our made from scratch food served up by a friendly and eclectic staff. Since then, we’ve opened additional locations in Cool Springs TN, Lexington KY, Knoxville TN, and Columbia SC.  We have our eyes on a few other great new locations as well.  No matter which Tin Roof you visit, you’re sure to become a Regular.

So come on in and hang out where there’s no bitchin’ or whinin’ — just a laid-back atmosphere where you can kick back and have a good time. Bring us your stuff—we’ll hang it up! And remember… Relax! You’re at the Roof! Where everybody is somebody!

While you are there enjoy a chilled shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, a cocktail with Tito's Handmade Vodka or some delious Appleton Rum!

Join us @ Thirsty Fellow for some Tito's Handmade Vodka

Wikipedia: "fellow" is most often used in an academic context; a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who work together as peers (regardless of gender) in the pursuit of knowledge or practice
A "Thirsty Fellow"? You get the idea.
Thirsty Fellow Pizzeria and Pub is the brainchild of Willie Durkin, known for his previous establishments: Shannon's, Sneakers and Durkin's. Willie went in search of the perfect pie and found it in Charlotte. Peter Reinhart, author of American Pie, faculty member of Johnson and Wales, and owner of Pie Town, makes the pizza he was looking for. Willie successfully completed a pizza course at Johnson and Wales, and brought the perfect pizza to Columbia.
Owners Willie Durkin, Chuck Belcher, and Terry Davis want you to join the Thirsty Fellow family. Located in the USC Innovista area, we have a comfortable atmosphere, a great menu, a full bar and plenty of televisions. Open for lunch, dinner, late night and Sunday brunch, put Thirsty Fellow on your "to do" list.

!!Please come out and enjoy TITO'S HANDMADE VODKA - $4.00 ALL DAY EVERYDAY!!!

Restaurant Weel featuring: Ristorante Divino

Celebrating over 10 years of serving our distinguished patrons, Ristorante Divino is an upscale fine dinning yet intimate family owned restaurant. 

Chef and owner, Fulvio Valsecchi invites you and your guests into our unique and accommodating atmosphere of polished Italian wood paired with exposed historic brick walls and beautiful linen as you indulge on fresh and flavorful cuisine.

Ristorante Divino has been the gracious recipient of the WINE SPECTATOR AWARD from 2002 to 2010 for our outstanding and exquiste wine selection.

Ristorante Divino serves over 400 wines found throughout the world.

Ristorante  Divino is open for dinner

Monday through Saturday 6 p.m.-until

RESTAURANT WEEK

January 14-22, 2011

$32.00 per person

Menu

Appetizers

Lobster Bisque

Maine Mussles

Fried Calamari

Classic Caesar Salad

Entree

Fresh Fish of the Day

Scampi Divino

Half Rack of New Zealand Lamb

Veal Marsala

Dessert

Tiramisu

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Italian Cheesecake

Restaurant Week featuring: Hennessy's

Come and enjoy one of Columbia's landmark restaurants for over 26 years. A favorite place to meet, talk romance and dine in unique, comfortable surroundings. Join us in our lounge over looking

Main Street

for your favorite cocktails, cordials, or desserts. Compliment your dinner selection from our extensive wine list.

Cocktail Features:

PAMA-tini- PAMA Pomegrantate Liqueur, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, White Chocolate Liqueur and Simple Syrup served in a chilled martini glass.

Manhattan - Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters served on the rocks and garnished with a cherry.

Dinner Specials: Three Courses for $30.00 per person

First Course:

Smoked Salmon Pinwheels over Toast Points

Coconut Shrimp

Calamari with Thai Chili Sauce

Brie

House Salad

She Crab Soup

French Onion Soup

Second Course:

Cinnamon Red Chile Black Angus Beef Filet

Salmon Oscar

Chicken Picatta

Vegetarian Pasta with Wild Mushrooms

Surf & Turf

Third Course:

Crème Brulee

Turtle Cheesecake

Warm Apple Crisp ala Mode

Godiva Chocolate Layer Cake

Pearlz is a fun, eclectic restaurant serving only the freshest seafood in a casual dining atmosphere. Pearlz Oyster Bar features an assorted mix of raw shellfish, local seafood, Lowcountry recipes and regional favorites. Our raw bar offers a variety of oysters and fresh seasonal shellfish. A full-service bar serving the coldest beers and unique, refreshing cocktails.

Please come and join us for some wonderful cocktails and food specials during Restaurant Week.

Cocktail Features:

PAMA-tini- PAMA Pomagrantate Liqueur, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Chocolate liqueur and Simple Syrup served in a chilled martini glass.

Manhattan- Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters served on the rocks and garnished with a cherry.

Dinner Specials:

Three Courses for $24.95 Per Person

Appetizers (Select One)

Providence Calamari - lightly breaded, garlic vermouth butter, side marinara

Ahi Tuna Taco - crispy cabbage, grilled pineapple salsa, wasbai cream

4 Varietal Oyster Sampler

Entrees (Select One)

Ginger Glazed Salmon with lemon grass risotto and brussel sprouts

Bleu Cheese Shrimp & Grits with tasso gravey

Fettuccini with Steamed Maine Mussels & Red Clam Sauce

Desserts (Select One)

Red Velvet Cake with Cream cheese Frosting

Homemade Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches

Restarurant Week featuring: Saluda's

The largest VFW officers club was built at 751 Saluda Avenue after World War One for the specific purpose of entertaining and celebration on a grand scale.  After six years of renovation, the condemned building was reopened in 1996 as Saluda’s Restaurant,  with nothing less than white linen tables, crystal glassware and a five star executive chef. The solid mahogany bar, an antique from the Blakely Hotel in Philadelphia built in the late 1800’s now graces Saluda’s dining room.

Saluda’s now exists in the spirit of our veterans celebrations of special occasions.  Our unique ability to provide excellent service and incredible fare for parties of two to two hundred makes us the perfect choice for all special occasions.  There is no other restaurant that exists in the city of Columbia, which can offer you such a grand dining experience.

Cocktail Specials:

PAMA-tini – PAMA Pomegrantate Liqueur, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Chocolate Liqueur and Simple Syrup served in a chilled martini glass.

Manhattan – Evan Williams single Barrel Bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters served on the rocks and garnished with a cherry.

Dinner Specials: 3 Course Dinner for $30

Soup& Salad Selection

Lobster Bisque with Goat Cheese Croutons and fresh herbs

Iceburg Wedge – Crisp iceburg wedge, buttermilk blue cheese dressing, grape tomatoes, Apple smoked bacon.

House – Mixed greens, champagne vinaigrette, roasted pumpkin seeds, green apples, candied pecans and Dubliner Cheddar.

Entrée Selections

Seared Sea Scallops – Seared scallops, sweet potato puree, Applewood bacon-mushroom fricassee, sweet potato chips

Chicken and “Dumpling” – Roasted Breast of Chicken, Parisian gnocchi, chicken confit, English peas, roasted carrots

Petite Fliet Mignon – Flash fried Parisian herb gnocchi, roasted mushrooms, caramelized shallot veal bordelaise, black truffle butter

Dessert

Sweet Potato Crème Brulee

Caramel Cheesecake

Restaurant Week featuring: Saki Tumi Grill & Sushi Bar

Three friends and graduates of the University of South Carolina felt that Columbia needed a restaurant that makes you feel like you're in a large city, while still offering price points and specials that are much lower than what you would expect in a larger market.

After research in cities such as Washington DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Charlotte, we created SakiTumi. A hip, fun restaurant with atmosphere that is complimented by its incredible quality of food and drink.

After being open only 9 months, we were awarded "Best Sushi Restaurant" by the readers of the State newspaper. We continue our ethics of quality by ordering more fresh, #1 ahi tuna than any other restaurant in town. We never order frozen tuna - we order whole tuna loins that arrive at SakiTumi less than 24 hours out of the water. But we pride ourselves on much more than just our sushi.

SakiTumi boasts Columbia's most ecclectic menu, with a wide array of international grilled items and tapas dishes that have nothing to do with sushi. So to make it plain and simple, anyone can visit SakiTumi and find something on the menu that they will love.

GROUPS AND PARTIES: We have a room called "The Dragon Room" that is perfect for groups of 15-20 people. We can also make accomodations to host more than 20, simple email or call us to discuss options.

Join us for some wonderful cocktail and dinner specials.

3 Course dinner, only $22.00

First Course: Starter (choose from one of the following)

Tomato Bruschetta

Toasted Goat Cheese

Edamame

Second Course: Soup and Salad

Miso Soup

Ginger Salad

Third Course: (choose from one of the following)

Grill:

Tumi Seared Tuna

Stir Crazy Hibachi

Sapporo Steak

Sushi:

Naked Roll

Fire Island Roll

Samurai Roll

Cocktail Features:

Ecstasy: PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Svedka Vanilla Vodka, Peach Schnapps, cranberry juice and a splash of pineapple juice. Served in a chocolate rimmed martini glass.

Manhattan: Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon with a touch PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur and sweet & dry vermouth – garnished with a sweet cherry.

Restaurant Week Columbia!

Columbia, SC - (January 3, 2011) - The Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau would like to announce the arrival of Restaurant Week South Carolina.  The nine-day celebration will be held January 14-22, 2011 from the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the Grand Strand and the Midlands.  Food lovers across South Carolina can dine in style at some of Columbia's best restaurants for a fraction of the cost of a regular meal. 
From fine dining to casual, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, promotions and discounts.  Diners can sample new restaurants or dine at old favorites while tasting a variety of exceptional dishes being prepared by chefs at a great value.  The event is a reminder that Columbia and South Carolina is a culinary destination with top chefs, farm to table dining, wonderful wine and a lot more to discover and explore.
Participating eateries in the Columbia area include Ruth's Chris Steak House, Dianne's on Devine, Cellar on Greene, Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar, Mr. Friendly's New Southern Café, Terra, MoMo's Bistro, Villa Tronco, Main Street Restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel, Ristorante Divino, Blue Marlin Restaurant, Hennessy's Restaurant and Lounge, Yesterday's Restaurant and Tavern, The Great American Grill at the Hilton Garden Inn, Gervais & Vine, Rosso Trattoria Italia, Cantina 76, Saluda's Restaurant, Pearlz Oyster Bar, Liberty Tap Room and Grill, Tombo Grille, Virtu Restaurant and Bar, Saki Tumi Grill & Sushi Bar and Wild Wing Cafe in the Vista, on Columbiana Grand and at the Village at Sandhill.
Restaurants suggest making reservations in advance as seating fills up very quickly.  To learn more about Restaurant Week South Carolina or to view the individual restaurant menus visit http://www.restaurantweekcolumbia.com/.

ROSSO WINE TASTING TONIGHT!!!

Come for a great experience featuring some of the best food and wine that Columbia or for that matter South Carolina can offer...A truly great place to enjoy with friends. 

Featured Wines: Allegrini Volpolpicella 2008, Mastro Lacryma Christi Red, Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio, Argiolas Perdera

Where: Rosso Trattoria Italia

             Trenholm Plaza

             4840 Forest Drive, Suite 7

             Columbia, SC 29206

When: January 12th, 2011
            5:00pm - 7:00pm

Host: Matt James

Tito's Handmade Vodka

THE STORYHi. I’m Tito Beveridge and I’m the founder and owner of Titos Handmade Vodka. I’m from San Antonio, Texas. I went to Vanderbilt for a year then to UT, University of Texas at Austin. I graduated with degrees in geology and geophysics. I got into the oil and gas business and did that in Texas and then down in Venezuela and Colombia and ran heli-portable dynamite seismic crews down there and came back and started a drilling company in Houston, got tired of chasing the buck and decided to move back to Austin, TX.
I did ground water geology here and got in the mortgage business and it was when I was in the mortgage business that I started making flavored vodka for my friends for Christmas presents. That was in about i guess ’92, ’93. I was at a party one time and a stranger came up to me and said ‘Hey you’re the vodka guy’ and I was like no, contraire, I am the mortgage guy. And that’s when I kinda started thinking that this guy’s telling me i need to go sell my flavored vodkas and this was the first time I really started thinking seriously about it.
So when rates went up a couple points in the mortgage business I started going to liquor stores and ask guys if they’d buy my flavored vodkas, they said “no, go look at all the dust on the shoulders of those bottles there”. Then they said but if I could make it where it was smooth where you could drink straight then I might have something. So I asked them how you do that and they said “Well I don’t know, you’re the guy who wants to get in the vodka business.”
At that point I went and started trying to learn about how to distill and you know it was pre-internet and so there really wasn’t any information about how to make it. It was almost like there had been a book burning at the library. I got a bunch of pictures of old moonshiners and looked at a bunch of those photos and then kinda from looking at all those photos kinda just built a still that kinda looked like those stills. And then just kinda started cooking in that and just trial and error’d. I just kept messing with it until I got to where everybody liked my vodka better than the other stuff you could buy at the time. I basically just kinda kept working at it and working at it.
We bought every vodka that was on the shelf, we put them in little kerr jars and tasted all and came up with the two best ones. When mine beat the other two best ones then I figured that I had my formula right. My friends were all kinda my guinea pigs.
I tried to get some financing a couple of times and it didn’t work out because they said i’d never get my permits, there’d never been a legal distillery in Texas and they said I’d never get a distributor. So I ended up just taking the money I’d saved up while working overseas and I racked up 19 credit cards to the tune of about $88,000. I built a one man distillery and built a production still and just kinda got myself into business. I’d go out and make it and sell it and come back and make some more and you know I was sleeping next to the still and you know just kind of boot-strapped it up.
And then at one point we’d gotten a phone call to come to the World Spirits Competition and I was fixing a boiler so I just sent a couple bottles there and we ended up getting the double gold medal, the unanimous judges choice. And that was up against 72 vodkas around the world including flavored vodkas. That kind of you know, helped spur things along.
I appreciate ya’ll supporting Tito’s Handmade Vodka. It’s really been a dream come true for me and it’s really due to all the word of mouth that we’ve gotten. It’s all pretty much just been from people going into liquor stores and bars and asking for it. So if you are in a bar and they don’t have it, ask to speak to the bar manager. Our distributors are on our website at Titosvodka.com. If you tell 20 of your closest friends we’ll just keep this thing rolling. Thanks a whole bunch, I try to make it good. You know my theory is you make the best vodka in the world and charge a reasonable price, so I’ll keep doing my part of it and I sure appreciate you doing yours. Thank you very much.
-Tito

South Carolina Restaurant Week Announced

Columbia, SC - (January 3, 2011) - The Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau would like to announce the arrival of Restaurant Week South Carolina.  The nine-day celebration will be held January 14-22, 2011 from the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the Grand Strand and the Midlands.  Food lovers across South Carolina can dine in style at some of Columbia's best restaurants for a fraction of the cost of a regular meal. 
From fine dining to casual, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, promotions and discounts.  Diners can sample new restaurants or dine at old favorites while tasting a variety of exceptional dishes being prepared by chefs at a great value.  The event is a reminder that Columbia and South Carolina is a culinary destination with top chefs, farm to table dining, wonderful wine and a lot more to discover and explore.
Participating eateries in the Columbia area include Ruth's Chris Steak House, Dianne's on Devine, Cellar on Greene, Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar, Mr. Friendly's New Southern Café, Terra, MoMo's Bistro, Villa Tronco, Main Street Restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel, Ristorante Divino, Blue Marlin Restaurant, Hennessy's Restaurant and Lounge, Yesterday's Restaurant and Tavern, The Great American Grill at the Hilton Garden Inn, Gervais & Vine, Rosso Trattoria Italia, Cantina 76, Saluda's Restaurant, Pearlz Oyster Bar, Liberty Tap Room and Grill, Tombo Grille, Virtu Restaurant and Bar, Saki Tumi Grill & Sushi Bar and Wild Wing Cafe in the Vista, on Columbiana Grand and at the Village at Sandhill.
Restaurants suggest making reservations in advance as seating fills up very quickly.  To learn more about Restaurant Week South Carolina or to view the individual restaurant menus visit http://www.restaurantweekcolumbia.com/.

Super Bowl XLV and Evan Williams THIS WEEKEND!!

COME OUT TO YOUR FAVORITE BAR AND ENJOY EVAN WILLIAMS DURING THE SUPER BOWL!!!

Most Evan Williams bourbon is sold as the mass-market "Black Label" variety, which is aged 5 to 7 years.^{[citation needed]} Evan Williams also bottles Evan Willams 1783 bourbon in more limited quantities and a highly rated, nine-year-old single barrel bourbon sold in vintage dated bottles sealed with black wax.
Evan Williams is the second largest-selling Kentucky straight bourbon.^{[citation needed]} Evan Williams began distilling in 1783 near Louisville, Kentucky after emigrating from Wales^[2], illustrating the primacy of the Welsh whisky tradition in the United States (Jack Daniel was also of Welsh descent). Evan Williams Black is 43% alc/vol (86 proof) unlike some popular whiskeys which are 40% alc/vol (80 proof).

Participating Locations (Columbia): Wild Hare (Vista), Wild Hare (Lexington), Wild Hare (Irmo), Callaway's Sports Bar and Icy's Sports Bar

Date: Super Bowl XLV - February 6, 2011