Enjoyed: Friday, March 27, 2026.

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Outlaw Old Fashioned”

Ingredients: Basil Hayden bourbon, banana, banana liqueur, brown sugar syrup, black walnut bitters, chocolate bitters.

The occasion: We spent the morning at The Alamo and the afternoon exploring the four other missions of San Antonio. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site to add to my Bucket List! I wanted to dine along the River Walk, so I chose Ambler Texas Kitchen, which was not too far from our hotel, the historic Menger. We were seated at a table right in front of Marriage Island, it turned out, the site of 300 weddings per year, according to each and every tour guide narration we heard as the boats floated by. After our lovely meal, we asked our server to take our photo on Marriage Island. I wonder if any passing passengers took our photo, too…

My rating: *** out of 5. I was initially intrigued by this creative combination of flavors. I am not a big fan of the taste of banana, however, and the banana in this drink was not subtle enough for me. Husband happily drank this for me, so all’s well. I do like the idea of a brown sugar simple syrup, so I will be experimenting with that at home.

Final thoughts: We decided, on the spur of the moment, to take one of the last evening boat rides along the River Walk. The landmarks and businesses along the river were so beautifully lit. We passed by the stage where they filmed the “perfect date” scene in the movie Miss Congeniality, but I will argue that today was one of the most perfect dates that I have had, and I did need a light jacket.