El Colegio, the bar at Omni La Mansión del Rio Hotel in San Antonio, has rechristened itself as a Texas speakeasy, according to MySanAntonio.com. The cocktail menu now emphasizes Texas beers, wines and spirits.
"A lot of people don't realize how many great products are made in Texas," said Shane Bruns, the hotel's director of food and beverage.
And if people don't want to drink Texas products?
"If they insist on one of their favorites, of course we'll accommodate them. However, what we try to do is educate them and offer them alternatives," said Mickey Lagares, La Mansión's food and beverage manager . "We'll say, 'You like Jack Daniels, or Crown Royal? Let me taste you on some Rebecca Creek or TX whiskey. They have some similar flavor profiles and you never know -- you might like it better."
TGIF! (@ Omni La Mansión del Rio in San Antonio, TX) https://t.co/lmorGRZ2hL pic.twitter.com/dKWb3Y4hCU
— Amy Noelle Wright (@AmyNoelle) February 5, 2016
The building that now houses the hotel was originally the St. Mary's School of Law from 1934-67, and became a luxury hotel in 1968, just in time for HemisFair '68. The former dean's office at the law school became the hotel bar and named "El Colegio," as a nod to its heritage.
Source: MySanAntonio.com