New cocktail spot in Southtown ‘all very experimental’

There’s a new spot for creative cocktails, quirky wines and light bar nibbles in the Lavaca neighborhood in the Southtown area.

San Antonio artist Amada Claire Miller has partnered with Chad Carey’s Empty Stomach Group to launch Hands Down in the former home of Bite on South Presa Street. The new concept, which opened Feb. 11, is a brick-and-mortar version of a pop-up Miller hosted at the Fl!ght Gallery space at the Blue Star Arts Complex, where she sold cocktails in cups made by local potters.

Don’t expect workaday libations at Hands Down. Miller is an enthusiastic proponent of herbaceous and bitter vermouths, aperitifs and amari, which play a prominent roll in her drinks. Her take on the Moscow mule, for example, is spiked with the bracing French aperitif Suze.

“It’s all very experimental,” Miller said. “We’re trying to bring something new and fun and refreshing that people will enjoy.”

At some point, Miller said, she would like to offer handmade pottery cups to go along with her drinks.

Miller honed her bartending skills and wine knowledge while working at Carey’s Little Death wine bar. And Carey’s stamp can be seen on Hands Down, which offers a wide range of unusual wines from small producers both by the glass and for retail purchase by the bottle. The menu of bar snacks includes cheese plates, sardines, olives,

pickles and more — similar to the offerings at Little Death.

Hands Down, 1012 S. Presa St., 210-462-1430, Instagram: @handsdownbar. Hours: 5 p.m. to close Wednesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to close Saturday and Sunday.

Courtesy Amada Claire Miller Hands Down, 1012 S. Presa St., serves cocktails, wine and light bar nibbles.