Community Spirit {La Holly}

Authenticity in a Glass

Words by Chris Ferguson Photo By Summer Maulden

La Holly isn’t just another trendy Eastside watering hole. With an affordable and highly curated cocktail menu, owner Simon Madera has carefully crafted an intimate venue inspired by their Tejano neighborhood.

“We call it ‘La Sancha,’ which basically means ‘mistress,’” Simon Madera flashes a grin as he places a violet colored frozen margarita on the table. “Honestly, it was a joke name while we were testing out different recipes. It’s a little vulgar, but everyone loved it when they tasted it, so it stuck.”
At first glance, La Sancha is striking, a little mysterious, and definitely mouthwatering. Before even taking a sip, it seems to radiate with summertime energy.

Its frosty, ten-ounce glass is filled with a blend of Kimo Sabe mezcal, triple sec, lime juice, and house-made hibiscus syrup that gives the drink its deep, velvety color. A black, rocky rim provides a sharp color contrast, complementing the frozen mix with a blend of lime salt, sugar, and powdered ancho chili. A small handful of roughly chopped candied hibiscus and a thick wedge of lime complete the garnish.

La Sancha’s flavor profile is as good as it looks, making it especially easy to drink. The hibiscus avoids overpowering the overall blend, instead pairing elegantly with the smoky and aromatic notes offered by the mezcal and spiced rim. It has the complex, smoky aftertaste one would expect of quality mezcal but is tempered by a subtle sweetness that tastes almost like cranberries. Most importantly, the drink packs a punch without falling into the trap of tasting overly boozy.

Simon boasts that its simplicity and authenticity are exactly what makes it one of their most popular drinks. It’s one of the few premium drinks in Austin that won’t break the bank if one just isn’t enough. “This is the best frozen margarita in the city because nobody can make it all in-house like we can, especially at the price we offer. It’s important for us to keep our menu affordable so that the community can keep coming here.”

By “here,” Simon is specifically referring to La Holly’s location at the corner of East 6th Street and Pedernales, in a building that was once home to Kellee’s Place, a relaxed and affordable Tejano bar and lounge that operated in the same building since 1991. To those who remember, it was a neighborhood institution: a legacy that Simon intends to honor.
After assuming ownership of the property, Simon made it a point to maintain as much of the heritage of the place and its community as possible. In addition to offering hard-to-find spirits from Mexico, a shaded outdoor patio adjacent to nearby homes provides a comfortable space to nosh on Mexico City-style street tacos. A bright and intricate mural by renowned visual artist Curiot (Favio Martinez) unfolds across the longest side of the building.

La Holly’s drinks are delicious and well-balanced just like La Sancha—a simple, affordable frozen margarita that deserves to be on every Austinite’s summer shortlist, much like La Holly itself.

Native Knowledge

While La Holly is temporarily shuttered due to COVID-19, La Sancha is available with any to-go order at various locations of its sister company, Taco Flats.