Toast of the town

“Two Shots Fired.”

No, those words aren’t from a 911 call. They are the name of Granbury’s new “signature drink.”

The recipe created by Granbury residents Linda Husong and Susan Moore won first place Friday in a contest to pick a signature drink that Visit Granbury can use in marketing the town, which was recently named Best Historic Small Town by USA Today.

Visit Granbury enlisted tourists – attendees of the Cigar Aficionado Trades and Sales (CATS) Festival – to help choose the top drink during a “spirited” contest at the Best Western Gran-bury Inn & Suites.

There were nine competitors and 11 drinks, according to Visit Granbury Director Tammy Dooley. Two entrants entered two drinks, she said, and some entrants consisted of two-member teams.

The contest was open to individuals as well as businesses.

The winning concoction consists of two ounces of Black Rifle coffee, one shot of pecan whiskey and a shot of Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur.

Husong said that she and Moore were inspired by “the legendary tales of Jesse James and John Wilkes Booth,” both of whom once lived in Hood County, according to local lore.

“Both confessed to the local sheriffs of their crimes,” Husong said, adding that Wilkes even allegedly told where the weapon that he used to kill President Abraham Lincoln could be found, wrapped in newspaper.

Husong and Moore didn’t just win bragging rights for creating Granbury’s signature drink. They also received a $100 cash prize and a cocktail-shaker trophy.

Dooley said that Visit Granbury will probably promote the drink for about three years before holding another competition.

Dooley also stated that the recipe for “Two Shots Fired” will be included in specific visitor group welcome bags, offered to event planners and served at welcome receptions.

“Recipe cards will be available at Visit Granbury and online in the near future,” she said.

Second place honors went to Granbury Theatre Company actor Tim Herndon, who dubbed his creation “Granbury’s Opera House Ghost.”

Chef Courtney Billen of The Fusion Table took third place honors with “Smoke on the Brazos.”

Names of other drinks included “Lemon Drop on the Dock” and “Granbury Sunset.”

A panel of eight judges chose the top three drinks, scoring on each drink’s name, taste, aroma, simplicity, presentation and how well the drink embodied the “Granbury experience.”

Local judges were Steve Vale, Tony Mobly, Trish Reiner, Norma Savage, Jeremy SoRelle, Lee Overstreet and Sister McRae.

The eighth judge was Thor Nielson, chief executive officer of Cigar Press magazine and a CATS Festival representative.

kcruz@hcnews.com| 817-573-7066, ext. 258