If you’ve followed the local dining scene, you know Ida Claire as a Southern-inspired destination where hospitality isn’t just a virtue—it’s a practiced art. It’s the kind of place where a night out feels like a welcome, well-told story. Now, with the Kinsman Brandy Alexander Tour in full swing, Ruben Polanco has stepped into the spotlight to serve a signature take that’s equal parts comfort and curiosity.

Ruben grew up in Del Rio and made his way to San Antonio in 2013. He cut his teeth as part of the Ida Claire opening team, and before that, served up coffee as a Starbucks barista, honing those skills that help him succeed behind the bar. He’s the guy who’ll admit to loving trashy reality TV and who would happily audition for the Bachelor, insisting that life, like a good drink, should be enjoyed with a sense of humor and a little brag-worthy flair. He’s also an avid reader who enjoys a good cocktail from time to time. His favorite being a Paper Plane, which is also my favorite, but only if the bourbon is replaced with Kinsman. Otherwise, ew….

The drink he’s bringing to the table for the Kinsman Brandy Alexander Tour is Kith & Cream, a table-side revelation that marks a first for the Tour: a cocktail plated, poured, and presented right at the table so you can witness the ritual up close. Kith &Cream includes Cointreau, All Spice Dram, Amaro Nonino, and a single scoop of dulce de leche ice cream. It’s a cross between a creamy comfort and a bright, spice-kissed chaser. The Amaro Nonino brings a bitter-sweet complexity and a trace of orange zest that combines with the Cointreau to brightens the finish, but the dulce de leche ice cream is the heart of the dream here. The creaminess blankets the palate, smoothing the edges of the spice and amaro, while adding a caramel-vanilla richness that lingers long after the last sip.

So….what are you waiting for?!? From now through NYE, the invitation is open: head to Ida Claire, order a Kith & Cream, and let this Southern hospitality moment become part of your San Antonio cocktail memory.