Rihanna: Whiskey Makes Me Spend Crazy

Rihanna's dropping dough all over Texas and one Austin bartender's reaping the benefits.

RiRi turned up over the weekend at The Lodge on 6th, where she showed the staff mad love. Not that she was boozing out of control -- she had a show the next day -- and her tab was only $82.25.

Still, we're told she left a fat tip of $200 for her barkeep!

Rihanna and her crew weren't there long -- they arrived at 1:15 and stayed until last call, sipping Jameson and Cokes while high-fiving fans. We're told her bodyguards only stepped in to block the restroom when girls tried to follow her.

From bars to strip clubs -- she spends freely, deep in the heart of Texas (clap, clap, clap, clap)!