It’s a big week for imbibing—which is why you’re getting an extra recipe to tide you through the week. The Kentucky Derby is upon us, so put on your most ostentatious hat and mix up some mint juleps! Please note that this ‘perfect’ recipe includes some overnight preparations, so plan ahead. The Perfect Mint Julep (Serves 14-16) Ingredients: 1 liter Maker’s Mark® Bourbon Lots of fresh spearmint Distilled water Granulated sugar Powdered sugar 1. To prepare the mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves – wash and place in a small mixing bowl. Cover with 3 ounces of Maker’s Mark. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then, gather the leaves in a clean, soap-free piece of cotton cloth and vigorously wring the mint bundle over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times. Then set aside. 2. To prepare the simple [...]

There are a lot of things in the beverage world that are polarizing, such as peat in whiskeys, ‘terroir-driven’ wines, hoppy beers, and gin. When it comes to gin, people either are obsessed and have their go-to brand, or say “I don’t like gin, it tastes like licking a taxicab air freshener.” Well, to those folks who don’t like the juniper flavors of most gins, I have a solution for you: Nolet’s Silver dry gin. Made by the same company who makes Ketel One, Nolet’s eschews the usual juniper for an entirely different set of botanicals, including turkish rose, peach, and raspberry. The resulting spirit is much fruitier and ’rounder’ than the angular, herbal gins we’ve all come to expect. It’s pricey, retailing at $50, but sometimes it’s expensive to prove a point to the non gin drinkers out there! Here’s a simple and delicious recipe using this fruitiest of [...]

This past week, we had the opportunity to taste the new Croft Pink Port, the first rose port to be released in the US. It’s bright, fruity, and aromatic as all drinks pink tend to be, with floral and berry flavors. The Pink Blossom’s a great way to enjoy it, and we think this cocktail can be festive year round. For spring and summer, garnish with raspberries and blueberries, and for the winter holidays we think some cranberries would be nice! Pink Blossom 3 oz. Croft Pink Port 1 oz. St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur 2 oz. brut sparkling wine Fresh berries to garnish Place 4-5 ice cubes in a highball glass, pour in St-Germain and add Croft Pink Port. Stir, top with sparkling wine, garnish, and serve.  

Cheesecake is an indulgence for many reasons: it’s made up of rich ingredients, and it can take a long time to prepare. But it’s totally worth it, especially if you give it a cocktail-themed edge by adding a bit of bourbon, a kick of heat from ginger and chili powder, and some maple syrup to round out the flavor with sweetness. Chili powder is typically for savory dishes, but it works nicely with the richness of this dessert. Bourbon and maple are a natural pair, complimenting each other and giving the cheesecake a pleasantly grown-up flavor. The flourish of a torched brulee sugar topping gives the cheesecake a rustic look. Spiced Maple Bourbon Cheesecake (makes 8 to 10 servings) Crust 2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies 6 tablespoons melted butter 1 teaspoon chili powder Filling 16 ounces softened cream cheese 1/2 cup maple syrup 6 large eggs 3 tablespoons bourbon (I [...]

Since Tax Day is here (don’t forget!), you owe it to yourself to kick back and relax with a drink in hand.  Filing your return can oft be a stressful experience but now that it’s hopefully all said and done, what better of a way to peel away the worry than with a strong cocktail that was specially designed for the occasion?  I’m talking of course about the classic Tax Day Cocktail.  What, you didn’t realize that there was a drink singularly created to commemorate your annual dance with the IRS?  Well, there is and it’s also spectacularly-suited to the spring.  I’ve included the recipe below so you can make it for yourself at home.  Just make sure to save all your receipts for next year’s filing! Tax Day Cocktail 2 oz. gin 1/4th oz. dry vermouth 1/4th oz. sweet vermouth 1 oz. orange juice A dash of Angostura bitters [...]

The morning after a once-in-a-blue-moon spat of storms in San Francisco, we’re feeling rather fresh and springy. What better way to celebrate the sun, and the hope that these April showers will bring May flowers, than an aptly named cocktail? Have some fun with this floral yet balanced cognac-based cocktail while you’re sitting outside this weekend. Golden Daffodil 2 oz. CAMUS VS Elegance .5 oz. Aperol .5 oz. St-Germain .75 oz. lemon juice 1 dash of rhubarb bitters Flamed orange twist In a martini shaker, combine the CAMUS, Aperol, St-Germain, lemon juice, and bitters with ice.  Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with the flamed orange twist.

After a long night of drinking beer, the last thing you want to think about is having a sudsy brew in your food, but the flavor of an ale or lager can add a pleasant, lightly-hopped bitterness to a soup broth, especially ramen-style noodle soup. A popular street food across Japan, ramen is a hearty soup that’s as ubiquitous as the hamburger. It’s eaten with gusto on a cold day and just as welcome after a night out with a few drinks. The key to a good ramen is the broth, developing and layering the flavors to reach a savory balance. The use of beer keeps the broth from feeling too heavy or overpowering all of ramen’s ingredients. You can add almost anything to it, but a satisfying combination is thin slices of the pork loin that was braised in the broth itself and wedges of boiled egg, topped with [...]

  On February 13, 2012 Herradura Tequila and UrbanDaddy sponsored a Mixologist Battle with four of San Francisco’s finest mixologists. It was a lively party, themed like an epic boxing match, complete with vintage gloves, posters, and even an announcer introducing each contender. Three judges were on hand to taste and grade each contender’s tequila cocktail: Robert Polacek of the Puccini Group;  Virginia Miller of the SF Bay Guardian; and Greg Lindgren of Rye on the Road, 15 Romolo, Rye, and Rosewood. Over 100 people attended the event at 111 Minna Gallery to watch Carlo Splendorini, Kate Bolton, Mike Vegas, and Joel Titelbaum battle it out to win a trip to Mexico, courtesy of UrbanDaddy. Joel Titelbaum won the bout and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is sitting on a beach right now drinking his winning libation, The Sleeping Sage. Enjoy the drink yourself and imagine you are soaking [...]