Bourbon and Bacon. A match made in heaven, to be sure. If you’re on the same page, then Bourbon Steak (335 Powell Street) in San Francisco’s ever-bustling Union Square might just be your own personal Shangri-La. The master mixologists at Michael Mina’s signature steakhouse have concocted a special libation incorporating the robust, smoky tones of pig fat with the barrel-aged bombast of a wonderful whisky. The aptly-named Kentucky Fat uses a special infusion of Bulleit bourbon—one of my personal favorites—combining it with unusual bedfellows: Goji berry liqueur, Antica Formula sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters doused in pure bacon fat. Let’s consider that last component for a moment. In order to lace the bitters with the smoky-goodness of cooked pig, the staff at Bourbon Steak steep the bitters in heated bacon fat and then wait for it to solidify. After, they simply scrape off the congealed lard, and voila: the precious [...]

It’s easy to add a little flair to Mom’s big day this weekend by whipping up a few crafty cocktails in the kitchen before mealtime. Since Mother’s Day is always a brunch-centric event, the following three recipes are well-suited to mid-afternoon sipping: MOM-osa 1 oz Frangelico 1 oz passion fruit juice Champagne or sparkling wine top  Combine Frangelico liqueur and passion fruit juice in a shaker, add ice and pour into a champagne flute. Top with sparkling wine or champagne.  (as another option to straight juice you can use “Cascal” which is a great tropical fermented soda available at Wholefoods nationwide) Cityhouse in San Francisco’s scenic Parc 55 Hotel (55 Cyril Magnin Street) is serving up a specialty cocktail this weekend that is—as they say—sweet and a little bit nutty, just like Mom. Mommy Dearest 1 ¼ oz Frangelico 1 ¼ oz pomegranate liqueur Stir over ice and pour over [...]

The Macallan – is a premiere brand of single-malt Scotch whiskey that was founded in 1824. Since then it’s grown into one of the biggest names in the business and this May it’s headed to the Regency Ballroom (1300 Van Ness Avenue) in San Francisco for a series of free tastings. Just remember: registration is required and you better get to it because people tend to flock to free booze at a frenzied pace. The Macallan is the second biggest selling single malt by volume (behind Glenlivet).  They will be sampling a variety of whiskeys at the San Francisco event, held May 8 through May 11. Tastings are free but you do need to be 21 or over, of course. As you can imagine, The Macallan has a proud and rich history. What else would you expect from a brand that requires the definite article in its title. So if you want to appear [...]

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and if you’re anything like the rest of America, there’s a darn good chance that you’ll be taking Mom out to a fancy meal. You’re such a thoughtful child. The only problem is, anyone can mobilize the matriarch to a local restaurant and make her tear up with a special hallmark greeting card. But you’re not really adding a personalized touch. And you’re not doing any of the hard work. Your mom brought you into this world—that special, individualized bundle of joy that is YOU. In return you should consider specially individualizing something for her on the big day. Namely: a cocktail. If you were at all like me growing up, you probably drove your mother to the liquor cabinet at least once or twice… on a bad day. How fitting is it—now that you’re all grown up—that you can bring the liquor [...]

If you live in or around Southern California, you’re not going to want to miss the celebration going on at Tortilla Jo’s (1510 Disneyland Dr.) in Anaheim. They’re open from 11am-11pm on Cinco de Mayo and will feature a complimentary tequila tasting from 6-8. As if free booze wasn’t incentive enough for you, there will be piñatas! Every hour, on the hour, throughout the afternoon, you’ll be able to take swings at bashing the crap out of the traditional Mexican punching bag filled with all kinds of goodies. Does your fiesta need a soundtrack? Of course it does. And Tortilla Jo’s has you covered in that regard as well with world-class entertainment provided by the Grammy award-winning Mariachi Divas. Admittedly, I know very little about Mariachi music, but if they are divas they’ve got to be doing something right. Tequila is always a tasty spirit and after an entire afternoon [...]

Beer and booze were separated at birth. And I’m not just alluding to the obvious fact that they are both alcoholic. The actual fermentation process responsible for each is quite similar, reliant upon a fermented-sugar liquid, usually barley, to produce the buzz that we love so much. As craft distilling and craft brewing have ascended the ranks of popular culture over the past decade, it was perhaps inevitable that their paths would eventually converge. Nowadays many well-known breweries and distilleries are producing zany Frankenbrews like hopped whiskey, or whit-spiced rhum. And of course there’s always the rising trend of barrel-aged beer. So you have the choice of whiskey that drinks like a beer, or beer that tastes like bourbon. Either way, if you fancy yourself a beer geek or a distillery junky, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with this list of the 5 best blends available today… 5.) New Holland [...]

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.  

One of the hottest trends in drinking today comes from one of the coolest desserts out there.  Several high profile eateries and bars from around the country are now serving up alcohol-infused ice cream, and it’s every bit as delicious as you can imagine.  In combining two of the best vices known to humanity, what’s not to love? In San Francisco, the Mission’s most popular dessert destination is Humphry Slocombe (2790 Harrison Street). Known for their eclectic array of inventive flavors, it was one of their original sinful concoctions that helped put them on the map: Secret Breakfast–bourbon ice cream mixed with cornflakes.  And while you’d have to eat a whole bunch of this boozy confection in order to notice a significant buzz, all it takes is one taste in order to enjoy the oaky and smoky characteristics that define barrel-aged bourbon. Down in Los Angeles, a newcomer appropriately named the [...]