Zephyr squash, sunflower, aleppo, mint. $14
Rolf and Daughters, Nashville TN
This was tasty, but I wish I could have at least seen the stracciatella without all the stuff on top covering it up. It was weird to have the main ingredient away from view.
Peat Rose cocktail. Rittenhouse rye, apple, lemon, grenadine, Laphroaig. $11
Knob Creek bourbon Manhattan. $9
Old Overholt rye, Bonal, orange liquer, orange bitters, Angostura bitters, orange peel. $10
The Box Social, Portland OR
I liked this place. They know how to make a decent cocktail and everyone was really friendly. These cocktails were also pretty tasty. Yay!
Calamari, shrimp, fennel, green beans, zucchini, marinara. $14
Pesce, San Francisco CA
Mmm, I love fritto mistos! Who doesn’t love a plate of battered and deep fried seafood and vegetables?! I thought the marinara sauce was a little lame, but I’m not gonna complain too much. 🙂
Fall Smash: George Dickel rye, maple, lemon, mint, fresh cranberry. $10
Rye-min’ and Stealin’: rye, grapefruit, Campari, rose water, Peychaud’s bitters. $9
Quoin, Seattle WA
The cocktails at Quoin are good, some of them a bit overpriced in my opinion. Both drinks I tried were tasty and distinct. I really can’t choose a favorite because they were so different and hard to compare. The Rye-min’ cocktail was definitely easier to drink and was probably the “girlier” drink. I guess what made the Macho Man-hattan so manly was the scotch rinse. You could definitely taste the distinct bite especially if you’re not a regular scotch drinker. I liked it though.
Macho Man-hattan: rye, Antica formula, orange bitters, Islay scotch rinse. $12
Runners, David Govedare 1986.
Pamplemousse Apertivo: Pamplemousse, aperol, lemon, sparkling wine, graprefruit bitters. $12
Jardiniere, San Francisco CA
The house cocktails at Jardiniere were really well made and delicious. I think my favorite is between the Vieux Carre and the Pamplemousse Apertivo. They’re very different from each other, but both had distinct flavor profiles and went down way too easily. 😉
Vieux Carre: Rittenhouse rye, Carpano, ‘Antica Formula’ sweet vermouth, Pierre Ferrand cognac, Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters. $12
Lexington (background): Buffalo Trace bourbon, gran classico, Cardamaro, cinnamon bitters. $12
Rye, sparkling apple, maple syrup, bitters, lemon. $10
Padrecito, San Francisco CA
I like most of the specialty drinks at Padrecito. The bartenders seem to know what they’re doing and the drinks are creative and delicious.
San Francisco Marina Yacht Harbor.
“In New Orleans, they like to do things their own way. Judging by this famous variation on the old-fashioned, that way may be the right way. Rittenhouse 100 rye whiskey, the Crescent City’s own Peychaud’s bitters, a bit of sugar – and a glass rinsed with a green bitter liquid that shall remain nameless.” $11
The Alembic, San Francisco CA
Mmm, I’ve grown to appreciate a well-made sazerac. The Alembic knows how to make proper cocktails so I’m a happy man!
Banana people street art, The Mission.
Classic cocktail with Bulleit rye, sweet vermouth, absinthe, bitters. $10
Mission Bowling Club, San Francisco CA
Hmm, I love Manhattans but the addition of absinthe is hit or miss for me. This drink was too absinthe-y for my taste so I thought the cocktail was just ok.
Colorful prism/ocean mural, The Mission.
Ramble: gin, sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, muddled raspberries, crushed ice.
Comme Ca, Las Vegas NV
Mmm, I LOVED the cocktails at Comme Ca! There were plenty to choose from and they were all deilcious and very different. AND during happy hour they are half off – SCORE!
Sazerac: rye whiskey, sugar, peychaud bitters, absinthe.
Hemingway Daiquiri: silver rum, maraschino liquor, fresh lime juice, grapefruit juice.
Rose Eight: 108.2′ bourbon, orange juice, fresh lemon juice, honey/grenadine, rose flower water.
New York Sour: bourbon, sugar, egg white, freshly squeezed lemons, red wine float.
Shimmy Flappers: vodka, aperol, fresh lemon juice, sugar, red wine float.
Rye whiskey, lemon, 100 proof honey. Happy hour $5
Bitterroot BBQ, Seattle WA
This drink was way too sour for my taste! They must have put a crap-load of lemon juice in this thing. Too bad because I was excited for the rye-honey liqueur combo. 😦
Seattle Great Wheel, Pier 57.
Templeton rye whiskey, antica formula, morello cherry juice. $10
Region, San Francisco CA
Boy, do they like to keep this place dark! I guess it’s to create a cool, hip atmosphere but it seems too much when it’s early on and SO bright and sunny outside. This cocktail was OK, but perhaps with too much cherry juice.
Stranded jellyfish at Fort Funston.
Lone Wolf – bourbon, lemon, averna, gomme, cardamom. $10
Beretta, San Francisco CA
Mmm, the cocktails at Beretta are usually very tasty. BUT our first cocktail, however, took forever to come out. I don’t know if the waitress forgot to ring it up or they lost the ticket, but she eventually came over to apologize for the long delay. Not a good way to start a meal. I hate poor timing!
Improved Whiskey Cocktail – rye, dubonnet, maraschino, absinthe. $11
The “Vamos Gigantes” Mural, The Mission. Taking pride in the San Francisco Giants baseball team!
Vittle Monster 