PopSugar San Francisco

4 Local Distilleries Where You Can Keep Your Spirits Up Post-Cocktail Week!

Julia Millay Walsh — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:30:00 PDT

SF Cocktail Week, the annual, weeklong celebration of all things cocktailian, is in full swing, but when all the parties pass, our love of cocktails will not wither. Many of you may encounter a newfound love for mixology, while others continue to nurse an old habit! Whatever the case, start making post-Cocktail Week plans and further your bev ed by touring a local distillery. I've rounded up five Bay Area distilleries available for tours, where you can sharpen your palate and your spirits knowledge, learning about bottling, barrel-aging, basic distillation techniques, and more. 21 and over only, of course . . .

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PopSugar's Picks For SF Cocktail Week

Julia Millay Walsh — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:51:39 PDT

The fifth annual SF Cocktail Week is finally here! From special events and seminars to dinner parties and afterparties, there are more cocktail celebrations in store for us this week than we can handle! Several events have already sold out, but here are our top picks of the rest:

Main Events

Shaker & Flask - Tuesday, Sept. 20, 6 to 9 p.m. at Big Daddy's Antiques (1550 17th St.), $65 admission or $75 at the door

For the city's vast geek demographic, this event showcases the science behind cocktails with guest bartenders who specialize in molecular mixology experimenting with antique scientific equipment, liquid nitrogen, pressure-infused botanical vodkas, frozen cocktail popsicles, and herb-infused raw egg white fizzes. While you enjoy the benefits of molecular gastronomy, peep dramatic decorative antiques in the intriguing shop.

Barbary Coast Bazaar - Friday, Sept. 23, 8 to 11 p.m. at the Old Mint (88 Fifth St.), $85 admission or $95 at the door

Put on your favorite fringed ensemble for this 1920s, traveling-circus-inspired fête. In addition to attractions like juggling unicyclists, fortune tellers, conjoined twins (ayee!), and a gypsy jazz sextet, the event will feature carnival-inspired appetizers from Hayes Valley's Straw (203 Octavia Blvd.), like crispy mini corndogs with lavender honey mustard, donut hole cheeseburgets, and mini funnel cakes, and punchbowl cocktails from Rye (688 Geary St.), Bourbon & Branch (501 Jones St.), DOSA (1700 Fillmore St.), and Elixir (3200 16th St.).

Continue reading for four more fantastic SF Cocktail Week events!

Get Your Buzz Going With the Official Drink of SF Cocktail Week 2011

Julia Millay Walsh — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:30:00 PDT

San Francisco Cocktail Week (Sept. 19-25), a weeklong celebration around the Bay of all things cocktailian, is just around the corner! Before we hit the parties, join the neighborhood cocktail crawls, study up at mixology classes, settle down for culinary events, and dress up for festive galas, let's get our buzz going with the official cocktail of SF Cocktail Week 2011!

Created by Duggan McDonnell, cofounder of SF Cocktail week and owner of Cantina (580 Sutter St., 415-398-0195), the official drink is the OXLEY Refuge & Tonic, a well-balanced, tropical gin treat inspired by the East and West.

Here's how you can whip one up while you're prepping for the fêtes next week:

Ingredients

1.5 oz. OXLEY gin
.75 oz. Lillet Blanc
.75 oz. Perfect Purée of Coconut
.5 oz. fresh lime
.5 oz. sugar syrup
Finish with: Fentimans tonic, cardamom powder, lime

Directions:

Pour main ingredients into a mixing tin.
Shake.
Pour into a glass over ice.
Add a splash of Fentimans tonic.
Dust with cardamom powder.
Garnish with a lime wheel.

While you're at it, start planning your week and snag tickets to special events, seminars, dinners, and afterparties before they sell out!