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Cocktail Menu: Winter Drinks at AQ in San Francisco

AQ has launched their winter cocktail menu. I see: infused vermouth, redwood tincture, Fool's Wager.

Looks goood. Menu below. 

Aperitifs

TEN DOLLARS

CHURCHILL’S BANE
winter gin botanical infused vermouth
juniper tincture, lemon twist

PISCO TI PUNCH
pisco, lime, rose, sugar

Seasonal Classics

TWELVE DOLLARS

OLD FASHIONED
eagle rare bourbon, (winter bitters)
sugar, twist of lemon

MANHATTAN
(citrus infused bourbon)
sweet vermouth, angostura bitters

SAZERAC
(cacao nib infused rye)
sugar, peychaud’s bitters
(green chartreuse)

RED *WOOD* HOOK
« courtesy Enzo Errico »
rye whiskey, punt e mes
(redwood tincture)
maraschino cherry liqueur

OVERPROOF GIN MARTINI
choice of a navy strength gin:
leopolds • north shore • royal dock
dry vermouth, orange bitters
twist of lemon

Originals

THIRTEEN DOLLARS

FOOL’S WAGER
gin, sweet vermouth, campari
gran classico, peach bitters
ardbeg 10yr scotch

BISON ROSE
zubrowka bison grass vodka
cocchi americano
meyer lemon rosemary shrub

NEW AMSTERDAM VARIANT #3
bols genever gin, grapefruit
dry curacao, raisin sugar

CHRISTMAS ISLAND
white rum, kiwi, champagne
sweet woodruff tincture

SOUTH FOR WINTER
del maguey mezcal, lime
creme de cassis, absinthe

Digestifs

TEN DOLLARS

CHARTREUSE & HOT CHOCOLATE
house made hot chocolate
with marshmallows

AQ MILK PUNCH
milk, brandy, amaro
sugar and spice

A Drink-Through at Rich Table in San Francisco

A "drink-through" is when you drink all of the cocktails on a menu to see what they're like. 

I didn't quite do a true drink-through at Rich Table, the newish restaurant in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, as I only had 8 out of the 11 drinks on the menu. I'm a lightweight I guess.

As mentioned previously, the cocktails here are developed by Jason "Buffalo" LoGrasso. Here are some fun facts I learned while drinking through the menu:

• LoGrasso doesn't believe in always listing every ingredient in a cocktail on the menu. The Lands End, for example, only lists two liquid ingredients but it also contains two kinds of vermouth. He said he just lists the important stuff. 
• He also shortcuts some menu items. For example, the "bitter orange" used in the Autumn Leaves is actually two ingredients: Gran Classico and orange bitters. 
• Furthermore, some ingredients he lists in sneaky ways to invite discussion (and invoke misdirection). In an early version of the menu he called egg white in a drink "albumin froth". On the menu that I drank through, he called it "meringue," since there was honey in the drink and meringue is egg whites plus sugar. Pretty sneaky, sis.
• The drinks should change as LoGrasso sees fit. Since the food menu changes daily, the drinks will change whenever he darn well pleases.  
• He seems a bit bitter at not having Kold-Draft ice. 

And now, rather than in the order I tried them, I'll list the:

 

Cocktails at Rich Table From Best to Worst

IMHO

Turkey Trot

Turkey Trot: Bourbon, Butternut Squash, Honey Meringue, Nutmeg

The brilliant move here is that the squash is raw - LoGrasso juiced it in a juicer. Thus rather than coming out creamy and rich as you'd expect, it comes out tannic and vegetal. 

 

Rich Coffee

Rich Coffee: Fernet, Creme de Cacao, Sightglass Coffee, Brown Sugar, Pistachio Cream, Gold Dust

LoGrasso makes the cream from pistachio paste and ages it overnight, as you would for an Irish Coffee. The drink tastes exactly as good as it sounds.

 

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves: Rye Whiskey, Bitter Orange (Gran Classico, orange bitters), Black Walnut bitters, touch of maple syrup

In the Manhattan style, this drink contains rye, sweetener, and bitters. It is rich in fall flavors and sweet in taste, tempered by stirring until very cool. 

 

I should note that the drinks I think are the three best are also the three most popular, and thus my tastes are entirely pedestrian. 

Shiver Me Timbers

Shiver Me Timbers: Pot Still Rum, Pomegranate, Ginger, Canela (cinnamon), Crushed Ice

Slightly spicy from the ginger beer, rich from pomegranate, and stanky from the Smith & Cross rum, this drink isn't exactly a revolution in flavor but it's the cocktail nerd's version of a Dark N Stormy.

 

Hayloft

This cocktail with mezcal, applejack, almond, apple butter, Sutton Cellars Cider is basically "apple three ways plus mezcal." Though the combination makes perfect sense, I don't recall having apple and mezcal together before. It works, and this drink is zippy and zesty. This is probably a good drink to give to people who are mezcal shy.

Carthusian Hot Cocoa

 

Carthusian Hot Cocoa: Chartreuse, Creme de Menthe, Chocolate, Pineapple Marsmallow

 

Pineapple marshmallows??? Yes. Watch this math:

Verte Chaud (Chartreuse and hot chocolate) + Chartreuse Swizzle (Chartreuse and pineapple and mint) = Carthusian Hot Cocoa.

The only reason this drink didn't rate higher on my list is that it was very chocolaty and given the magnificent other ingredients I wanted more of them. (The drink is banging though.)

Witchdoctor Daiquiri

 

Witchdoctor Daiquiri: Trinidadian and Haitian Rums, Cherry, Averna, Lime

 

I didn't note in which form the cherry came, sorry. But overall this tasted like a very nice earthy Daiquiri. 

Land's End

The only drink remaining from the pre-LoGrasso menu, this drink is a rich Martini with Leopold's Three Pines Alpine Herbal Liqueur. The liqueur is so aromatic as to be perfumey, and that riding atop the creamy Dolin Blanc and Dry vermouths is just a bit much for my taste. 

Big Note: I did not try three drinks on the menu: The Strawbarely Legal (because I could guess how it would likely taste, albeit delicious), the Tom and Jerry (a traditional holiday drink), and the Classic Egg Nog (same). So these could and probably would place somewhere in the middle of this list. 

Anyway, it may be hard to get a seat at the small bar in the small restaurant, but the drinks are delicious and the fact that they'll be changing all the time gives you plenty of reason to pop in on a regular basis. 

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A Celebration of Sherry at 15 Romolo in San Francisco

Drink Like Hemingway With Philip Greene's New Book

First Look: Winter Cocktails at Rich Table, San Francisco

Cocktail Menu: Michael Mina's Handle Bar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Joining The Rose as a cocktail destination in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is Handle Bar by Michael Mina, in the Four Seasons Hotel, opening December 17. 

 

The drinks were developed by Carlo Splendorini. The menu wasn't copying well as text so here is an image of the drink menu. 

 

The menu is split into Cocktails, Hot Toddies, Guilty Pleasures, and Adult Milkshakes.

If I believed in skiing, I would so be there apres that.

 

A Celebration of Sherry at 15 Romolo in San Francisco

The bar 15 Romolo in San Francisco has released a "Sherry Christmas" cocktail menu where every drink on the menu (except one) is made with sherry! 

The cocktails are below for easier reading. I want to try them all. 

 

White Elephant
don’t look a gift packyderm in the mouth
white port, manzanilla sherry, spiced liqueur,
sherry vinegar, and a dash of absinthe $9

Star in the East
a party in the west
pür pear liqueur, olorosso sherry, grenadine,
lemon and cava rosado $12

The Bitter Uncle
every family got one
mount gay xo rum, fino sherry, carpano,
cynar, grapefruit twist, bitters $10

Gardener's Flask
call a spade a spade
gin, dolin blanc, sherry, lemon,
thyme shrub, celery bitters $10

Elf on the Shelf
santas little spy
fino sherry, meletti ammaro, benedictine,
blended scotch and bitters $9

Jerez My Mind
animals were hiding behind the rocks
rich cream sherry, blanc vermouth,
carpano antica, orange bitters $9

Santa's Suckerpunch
don't mess with the claus
old grand-dad bonded bourbon, aperol,
pedro ximenez sherry, lemon, bitters $11

pimm’s cup
feat. ginger syrup brewed by a ginger fairy
choice: anything but scotch, pimm’s,
cucumber, mint, lemon juice, ginger,
bitters, soda water $9

Spanish Coffee
a classic done right
coffee, spanish brandy, rich cream sherry,
creme de cacao, whipped cream $10

Sleigh ride
2 minutes, no hands, no funny stuff
vodka, pedro ximenez sherry, lemon,
grenadine and sherry vino $9

Juice for Jesus Swizzle
its a whole new testament
cranberry liqueur, ruby port, cognac,lemon,
fino sherry and whiskey barrel bitters $10

Lost Wiseman
never made it to the manger
smith and cross rum, rich cream sherry,
averna, bitters and brown sugar $11

Merry MaiTai
mele kalikimaka muther fucker
white rum, dark rum, amontillado sherry,
lime, bitters and a dash of absinthe $9

Solstice Sour
see you on the 22nd?
rye whiskey, amontillado sherry,
cynar, cinnamon syrup and lemon $10

 

Cocktail Menu: Rich Table in San Francisco

Jason "Buffalo" LoGrasso (also aka "Buffy") has taken over the cocktail program at Rich Table in San Francisco, a restaurant very much in the now. 

Image stolen from RichTableSF.com

He has introduced a small set of cocktails for the regular and dessert menu. The dessert cocktails "most likely" launch tonight!

Autumn Leaves
Rye Whiskey, Bitter Orange, Black Walnut

Hayloft
Mezcal, Applejack, Almond, Pomme Butter, Dry Cider

Lands End
Terroir Gin, Monterey Cypress, Alpine Liqueur

Turkey Trot
Bourbon, Butternut Squash, Honey Meringue, Nutmeg

Shivered Timbers
Pot Still Rum, Pomegranate, Ginger, Canela, Crushed Ice

Strawbarely Legal
Pisco, Strawberry Gomme, Chocolate Mint, Albumin Froth, Seltzer

Witchdoctor Daiquiri

Trinidadian and Haitian Rums, Cherry, Averna, Lime

  

Dessert Drinks

{Just learned these might change slightly so consider these placeholder drinks for the next few minutes}

Tom and Jerry 
Aged Rum, Brandy, Crem de Cacao, Egg 
*Hot

Rich Coffee
Fernet, Brown Sugar, Pistachio Cream, Gold Dust
*Hot or Cold

Classic Egg Nog 
Rye Whiskey, Egg, Cream, Sugar
*Cold

Carthusian Hot Cocoa
Chartreuse, Creme de Menthe, Pineapple Marsmallow

100 Classic Cocktails Bobby Heugel Says You Should Try

Bobby Heugel of Anvil in Houston has updated his list of 100 classic drinks he thinks everyone should try. 

For a higher-resolution shot, click the image below or view the PDF on the Avil website. 

What do you think? What did he miss? 

Cocktail Menu: Workshop in Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs has a new restaurant and cocktail bar. The website is here and the cocktails are below. 

CLASSICS 9.

AVIATION, gin, fresh lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette. around here when the phrase “classic cocktail” is uttered most of us think about this hugo ensslin original created at the hotel wallick in times square and published is his 1916 recipes for mixed drinks.

PAINKILLER, silver rum, fresh orange & pineapple juices, house made coconut cream. a traditional favorite coming from tortola in the british virgin islands. “it’ll cure what ails ya, and ail what cures ya”.

FOGCUTTER, silver rum, acholado pisco, gin, olorosso sherry, fresh lemon & orange juices, house made orgeat. be sure to handle with care: one will definitely clear things up, two will begin to cut through coherence, but the fog may roll back in with the third.

GEORGIA BUCK, local peach infused bourbon, fresh lemon juice, house made ginger beer, angostura bitters. a perfect concoction to give the dull and ordinary the slip... not to mention the hot palm springs sun.

WARD 8, rye, house made grenadine, fresh lemon & orange juices. originating in boston around the turn of the 20th century and named after a notoriously corrupt voting district; fortunately for us the political corruption of yesteryear is virtually extinct (insert big wink here). however, this drink is as delicious and morally in debt as it ever was.

PUNCH

BOMBAY GOVERNMENT PUNCH, jamaican rum, vsop cognac, demerara sugar, fresh lime juice, grapefruit oils, cinnamon, green tea. a recipe borrowed from sir john gayer, the 1694 english governor of bombay. it is as delicate as it is delicious and as intoxicating as it is charming. be forewarned though, too much of this elixir could lead to any number of shameful, delightful acts of scandal... but, please, no dueling in the restaurant.

4 people 44. | 8 people 83. | 12 people 119.

ORIGINALS 10.

PISQU, acholado pisco, yellow chartreuse, locally grown raspberries, serrano chili, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup. a delightful union of peruvian grape brandy, french herbal liqueur and seasonal berries will croon the sweet sounds of summer and depart quickly with a spicy little kiss of serrano pepper.

BOXERS AND BOBBYSOCKS, gin, cherries, house made rosemary gomme syrup, fresh lime juice, angostura bitters and seltzer water. a cocktail trifecta of sweet, tart and bitter, sublimely tempered with just the right amount of rosemary. please drink responsibly or you might just find yourself waking up in boxers and bobbysocks...

LAUTNER PROJECT, rhum agricole, house made agave cordial, fresh lime juice, mint and sparkling wine. inspired by the prolific architect whose work brought together unlikely design combinations. we offer a cocktail with thoughtful scheme, texture and a little flair. a seamless amalgamation of unlikely ingredients hopefully worthy of its namesake.

THE HIGGINS, amber rum, white whiskey, cinnamon infused sweet vermouth, local honey, fresh orange juice. a cocktail that sets about with good intentions, sensibly heading to work but takes a wayward glance towards the beach and suddenly enjoyable errors are being committed.

SLOE BURN, blanco tequila, dry vermouth, sloe gin, 3 peppercorn syrup, habanero chili tincture. a light, savory and seductive cocktail that dances in your mouth. do not deny yourself the pleasure, decide to be adventurous and then let the balmy palm springs evening breeze decide the rest.

 

 

Cocktail Menu: Pollen Street Social in London

I met London bar/restaurant Pollen Street Social's bar manager Gareth Evans on a trip to Mexico, where all of his fancy cocktail ingredients had exploded on the way. They sure sounded delicious though.

image stolen from PSS website

Hopefully one day I'll get to try some of those fancy ingredients in person. Evans sent me the restaurant's new menu, and boy, does it also sound good. I see: banana-rum Manhattan, red berry and muscatel shrub, Coco Pops milk. 

RUMBULLION 13.50
PSS walnut-infused Smith and Cross and Appleton V/X rums, Cynar, lime, maple syrup, PSS orange bitters, white praline walnut

SILVER SCREEN 13.50
Popcorn-washed Maker’s Mark bourbon, Fernet, PSS cherry ‘bespoke-a-cola’ syrup, orange oils, 3D bitters, snacks, free entry

SHISO LOVELY 13.50
Yamazaki 12 whisky, shiso, kaffir lime, La Fee XS Suisse absinthe, PSS orgeat, egg white, kumquat

THE PROFESSOR 13.50
Chase smoked vodka, Kamm & Sons ginseng spirit, Cocchi Barolo chinato, dandelion & burdoch bitters

BANAN-HATTAN 14.00
Zacapa 23yr rum, Amaro Ciociaro, banana, pimento dram, Amargo Chuncho bitters, Guatemalan clouds

NEGRONI 13.50
Sipsmith gin, house sweet vermouth blend, citrus-infused Campari, PSS blood orange and Campari ice ball

GREAT BRITISH COBBLER 13.50
Williams Chase gin, Kamm & Sons ginseng spirit, raspberries, PSS citrus syrup, English sparkling wine, British eccentricity

THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS QUINCE 13.50
Somerset 10yr apple brandy, quince liqueur, PSS blackberry & apple compote, lemon, yoghurt powder, egg white, spice

ROSIE AND GIN 12.50
Bombay Sapphire gin, apricot brandy, Sacred spiced vermouth, smashed pineapple, lemon, PSS rosemary syrup

KNOCKOUT PUNCH 14.50
Pusser’s rum, PSS falernum, lime, passionfruit, grapefruit, PSS orgeat, absinthe, tiki volcano

FREQUENT FLYER 13.50
Martin Miller’s Westbourne strength, Maraschino liqueur, cucumber, lemon, violet sugar, first class upgrade

CEREAL KILLER 13.50
Foursquare spiced rum, Mozart dark chocolate liqueur, Galliano ristretto, Coco Pops milk, Emily’s cookies

WONKEY DONKEY 13.50
Grey Goose Le Citron, red berry and muscatel shrub, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, Jerry Thomas Decanter bitters, clementine

VINTAGE VESPER 13.50
Citadelle Reserve aged gin, Adnams Northcove aged vodka Cocchi Americano, PSS juniper and rosemary silverskin onions

BREAKFAST FIZZ 14.50
Chase Marmalade vodka, yellow Chartreuse, pink grapefruit, English sparkling wine, toast and jam

NO ALCOHOL
APPLE OF MY EYE 8.00
Apple juice, blackberry, lemon, PSS rosemary syrup, egg white, bitter lemon

PINK LEMONADE 8.00
Pink grapefruit, lemon, elderflower, soda

PROBIOTIC 8.00
Pineapple, lemon, yoghurt powder, PSS grenadine, ginger beer