Alcademics

After nearly a year of no notable cocktail programs launching in San Francisco, they're coming fast and furious these days, with the Comstock Saloon, Burritt Room, Scott Beattie's program at Spoonbar in Healdsburg, Brooke Arthur's menu at Prospect, and The Bon Vivants at Wayfare Tavern.

What's that, you say? Didn't you just read in the Eater interview with  Tyler Florence about his restaurant Wayfare Tavern that he won't have fancy cocktails? Yes you did:

Can we talk about the bar program?

You know, there are some amazing consultants in the city, but I don't know if we're necessarily going to go there. We've got talented people here in house and it's really all about Martinis and Sazeracs. I think the craze of muddled, precious cocktails is kinda over. I don't think people want to pay for that or wait. So we're still putting the finishing touches on, but I promise it's going to be amazing.

How quaint! I had a little chuckle at that one.  

Luckily he changed his mind, because now Wayfare will have a cocktail menu created by The Bon Vivants, also known as Scott Baird and Josh Harris.

(The Bon Vivants. Photo by Liza Gershman.)

As usual with these two, the drinks are creative, chock full of hard-to-identify ingredients, and difficult to imagine by reading the menu how they'll taste. No doubt they'll taste delicious, as they always do. I am, of course, excited to try the black tea shrub. 

The days of precious cocktails is not quite over, I'm glad to say. Look no further than the  Granite Lady: That's an Old Tom Gin Martini with three kinds of vermouth. Hallelujah!

Wayfare Tavern Drink Menu - Subject to Change

The Leidesdorff
Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Benedictine, Royal Combier, Orange Muscat, lemon, egg white, cinnamon tincture.

Darkness at Noon
Bourbon Rooibos Wild Turkey Rye, Galliano l'Autentico, Floris Apple Lambic, honey, lime, angostura

Fort Vigilance
High West Silver Whiskey, Leopold Brothers Michigan Tart Cherry Liqueur, Hidalgo “Faraon” Olorosso Sherry, Aperol, Peychaud's

Occidental Sour
Macchu Pisco, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, Mondavi Moscato d'Oro, caramelized pineapple syrup, lemon, lime, egg white, Peychaud's

Gravel & Gold
Cap Rock Gin, 42 Below Munukah Honey Vodka, R&W Orchard Apricot Liqueur, lemon, seltzer, egg white.

The Granite Lady
Hayman's Old Tom Gin, Cocchi Americano, Dolin Blanc, Sutton Cellars Brown Label, Grapefruit Bitters 

Dutch Plum Shrub
Bols Genever, Plum & Black Tea Shrub

(Image courtesy of Wayfare Tavern.)