Alcademics

Last week I was treated to a tasting of the cocktail menu at Che Fico in San Francisco, a new restaurant that's all the hype right now- hours-long waits and no reservations available for months. 

The cocktail menu was designed by Christopher Longoria. In most of the drinks, the spirit is listed last, which Longoria said is to promote people reading each listing rather than skipping through the menu based on the base spirits alone.

Likewise, the cocktails are not strongly booze-driven by generally lighter and designed to be food-friendly. Most drinks are earthy and/or herbaceous.  It's a very solid menu, with not too many variations of classic cocktails. 

As you can see from the pictures, there's not a ton of garnish. There's also not much citrus, surprisingly. 

Aperitivi ($8)

BERGAMOT
italicus rosolio, seedlip spice 94, jardesca california apertivo, soda

KUMQUAT
cappelletti, dry vermouth, prosecco [this drink makes use of kumquat refuse from pasty's cannoli production]

Cocktails (most $14)

BASIL
dimmi, eau de vie, chile vodka

PUNCH
pineapple, long pepper, banana, cinnamon, cognac [it's a milk punch]

PEPPER
limoncello, strega, cardamaro, lime, black pepper, cachaca [pleasantly earthy and that garnish is dope]

BRUTO
dimmi, bruto americano, dry vermouth, cherry bitters, old tom gin [didn't try this one]

CORIANDER
coriander curacao, herbs de provence bitters, citric acid, old tom gin [hard to see but garnished with a coriander blossom]

THYME
cocchi rosa, aquavit, thyme, oloroso, genever

ROSEMARY
WSR cabernet, sfumato, lemon, angostura bitters, rye [wine-forward and earthy]

CAFE
cold brewed coffee, montenegro, sweet vermouth, absinthe, rum [creamy and delicious with a note of root beer from the absinthe]

CONCORD (N/A, $8)
concord grape, black pepper, cucumber, lime, soda

Nice work Christopher!