A yawn is a silent scream for gin.
Merchants of Beverage Delivers DIY Cocktail Kits
Craving a craft cocktail, but don't care to leave the house? Merchants of Beverage will deliver. The SF-based curator of handpicked wines, spirits, Champagne, and cocktail kits has procured recipes from some of the Bay Area's finest bartenders and compiled the ingredients needed to mix the drinks, and jumped through all the legal hoops to be able to bring the booze directly to your door. Cocktail kits all come with a recipe card, plus all the liquor listed on it. Choices include the Trick Dog Aperitif from The Bon Vivants at Trick Dog ($105), which includes a bottle each of Carpano Antica Formula, Harley & Gibson Amontillado Sherry, Gran Classico, and Regan's orange bitters; The Dogpatch from Greg Lindgren at Rye ($100), with bottles of Old Overholt Rye, Averna Amaro, Dolin Vermouth Rouge, and Regan's orange bitters; and The Quicksand from Ryan Fitzgerald at ABV ($135), which comes with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Maurin Quina, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao and Regan's orange bitters. The full cocktail kit menu is available online.
Cider Pairing Dinner at Barrel Head Brewhouse
In case you haven't noticed, Cider Week seems to be upon us. In addition to this weekend's Cider Summit in the Presidio and the Sonoma County Cider Tour on Sunday, Barrelhead Brewhouse is hosting a NorCal Cider Nosh Session on Friday from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Guests will partake in four flights of cider and food pairings while mixing and mingling with half a dozen of California's best craft cider makers, hailing from Sonoma Cider, Santa Cruz Cider Co., Tilted Shed, Devoto Cider, Two Rivers Cider, and Golden State Cider. The oyster shooter amuse bouche will be followed by a cheese flight, a salad flight, and a meat flight, each accompanied by three different ciders. Tickets are available online for $88 each. 1785 Fulton St.
Get Your Sherry On at Gitane
You may have heard that sherry is making a comeback on San Francisco menus, but how do you know what to order? Join Gitane's Wine Director, Sarah Knoefler, for an educational sherry tasting on Saturday, April 25, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. For $55, you'll get a chance to taste and learn about several different styles of sherry, plus a sherry cocktail at Gitane's gorgeous bar. Tickets are available online. If you like what you taste, make reservations for a special four-course Paired Sherry Dinner on Gitane's patio on Tuesday, April 28, at various times starting at 6:00 pm. Tickets are available online for the $95 dinner, which includes a variety of sherry pairings as well as a sherry cocktail from Lustau. 6 Claude Ln.
Want to try sherry at home? Check out three sherry-based cocktail recipes here.
Kuleto Welcomes Spring with Sangria
Kuleto General Manager Aaron Grinnell is such a big fan of sangria, he decided to bring his home recipe to work and share it with the masses. You can sip it on Kuleto's outdoor patio for $11 a glass, or you can follow Grinnell's recipe and make a pitcher at home. It does require a bit of patience while the flavors meld, but it's refreshingly simple to make. Just pour a bottle of dry white wine, ¼ cup of light rum, 3 tablespoons of St. Germain elderflower liqueur, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 sliced nectarines, 2 sliced plums and 1 sliced lemon into a pitcher. Give it a stir and store it in the refrigerator for at least an hour, and preferably overnight. When you're ready to serve it, pour the fruit mixture into a punch bowl and top with 1½ cups of sparkling water or club soda. This drink tastes best outdoors, whether on your patio or Kuleto's. 221 Powell St.
Happy Hour With Emperor Norton's Niece
The great, great, great, great niece of SF's favorite 19th-century eccentric, Emperor Norton, will be be visiting her uncle's empire next week. As a special guest at Comstock Saloon's Happy Hour on Wednesday, April 29, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Ontario, Canada resident Julie Driver will offer brief remarks about her longtime genealogical work on the Norton family tree, as well as her connection to the Emperor. Comstock will be offering its regular Happy Hour menu, featuring $7 shot and beer combos and a special $7 Derby Cocktail, made with rye whisky, Italian vermouth, curacao, lemon, and mint. The event is co-hosted by the Emperor's Bridge Campaign, which seeks to name the Bay Bridge for Emperor Norton, who set out the original vision for it in 1872. 155 Columbus Ave.
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
