How about a Pimm's Cup to celebrate World Cup?
Six New Summer Cocktails at Ziryab
If you can wait for the Solstice, Ziryab is ready to reward you with six new cocktails for summer. Drop by the pan-Mediterranean grill in Alamo Square for a fresh twist on some summertime classics, including a Seasonal Mojito, made with the freshest seasonal fruit available, and a Moroccan Mint Pisco Sour, a refreshing riff on the classic Peruvian cocktail with green tea-mint syrup, Pisco Portón, lime juice, and egg white. The House Cup is bar manager Zachary Taylor's take on the Pimm's Cup, made with his own infusion of gin and vermouth with cucumber, fennel, thyme, and orange peel. But Taylor doesn't stop there. He adds a house-made blackberry syrup and some Amaro Meletti, then finishes it with lemon juice and house-made ginger beer. The Peaches and Poppy combines Glenlivet 12 year with peach-brown sugar purée, lemon juice, and grand poppy liqueur. Ginger beer and tequila come together with lemon and hibiscus to make the Lucky Buck, while the Divisaderean is Ziryab's take on the classic Boulevadier, featuring high-proof Booker's bourbon, Amaro Ramazzotti, dry vermouth, and Campari, poured over a single, hand-cut ice cube. Ask your bartender to recommend the perfect bar bite to pair with your chosen cocktails, and try them all for $7 from June 23 to June 26. 528 Divisadero
Carbonated Cocktails on Tap at Blackbird
Ziryab isn't the only bar concocting new cocktails for summer. Blackbird just added four new carbonated libations to the tap. Jump start your evening with the NOLA Coffee for $9, made with Evan Williams Bourbon, 4-Barrel cold brew coffee by Joyride, and chicory-infused overproof rum. Depending on your mood, move on to the Paloma (silver tequila, grapefruit liqueur, and kaffir-infused mezcal) or the Pimm's Cup (cucumber-infused gin, Pimm's, and housemade ginger syrup) for $8. And if you want one more without going overboard, try the Americano, a low-alcohol option made with Contratto Americano Vermouth and Cappelletti Aperitivo for $9. 2124 Market
Vinyl Side Thursdays at Laszlo's
What's the point of having a vinyl collection that spans 50 years and a dozen genres if you can't share it with the masses? That must have been Foreign Cinema chef/owner Gayle Pirie's thinking when she decided to let the DJs at Laszlo's, the bar attached to the restaurant, mix up music sets from her family's vast compendium of vinyl records for Vinyl Side Thursdays, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Each week features a different theme, matched with a specially-crafted libation that fits the mood, style, and mojo of the music. This week's mix features the suave, comedic high jinx and velvet vocal chords of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin paired with a $9 50/50 Plymouth Martini. 2526 Mission
Group of Death Wine Flight at ENO
Every four years, when the World Cup comes around, the toughest and most competitive grouping of teams to play each other during the first round of the competition is referred to as the "Group of Death." This year's Group of Death, Group G, pits the US against Portugal, Germany, and Ghana. ENO at Union Square is inviting guests to celebrate the 2014 World Cup with the Group of Death wine flight. You'll get a wine from Germany, Portugal, and the US, plus a complimentary gourmet chocolate made from Ghanaian cocoa beans by artisan chocolatier Christopher Elbow. Wines featured in the Group of Death flight include Meyer-Näkel Spätburgunder from the Ahr wine region in Germany, Quinta do Vallado Red Blend from the Douro Valley in Portugal, and Kivelstadt "Father's Watch" from Sonoma County. ENO's Group of Death wine flight is $22 and will be available through the end of July. 320 Geary
Brazilian Beer and World Cup at Rosamunde
Speaking of the World Cup, Rosamunde in the Mission is opening their doors at 8:15 am on game days and serving Xingu Black Beer for breakfast, as a toast to the host country. Pronounced "shin-goo," this premium Brazilian import is named for the Xingu River, a tributary of the great Amazon. At 4.6% alcohol by volume, you can raise a few $6 bottles and still remember which team to root for. The inside scoop is that Rosamunde is expanding its session beer selection (under 5% ABV) for the duration of the tournament to accommodate hard core soccer fans' match-watching marathons. Select brunch items will be available starting at 9:30 a.m. 2832 Mission
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
