With a stellar judging team, I am a judge for awards in double gold, gold, silver and bronze medals for craft (small batch) spirits from around the world for ADI’s annual Craft Spirits Awards. During an intensive few days of blind judging with some of the best in the industry, we all anticipate the final day when post-judging, we can enter… Read more →
Besides the dreamy lawn setting with Bay views in the ever-stunning Presidio, Cider Summit SF (held April 23) was exciting for its international mix of ciders, most on draft, from small producers. The event is small enough to be approachable but digging there was plenty to taste and some new and interesting discoveries for me, even as much as I… Read more →
Here are the 7 standout cocktails and new bars of the month I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1. Pagan Idol‘s Bird of Paradise or Witch Doctor The most fun new bar of the month (and year so far?) is easily Pagan Idol from the prolific Future Bars team (Bourbon & Branch, Rickhouse, Local Edition, Tradition and so on),… Read more →
Winter in California is a gorgeous affair, much like the rest of the year, with sunny, crisp days and nights interspersed with warm, summery waves. There are always nearby mountains when one craves snow for the weekend but winter leads into spring seamlessly and we drink refreshing cocktails as easily as spirituous drinks, thus all spirits flow year-round, from whiskey… Read more →
We just had another Whiskies of the World (WoW) on the San Francisco Belle, docked in the Bay and held on March 26 (last year and years prior here). Although it is one of the big whisk(e)y events in the country (also held in San Jose, Atlanta, Houston, Austin), it remains more approachable than larger whisk(e)y events, more like a… Read more →
From mid-January to mid-February, here are the 8 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1 & 2. Bywater’s Frappe & Bywater Gibson The fact that this is a casual, New Orleans-centric restaurant from 3 Michelin-starred Manresa chef/owner David Kinch and Partner Andrew Burnham (just opened January 12) makes The Bywater a major Bay Area… Read more →
This Winter saw the release of numerous new whisk(e)y releases, ranging from American whiskies (bourbon, rye, wheat, etc.) to Scotch and a Mexican whiskey (yes, you heard right, Mexican whiskey). Here are 9 whisk(e)y stand-outs and why they make an impression. ST. GEORGE Lot 15 SINGLE MALT WHISKEY St. George’s newest, Lot 15 Single Malt Whiskey may be my favorite… Read more →
From mid-December to mid-January, here are the 10 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1 & 2. Bear Vs. Bull’s (at Alamo Drafthouse) Surf Club Mangareva & Great Silence Isaac Shumway (who formerly made the revamped Tosca Café worth visiting for his drinks) has worked his magic at brand new Alamo Drafthouse bar, Bear… Read more →
From mid-November to mid-December, here are the 10 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1 & 2. El Capitan’s Port of Call & Maximon Recently returning to El Capitan (festive on a Friday night with Christmas lights and a convivial crowd), the food is better than ever, from silky crudo to fry bread tacos.… Read more →
My Fall 2015 feature for Distiller Magazine on San Francisco, with a 12-page print spread, my photos and three articles: (Bars featured in the 10 SF Bars article: Comstock Saloon, Alembic, 15 Romolo, Third Rail, Mosto, Burritt Room, ABV, Holy Water, Odd Job, Royal Cuckoo Organ Lounge). More of my SF food recommends here and bar/cocktail recommends here. ______________________________________Past issues… Read more →