Muerte-rita at the Alembic in San Francisco

I've been wondering what drink or celebration would get me back to blogging my favorite drinks. With Dia de Los Muertos, I hope to resurrect Drinks in the City.

Steven, a DITC correspondent texted me and asked where to go for Day of the Dead cocktails in San Francisco. Honestly I hadn't looked until he asked me. We decided to meet at the Alembic to check out their specials with Suerte Tequila. He instantly knew which one I'd order....the spicy one. The habanero kick plus the subtle hints of raspberry, mint and cinnamon has brought this blog back to life. Thank you Alembic and Suerte Tequila!

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The Drink - The Muerte-rita
Suerte Reposado, Solerna, habanero, raspberry gum, lime, cinnamon, and mint

The Place - Alembic
Haight/Ashbury in San Francisco
Bar with snacks

The Place
San Francisco, Haight Ashbury

Bar/restaurant

Open daily noon to 2AM

http://www.alembicbar.com/

Other Alembic Drinks
Mint Julep

Promissory Note

Southern Exposure

Last Caress
Mexican Radio

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Mexican Radio at The Alembic in San Francisco

For Cinco de Mayo, I headed to the Alembic Bar in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco in search of a cocktail to celebrate. I was excited to see the Mexican Radio cocktail name on the menu and duly ordered it. The Alembic's cocktail menu is always a fun read. Catchy cocktail names gets me to look at the ingredients. An interesting story to go along with the name and the ingredients just adds to the experience and is a conversation starter. I loved this Mexican Radio. On this station did I hear a song from a mariachi band, the current popular boy or girl band or a Latin ballad after a few of these? I can't remember, but all I know is that this Mexican Radio is #1. I'll be back for another...soon.

A belated Happy Cinco de Mayo!

The Drink - Mexican Radio, $11
Sino Resposado, pineapple gomme, lime, coffee liqueur, Fernet, Cardinel Mendoza brandy

Per their cocktail menu "when you feel a hot wind on your shoulder, and the touch of a world that’s a little bit older, turn the switch and check the number, leave it on when in bed you slumber, hear the rhythms of the music and buy this product, because you’re gonna want to use it. Sino Reposado, pineapple gomme, lime, House Spirits coffee liqueur, Fernet, Cardinel Mendoza."

The Place

San Francisco, Haight Ashbury

Bar/restaurant

Open daily noon to 2AM

http://www.alembicbar.com/

Other Alembic Drinks

Mint Julep
Promissory Note

Southern Exposure

Last Caress

Read More

Last Caress, Alembic

Alembic is one of my favorite bars in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. They recently updated the New School section of their cocktail menu with some new Fall libations. From the new school menu.last time I was there, they were out of the ingredients for this cocktail, so I was asked before I ordered it. So glad they had all of the ingredients available today. When served in this stylish glass, it looks like a petite Irish Coffee. Boy that limoncello really puckers your lips and the blue bottle tincture adds a bold coffee jolt of flavor. The pillowy topping of pistachio creams tops off this unique cocktail. My thoughts as I was sipping this delicious cocktail, beware who may give you the last caress of the evening with too many of these.

Alembic is always creative with their menu. Here's the cocktail as described on their menu, "Yeah I got something to say, but that can wait. First, try a little housemade limoncello with sweet vermouth and a touch of blue bottle coffee tincture topped with a bit of pistachio infused cream. Then we'll talk."

7x7 magazine recently listed this cocktail as one to try this Autumn.

The Drink - Last Caress, $11
Limoncello, sweet vermouth, Blue Bottle tincture and pistachio infused cream

The Place - Alembic
San Francisco, Haight Ashbury
Bar/restaurant
Open daily noon to 2AM
http://www.alembicbar.com/

Other Alembic drinks
Mint Julep
Promissory Note
Southern Exposure

Read More

Southern Exposure, Alembic

The Alembic is located in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. Since this Saturday is not only Cinco de Mayo but is also the Kentucky Derby, I realized that I should also feature a Mint Julep this week. I must admit I had to google Mint Julep in San Francisco to see if anyone had a recommended place for this drink. Luckily I found it on the Daytime Menu at the Alembic. It was fun to see and hear the ice cracked by hand between the palm and the back of a spoon with a resounding swift whack.

I love the description of this drink in the Alembic menu, "Mint Julep. Do you have a friend that just knows everything? The world is full of know-it-all’s, and they all have a recipe for this classic. Well, as Frank Sinatra sang, as well as Sid Vicious (who both have julep recipes), we do it our way. We offer to you, humbly, mint, sugar, old fitzgerald 12 year old bourbon, and brutally crushed ice. Refreshing and relaxing, the perfect repose from whatever race you’ve been running."

The Skinny
Lunch and Dinner 7 nights a week, late night (open until 2 AM everyday)
http://www.alembicbar.com/
Mint Julep, $9

Other Alembic Drinks
Last Caress
Southern Exposure

Mint Julep
Promissory Note


Other pics from this visit

Top view of the Mint Julep

Pork Belly Slider, $5

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Mint Julep, Alembic

The Alembic is located in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. Since this Saturday is not only Cinco de Mayo but is also the Kentucky Derby, I realized that I should also feature a Mint Julep this week. I must admit I had to google Mint Julep in San Francisco to see if anyone had a recommended place for this drink. Luckily I found it on the Daytime Menu at the Alembic. It was fun to see and hear the ice cracked by hand between the palm and the back of a spoon with a resounding swift whack.

I love the description of this drink in the Alembic menu, "Mint Julep. Do you have a friend that just knows everything? The world is full of know-it-all’s, and they all have a recipe for this classic. Well, as Frank Sinatra sang, as well as Sid Vicious (who both have julep recipes), we do it our way. We offer to you, humbly, mint, sugar, old fitzgerald 12 year old bourbon, and brutally crushed ice. Refreshing and relaxing, the perfect repose from whatever race you’ve been running."

The Skinny
Lunch and Dinner 7 nights a week, late night (open until 2 AM everyday)
http://www.alembicbar.com/
Mint Julep, $9

Other Alembic Drinks
Last Caress
Southern Exposure
Promissory Note

Other pics from this visit

Top view of the Mint Julep

Pork Belly Slider, $5

Read More

Promissory Note, Alembic

The Alembic is located in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. The two sections of the cocktail menu, The Canon and New School, are such an entertaining read. Since tequila has lately been my spirit of choice for cocktails, I quickly skimmed through the menu. I first ordered the Love in Vain cocktail from the New School section. But I was quickly disappointed when the bartender said that they are no longer serving that drink and another one (the Poop Deck). So my eyes wandered up to the Promissory Note which I saw had tequila. Since I had only glanced at the menu, I was surprised when I took my first sip.  In my quick read, I didn't notice the other ingredients of dry vermouth, canton ginger, honey and absinthe. Wow, simply amazing.

The fun description for the Promissory Note in the Alembic menu, "In these economic hard times, everyone needs a little bailout. we’ve concocted a little stimulus package to help you throw caution to the wind. reposado tequila, dry vermouth, canton ginger liqueur with a touch of honey and a dash of absinthe ought to do the trick. go ahead, put it on your card. but remember, payback is a,well, you know."
If you like tequila and aren't afraid of absinthe, this drink will intrigue you.
Sure hope no one needs a real Promissory Note on Tax Day!

The Skinny
Lunch and dinner
http://www.alembicbar.com/
Promissory Note, $11


Other Alembic Drinks
Last Caress
Southern Exposure
Mint Julep

Other pics from the visit:

Side view of the Promissory Note (love the glass)

Sumac potato chips with lemon-garlic yogurt and zataar, $5

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