Honey Kumquat Caipirinha, Elixir

Elixir is a bar located in the Mission District in San Francisco. This is one of my favorite bars in the Mission. I love how they blend an innovative seasonal cocktail program alongside classic cocktails. When I first read the Honey Kumquat Caipirinha on the menu, I thought that the Clover Honey syrup would make it too sweet for me to try. Don't let the honey mislead you into thinking it's a sweet drink. Mine certainly was not. It's an edgy bold citrus cocktail. Per their Facebook page, hurry in for this cocktail since the Kumquat season was so short this year.

Drop in for pre-dinner, post dinner or nightcap drinks to help them celebrate 155 years of a saloon being located at this corner (established in 1858).

The Drink - Honey Kumquat Caipiriha, $12
Barrel Aged Leblon Cachaca, Velvet Falernum, Clover Honey Syrup, Kumquats muddled and built in an Old Fashion Glass

The Place - Elixir
San Francisco, Mission
Weekday 3pm - 2am, Sat noon to 2am, Sun 11am to 2AM, full bar
http://www.elixirsf.com/

Other Elixir Drinks
Emperor Norton's 2nd Mistress

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Lazy Lover, Employees Only

 

Employees Only is located in the West Village neighborhood of New York City. They have such fun named cocktails on the menu such as Billionaire, Quiet Storm, and Mata Hari. From the Fancy Cocktails ($16) section of the cocktail menu, I originally overlooked the Lazy Lover cocktail because of the name. But upon reading through the menu again, the jalapeno infusion caught my eye. I normally would not like a lazy lover, but this one at Employees Only is a keeper. 

The Drink - Lazy Lover, $16

Leblon Cachaca, Jalapeno infused Green Chartreuse shaken with Benedictine, fresh lime juice and agave nectar

The Place - Employees Only

New York City, West Village
Dinner nightly, late night (until 3:30AM)

http://employeesonlynyc.com/

Other Employees Only drinks
Ready Fire Aim

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Cicinho Sour, Macao Trading Company

Macao Trading Company is Employee's Only's dark sexy Asian/Portuguese restaurant located in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. You are instantly mesmerized as soon as you step inside this paradise. The cocktails, food and service complete your in the moment adventure to Macao. There are lots of fun name cocktails here. My research companion ordered an edgy twist on the classic Pisco Sour called The Cicinho Sour. It was simply divine!

The Drink - Cicinho Sour, $15

Leblon Cachaca shaken with fresh lime juice served up, sprinkled with nutmeg & Angostura bitters, prepared in the traditional manner.

Here's a link to the recipe and others at Macao Trading company.

The Place - Macao Trading Company
New York City, Tribeca
Asian/Portuguese Fusion
Dinner nightly, late night
http://www.macaonyc.com/

Other Macao Trading Company drinks
Yellow Fever #2

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Imperial Caipirinha, Skool

Skool is located in the Design District of San Francisco. It's one of my favorite places to go for happy hour (otherwise known as Detention Hall) and when warm enough for outdoor dining. With menu cocktail menus changing seasonally at many places, I'm glad to see that at Skool, they not only bring new fresh cocktails to their menu, but they also rotate some of my favorites. The Imperial Caipirinha is a majestic twist on a typical Caipirinha with chunks of lychee to enjoy at the end of the cocktail.

The Imperial Caipirinha is now served tall. When I had this drink last summer as pictured above it was served short and I believe without the Pur Pear and ginger beer. The new version smoother than the original edgy version. Both are amazing, but I prefer edgy! You can ask for the short edgy version and hopefully the bartender will know how to make it.

It's hard to believe, but the Imperial Caipirinha is our 150th drink. It seems like only yesterday that we celebrated our 100th drink!

The Cocktail - Imperial Caipirinha, $10
Novo Fogo Organic Cachaca, Pur Pear, lime, lychee and fresh ginger beer

The Place - Skool
Weekday lunch, dinner 7 nights a week, weekend brunch, happy hour, full bar
www.skoolsf.com

Other Skool drinks

The International
Haole's Downfall
Empress Elizabeth
Sansho Stiles
Summer Mary
Noche Martini 
La Fresa

G Rated (non-alcoholic)

Birds of a Feather
Smokey and the Bandito

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Blackberry Caiprinha, Il Fornaio

 

My lunch companions and I were at a loss for what to do for a quick brunch on a drive from San Francisco to the South Bay. We took a quick stop at an Il Fornaio in Burlingame. I was in the mood for either a brunch mimosa or bloody Mary, but when I saw the Blackberry Caiprinha on the menu, I knew I had to give it a try. It's a colorful and refreshing tart cocktail with freshly muddled blackberries, cachaca, lime juice and sugar.

The Skinny

brunch, lunch, dinner, full bar

http://www.ilfornaio.com/

Other pics from the visit

 Smoked Salmon Omelette, $11.59

 Capellini al Pomodoro (half portion), $8.99

Crab cake Benedict, $13.99

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Caipirinha, Farallon

Farallon is located just off of Union Square in San Francisco. They have a fun happy hour in the Jellyfish lounge called, "$6 until 7". You get select bar bites, cocktails and wine for $6 each from 4:30pm - 7pm. I chose the refreshing Caipirinha cocktail with cachaca, lime and sugar.

Farallon is a nice underwater themed restaurant and lounge to escape from all the tourists and shoppers in Union Square. The happy hour is great deal for Union Square.

The Skinny
Dinner 7 nights a week, full bar, happy hour
http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/
Caipirinha, $6 during happy hour

Sideview of the Cairpirinha

 Half Dozen Oysters, $6 during happy hour

 View of the Bar

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Mata Leao, Absinthe

Absinthe is located in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. With Matt Conway as the new bar manager, I've been wanting to try some of the new cocktails for some time. The Mata Leao is an invigorating concoction of Sagatiba velha cachaca, strawberry-hibiscus shrub, and lemon juice. Per their cocktail menu, the Mata Leao is "A Brazilian summertime elixir designed to awaken your inner lion killer." What a refreshing color and an equally refreshing drink. Roar!

The Skinny
Weekend brunch, lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday, full bar
http://www.absinthe.com/
Mata Leao, $11

Other Absinthe drinks
Galapagos
Absinthe Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
Sazerac
Citron Presse (non-alcoholic) 
Citron Lemonade 

Other pics from the visit

 Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

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Lt. Col. Marcos Pontes, Coco500

Coco500 is located in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco.  Their cocktail menu is split into the "Originals", the "Classics" and the "Sober" sections.  I chose The Lt. Col. Marcos Pontes from the "Originals" section which is a delicious concoction of cachaca, kumquat, lemon and orange.  If you are as fortunate as I was to have my cocktails for the evening made by Miss Elaine, you get to know a little bit more about the drink.  It's Coco500's spin on the caipirinha. I applauded Miss Elaine for the outstanding twist on the classic cocktail.  She advised me to beware of the cocktail, even with the citrus tones and tartness, it's a strong drink.  Strong and delicious, my kind of drink.  It packs a punch and worthy of launching one into space!

The Skinny
Lunch (Mon-Fri) and dinner(Monday to Saturday), full bar and happy hour
http://www.coco500.com/
Lt. Col Marcos Pontes, $10

Other drink pictures from Coco500
Hot Lips

Other pictures from this visit:

The Whole Fish (Dorade), A.Q.

The Catch (scallops and butter beans), A.Q.

Spaghetti, manila clams, chorizo, white wine, garlic, $18

Nojito (non-alcoholic)

Non-commital dessert, peanut butter cups, $3

Non-commital dessert, frozen chocolate dipped banana, $3

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