Since I moved to the Bay Area two years ago, I’ve heard countless admonitions that I hadn’t been to St. George Spirits (2601 Monarch St., Alameda Point), one of the first craft distilleries in the US. Even more recently, that’s shifted to countless admonitions to check out Faction Brewing, housed next door, as beer appeals
Read more

Spiced Blackberry Jam 1/4 shot green Chartreuse 1 1/2 shot St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur 2 shots citrus vodka 1/2 shot lime juice 2 shots blackberry juice A few champagne grapes Shake everything together but the grapes. Place a few grapes in each cocktail glass, then pour the cocktail on top. Of course, using blackberries would
Read more

French Quarter Cosmopolitan Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse Greenwood Commons, Durham Restaurant Review This riff on a cosmo is made with citrus vodka, grand marnier, cranberry juice, sour mix, lime juice, and grenadine.  Grenadine totally stands out when you are used to standard cosmos. It makes the French Quarter Cosmopolitan a nice option for people who want
Read more

Pomegranate Martini W XYZ Lounge, Aloft Hotel Chapel Hill This cocktail is made with pomegranate juice, citrus vodka, and lemon juice. I find it too thin by far, and I think that would be fixed by using triple sec instead of the flavored vodka. The lemon juice tries to help balance the drink’s flavors, but
Read more