Craft cocktails have taken the nation by storm and we’re embracing the trend while paying homage to the home cities of our partners. We’ll look at some of the most popular cocktails in the San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, and San Diego — where local bartenders approach the art of craft cocktails with measured reverence for ingredients and locale. Carefully mixing high-quality, fresh, and homemade ingredients is a hallmark of a true craft cocktail, and at a craft cocktail bar, patience is a virtue, with every element handmade and tailored to cocktail. Here, we share our take on our favorite cocktails from these great cities — San Francisco’s classic Cable Car and Denver’s freshly-minted Tree Line — and merge two up-and-coming trends with San Diego’s beer-inspired Diplomat.
cable car martini
A modern variant on the classic Sidecar, The Cable Car is the signature drink of the historic Starlight Room in San Francisco’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel, which is located along the world famous Nob Hill cable car line. Like all classics, the recipe can vary, but we build our version from the traditional base of spiced rum, orange Curaçao, and fresh lemon sour, garnished with a cinnamon-sugared rim and an orange twist. The sweet rum is lush with flavors of nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon and vanilla — a combination that is nearly impossible to resist. Adding a slightly bitter element, the Curaçao is the perfect complement for the spicy sweetness of the rum.
the tree line
For many years, Colorado lacked a signature state cocktail. Despite being home to a growing number of local distilleries and exciting new watering holes, there was no hint of a drink representative of the Centennial State. Luckily, the 2011 inaugural Colorado Cocktail Contest changed the cocktail scene for good. Cue the Tree Line, created by contest winner Marnie Ward, Colorado native and bar manager of Denver’s Avenue Grill. The inspired cocktail is reminiscent of all things Colorado: “sunshine and cherries and whiskey,” Ward says. Start by muddling together two Bing cherries with a splash of lemon juice and a spoonful of simple syrup to create a fruity, sweet base. Then, add a shot of local distillery Leopold’s Small Batch Whiskey, along with their signature Three Pins Alpine Herbal Liqueur. Add ice, shake, and enjoy.
the diplomat
Craft cocktails might not be the first thing that come to mind when most people think of San Diego’s drink scene. As a major player in the craft brewing movement, San Diego has gained recognition as the beer mecca of the West Coast, boasting famous breweries such as Stone Brewery, Ballast Point, and Belching Beaver. It’s no surprise, then, that some of the city’s best cocktails pay homage to its famous breweries. Local hot spot True North Tavern’s innovative cocktail The Diplomat combines the best of both worlds. After carefully blending Skyy Blood Orange Vodka with a dash of St. Germain and a thimble of simple syrup, masterful bartenders then top the flavorful concoction with a splash of lemon juice and locally brewed Ballast Point Sculpin India.