San Francisco Cocktail Week

Get your liver ready for the second annual ~SAN FRANCISCO COCKTAIL WEEK~, a week to celebrate the culture and history of dining and drinking, with daily events and festivities! Co-founded and organized by San Francisco mixologists, Jeff Hollinger of Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Duggan McDonnell of Cantina, and H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir, the week will showcase the artistry and history of the progressive cocktail culture in the San Francisco Bay Area, to further establish a lasting tradition for years to come.

Tuesday, May 13th, Opening Gala
Festivities will commence with an “Opening Gala” sponsored by the Museum of the American Cocktail at the world-famous Harry Denton’s Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Returning to where he launched his career, honoree Tony Abou-Ganim, creator of the legendary Cable Car cocktail, will be tending bar and wowing the crowd with his renowned talents. SF Cocktail Week’s signature cocktail, The Soiree, will also be introduced and upon arrival, guests will be greeted with a complimentary Soiree or Cable Car. 6pm-9pm. Free admission includes one complimentary cocktail; charge for additional beverages.

Wednesday, May 14th, Farmers’ Market Cocktails
The non-profit operator of the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), and the San Francisco Chapter of the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG) will host an evening of farmers’ market-inspired cocktails at the CUESA kitchen in front of the San Francisco Ferry Building. During the evening, guests will enjoy cocktail demos hosted by renowned Bay Area bartenders using the freshest of farmers’ market ingredients, as well as passed apps prepared by executive chef Gordon Drysdale of the upcoming Union Street brasserie, brought to you by Bacchus Management Group (The Village Pub, Spruce, and Pizza Antica). 5:30pm–7:30pm. Cost: $15 per person. Cost per entry includes tastes of all demonstrated cocktails, two signature drinks, and appetizers. Tickets.

International Guest Bartender Night
Visit renowned guest bartenders from around the U.S. mixing and serving drinks at participating bars throughout the city. An itinerary outlining all bars and guest bartenders will be available on the San Francisco Cocktail Week website. 8pm-close. Cost: Price of drinks will vary per location.

Thursday, May 15th, A Night of Cocktail Dinners
Acclaimed for their cocktail programs, each participating restaurant will individually host multi-course dinners prepared and coordinated by their executive chefs and head mixologists, with each course expertly paired with complementary cocktails. Further information will be found on the San Francisco Cocktail Week website. Time and cost will vary upon location. Locations: bacar, Conduit, The Alembic, Orson, Bong Su, and Flora.

Friday, May 16th, Save the Sazerac
A reception at San Francisco’s historic Elixir, will celebrate the age-old Sazerac cocktail and the bar’s 150th year anniversary. Almost as old as the cocktail, Elixir will donate 100% of the evening’s proceeds from sales of classic Sazeracs and house variation Shirazeracs to the non-profit festival Tales of the Cocktail, which shares the same mission as San Francisco Cocktail Week: to celebrate and preserve the rich history of restaurants and bars throughout a historic culinary community; for Tales of the Cocktail it’s New Orleans, the birthplace of the cocktail. 3pm–8pm.

Saturday, May 17th, Literature, Booze and History
In a benefit for the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society, San Francisco magazine’s Scott Hocker will moderate a literary discussion of all things spirit related, featuring great cocktail historian David Wondrich and local writer and bartender Jordan Mackay, among additional panelists. Guests will be treated to Cantina’s infamous preparation of the San Francisco classic, Pisco Punch. Following the discussion, guests are invited to a book signing with attending authors and an after-party at Cantina. The Salon at Hotel Rex. For reservations, contact Jeff Hollinger at jeff_s_hollinger@comcast.net. 5pm–7pm. Cost: $30 per person.

Monday, May 19th, Finale
Cocktail Week finishes with a flourish at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, co-sponsored by Imbibe Magazine. Guests will enjoy a selection of cocktails created by Absinthe and guest bartenders, including several of Absinthe’s absinthe-based cocktails. Guests are also invited to experience absinthe classically prepared. Light fare from executive chef Jamie Lauren will be served throughout the night. Space is limited; please contact Vanessa Harris at vharris [at] absinthe [dot] com or 415-551-1453 for tickets. 6pm–10pm. Cost: $45 per person.

San Francisco Cocktail Week
Tue May 13–Mon May 19, 2008

Various locations
San Francisco, CA

website