Returning to San Francisco after a 14 year absence, Rye's Rhachel Shaw spent time in Los Angeles working at Barkeeper in Silverlake, Malo Cantina on Sunset Boulevard, and Caña Rum in Downtown L.A. So, you know, she knows her stuff. And, seeing as how SFist errs on the side of silver linings, we're sure glad she moved back to the Bay Area before Elizabeth Taylor's death. See, Shaw came up with a fittingly boozy yet divine tribute called White Diamonds. more ›

You guys all read Michael Pollan's The Botany of Desire, right? In case the answer's no, he talks in the book about the source of the legend of Johnny Appleseed, who didn't roam the country toting apple seeds so children could give fruit to their teachers, but rather so that people could grow some inedible sour fruit that they could make into booze. more ›

Last week in New Orleans, bartenders and cocktail journalists from around the country gathered for a particularly booze sozzled conference known as Tales of the Cocktail. Highlights included the History of Saloons in America panel led by H. Joseph Ehrmann of SF's Elixir, the nomination of local cocktail blogger Camper English for Best Spirits Writer, a seminar on bacon-infused cocktails, and Bols Genever winning Best New Spirit. Jonathan Santer of Heaven's Dog brings us this dispatch, and our weekly recipe: more ›

Because we all know the Twain adage about summer in San Francisco, we'll skip it and throw out this recipe for a slightly wintry concoction that comes to us via Greg Lindgren of Rye (688 Geary). It's their signature infused whiskey called Rock & Rye; it would mix well with ginger ale and makes for a great hot toddy base for those cold and foggy July and August nights. From Greg: more ›