Closing out SF Cocktail Week on Sunday was a party over in Alameda at the St. George distillery, in celebration of the release of their three new gins which we mentioned vis a vis our last SFist Drink. The gins are so good and noteworthy, that they get another mention here with what was our favorite cocktail of the bunch at Sunday's party (which was also a mini competition of sorts for a bevy of East Bay bartenders, all challenged with creating a drink with one of the three gins).
Top marks, in our book, went to this drink, dubbed Naked in the Rain, created by Brian McMillan of Sidebar in Oakland. He took the most unusual and boldly flavored of the gins -- the Terroir, which packs a serious pine/balsam/sage punch, and was created in tribute to the aromas of Mount Tam -- and managed to smooth out its edges and add complexity without it coming out like cough syrup, and all without adding any citrus. It's quite a feat really.
Naked in the Rain
1 3/4 oz St. George Terroir Gin
1/2 oz Tempus Fugit Kina
1/4 oz Tempus Fugit Liqueur de Violettes
Stir well, serve in a coupe glass with a flamed Meyer lemon twist.