When it comes to cocktails, sometimes simplest is best. Don't get me wrong; I love a libation with celery bitters or creole shrubs as much as the next person, but often it's nice to enjoy a drink that's satisfying in a simple, understated way. I have a couple rudimentary bar refreshments up my sleeve: for taco nights, there's the tequila and tonic; for celebrations, the Prosecco cocktail. The Read more

Gin lovers: have you tried a bramble yet? This modern classic cocktail, which was created in the mid-1980s by London bartender Dick Bradsell, is sort of like England's equivalent to a cosmopolitan. It's an unfussy gin and lemon juice concoction that's potent, but with a tart and fruity taste. The girlie pink-purple hue comes from the addition of blackberry liqueur. Although there's many Read more

Unlike the martini or daiquiri, the rickey is a lesser-known classic cocktail with origins that date back to the 1880s. A traditional rickey consists of spirit (bourbon or gin), half of a lime squeezed and dropped into the glass, and carbonated water. This modernization of the rickey adds a delightful seasonal element to the drink: cherries. Although you could make it with bourbon, I used gin Read more

After what's seemed like five straight months of unrelenting chill and fog, a few Summer days have finally descended on the city, and it's hot. I'm talking feel-the-sidewalks-baking, pool-dipping hot — a rare sight in June in San Francisco. It's climes like these that call for a refreshing spritzer of a cocktail. It's hard to beat a classic gin and tonic, but this variation — which includes Read more

Warm, sunny weather calls for a light, cheery cocktail, and what better way to satisfy that requirement than with a champagne- and fruit-based libation? This twist on the French 75 incorporates muddled strawberries for an even more Springlike feel, and the inclusion of gin and elderflower liqueur makes it more evening-appropriate than its brunchy cousin the mimosa. For optimal flavor, enjoy it Read more

Many people have an aversion to gin; I think it's sad because gin is an incredibly nuanced, highly drinkable, and totally versatile spirit. Erick Castro, who's the gin ambassador for Beefeater and Plymouth, agrees. "The reason people don't like gin is because the most common gin drinks, the martini and the gin and tonic, don't appeal to everyone." Castro wants to start a gin revolution with this Read more

In the Summer, gin is my go-to spirit — nothing's more refreshing than a crisp gin and tonic on a warm day. But in the Winter, I turn to richer liquors like whiskey and bourbon, and mix up classic old-fashioneds and sazeracs. So when I picked up a bottle of Ransom Old Tom Gin, I thought I was in heaven — it's the best of both worlds. Ransom is an authentic Old Tom gin, which means it's made Read more

It's been raining incessantly in San Francisco, quite the departure from our stay in Florida, where we were in town for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. As a San Franciscan who'd never seen the staggering good looks of Miami Beach, I was more than happy to head back home to Fog City and be in my element. However, now more than a week later, I'm longing to be back there. The image that Read more

Expensive honey isn't only good stirred into tea, it's also wonderful for sweetening cocktails. In this drink, the wildflower honey adds a lovely floral quality as well as providing a subtle sweetness. With only four ingredients — honey, orange juice, lemon juice, and gin — this libation is fairly simple, but it's sophisticated and perfectly balanced. For those who dislike gin, I recommend Read more