Cocktail Week Events for Tuesday, Sept. 20

Lou Bustamante

Kicking off Cocktail Week inside Anchor Brewery and Distillery

​After a kickoff night Monday with perfect weather, and more people wanting to attend than there were tickets to be had, San Francisco Cocktail Week continues today with a much broader schedule.

Tonight's festivities are focused on eight cocktail dinners. This is a new concept for Cocktail Week, where a chef and bartender work together to present pairings. We can't wait to taste the results.

Several seminars also continue home bar education, and a few events require you only to drink. We can do that.

Cocktail Dinners

If you're a fan of underground dining, don't miss the Stag Dining Group at 15 Romolo ($120), which will feature the talents of both groups. Those who prefer their china fine should check out the Tequila dinner at Foreign Cinema with Don Julio ($105), gin dinner at Bar Agricole with St. George Spirits ($135), or pisco event at Michael Mina with Pisco Porton ($135). For the exotic, pull up to the caravan at Gitane with Distillery No. 209 ($110), or Tequila dinner and Chinese feast at Heaven's Dog with Casa Noble ($83). Grand Café with Anchor Distilling ($110) will be your chance to preview Alicia Jenish's cuisine before the new hits, and the gin-focused meal at Jasper's Corner Tap with Beefeater and Plymouth Gins ($93) is the perfect chance to explore this new hot spot.

Lou Bustamante

​Seminars and Other Events

Craft Cocktail Tools: What They Are and How to Use Them
Where: The Boothby Center, 1161 Mission (at 8th)
When: Noon - 2 p.m.
Cost: $25 in advance; $35 at the door

The rundown: Join United States Bartenders Guild Instructors Jon Santer and David Nepove on an in-depth exploration of tools, their proper use, and care.

The Nerdy Aspects of Gin Cocktails
Where: The Boothby Center, 1161 Mission (at 8th)
When: 3 - 5 p.m.
Cost: $25 in advance; $35 at the door

The rundown: Don Lee (Momofuku, NYC) and Erick Castro explore the science of making great gin cocktails. Expect graphs and mathematical formulas--and cocktails.

No. 209 Gin Experience
Where: Jasper's Corner Tap and Kitchen, 401 Taylor (at O'Farrell)
When: 5 - 7 p.m.
Cost: $20 in advance; $30 at the door

The rundown: Distillery No. 209 Gin distiller Arne Hillesland leads a discussion on the production of his gin that includes a cocktail suited to your gin personality, along with bites by Chef Adam Carpenter. A total deal.

Lydia Reissmueller Guest Bartender Night at Beretta
When: Beretta on Tue., Sept. 20, 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m.; Delarosa on Wed., Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
Where: Beretta, 1199 Valencia (at 23rd St.), 695-1199; Delarosa, 2175 Chestnut (at Pierce), 673-7100

The rundown: Lydia Reissmueller (formerly of PDT NYC) from Central in Portland will bring her own unique spin and flavors to Beretta tonight and Delarosa tomorrow. Look for Deep Roots (Tequila, lemon, carrot syrup, cumin oil) and Smoldering Fizz (Scotch, Cherry Heering, grapefruit, egg white, Prosecco)

Pisco Cumbia Night
When: 8:30 p.m. - midnight
Where: Pisco Latin Lounge, 1817 Market (at Octavia)

The rundown: Meet cocktail historian Guillermo Toro-Lira, author of the award-winning "History of Pisco In San Francisco," and enjoy $5 pisco sours and cumbia music all night.