In a cocktail rut? You’re in luck. Bartenders across the city are upping their game with a spate of new drinks crafted to fit fun springtime themes.
From an ode to a tasty seasonal mainstay (Girl Scout Cookies, obviously) to a celebration of women, don’t miss the limited-time treats crafted by the cocktail artists at these top San Francisco bars and restaurants.
Causwell's Girl Scout Lemonades cocktail(All Day Social)
Girl Scout Cookies at Causwells
Every year about this time those pluckiest of gals, the Girl Scouts, break out their special brand of sugary deliciousness. This month and next, Causwells is channeling that big cookie energy, unboxing a limited-time cocktail menu devoted to it. There are six irresistible flavors, from Thin Mint (vodka, creme de menthe, creme de cacao, fernet menta, and cream) to Samoas (bacardi, coconut cordial, lime, mandarin, and mint), and every one comes garnished with the cookie of their namesake. Most importantly, these cocktails don’t just taste good, they do good. A dollar from each will be donated to the Girl Scouts Greater L.A. Assistance Fund to help troops affected by the fires. // Available through April 30; 2346 Chestnut St. (Marina), causwells.com
Spring Bounty at Moongate Lounge
Moongate Lounge’s seasonal cocktail menu revolves around the Chinese lunar calendar, showcasing the herbs, fruits, flowers, and veggies whose blossoming signals the arrival of a new season. The new menu is all about spring, with awakening insects (gin, benedictine, fennel, and bee pollen), raining grain (gin, wolf berry, and peach), and a vernal equinox (mezcal, versus, osmanthus, strawberry, and fresno chili). Have your choice from the list of six under the glow of the moon cycle-inspired listening lounge’s celestial ceiling. // Available through spring; 28 Waverly Pl. (Chinatown), moongatelounge.com
Trick Dog's Shallow Diver cocktail(Courtesy of @trickdogbar)
Circus Acts at Trick Dog
Twice a year, cocktail prodigy Trick Dog burns down their old menu and comes up with something brand spanking new—and this spring’s options are delightfully entertaining. There are 16 new cocktails premiering on the bar’s Circus menu, each one inspired by its own classic big top act. Soar with The Death Defying High Flyers, a mashup of tequila, vermouth, strawberry, kiwi, sorrel, almond, and lime; buzz with the Bee Bearder, made with whisky, mango eau de vie, bell pepper, cilantro, honey, and fish sauce; or levitate with The Illusionist, a combo of mezcal, suze, cream sherry, carrot, coconut, tarragon, absinthe, and lime. Every one is a showstopper. // Available through June; 3010 20th St. (Mission-Potrero), trickdogbar.com
A Little Luck at Horsefeather
Every month, Horsefeather crafts a special set of cocktails to mark the passage of time. This March, it’s Saint Patrick’s Day that gets top billing with three Irish-themed cocktails made with a spirit straight from the old country, Slane Whiskey. Try it with ginger cordial, citrus, and gold dust in the Gold Coast; with aged rum liqueur, Spanish brandy, and a Lucky Charms cereal milk wash in Luck’s to Blame; or with espresso cordial, orange liqueur, and Irish Stout Cream in the Caife Gaelach. // Available through March 31; 528 Divisadero St. (NoPa), horsefeather.com
The Women's History Month-celebrating Fresita cocktail at Cavaña(Courtesy of Cavaña)
A Celebration of Women at Cavaña
Although any day is a good one to honor the contribution of women throughout history, March is reserved for the official celebration, and this year Cavaña is going all in with their craft spirits collaboration and SF women bartenders pop up. All month the Latin American-inspired bar will be featuring two cocktails created by women bartenders using women-made, women-run, and women-owned spirits: Fresita, a concoction combining mezcal, strawberry vermouth, and guava eau de vie; and La Piscoteca, made with pisco, sugar snap pea, cucumber, and pineapple eau de vie. A portion of their sales will be donated to The Women’s Building in the Mission, which contributes to a variety of nonprofits that support, you guessed it, local women. The party reaches its most feverish pitch on Monday, March 24th when some of the city’s most talented women mixologists take over the bar. // Available through March 31; 100 Channel St., 17th Fl. (Mission Bay), cavanasf.com
