San Francisco

The San Francisco is an elaborate, multi-layered gin cocktail that is a purist’s delight. By splitting the spirit between dry and sloe gins, and the vermouth between dry and sweet, it creates a profile that is hauntingly complex: fruity, herbal, bitter, and bone-dry all at once.

Key Takeaways

• Perfect-Symmetrical Style: Uses equal parts of four primary ingredients with dual-bitter seasonin.
• Vibrant Hue: The sloe gin and sweet vermouth provide a beautiful reddish-amber color.
• ABV: High (approximately 25-28%).
• Primary Glassware: Chilled cocktail glass.

The History of the San Francisco

The San Francisco surfaced in several early 20th-century European bar manuals and was a standout inclusion in the 1961 IBA list of international standards. Its name reflects an era’s focus on evocatively named drinks for cosmopolitan audiences.

Ingredient Definition and Selection

The Gins

A clean London Dry Gin provides the backbone, while Sloe Gin adds fruit-driven depth and its signature plummy notes.

The Vermouths

Using both Sweet and Dry vermouth provides a wide spectrum of botanicals and a balanced sweetness that isn’t as heavy as a standard “sweet” vermouth cocktail.

The Bitters

The combination of orange and aromatic (Angostura) bitters provides the necessary seasoning to tie the four primary spirits together.

Preparation and Best Practices

1. Stir for Texture: Because it contains no juice or dairy, stirring preserves the drink’s landmark silky mouthfeel and clarity.
2. Dilution is Key: Proper dilution is necessary to unlock the specific aromatics of each component. Stir for 30-45 seconds.
3. The Garnish: A high-quality cherry provides a final fruit hit that honors the sloe gin base.

Nutritional Information

• Calories: Approximately 160 kcal per serving.
• Carbohydrates: 10g.
• Sugar: 9g.