It is exactly 31 days until Thanksgiving, but we’re kicking the holidays off early here.
Not in the Santa hat and nativity scene kind of way, but rather, the whiskey, absinthe and Beaujolais nouveau way.
Looking to get a headstart on your seasonal tippling?
Here’s your autumn boozing calendar, featuring the best local (or homemade) tipple for every day until the turkeys arrive.
OCTOBER 24
Drink: A Camp Alice Eastwood at A&Q, because nothing says fall like Douglas fir-infused Santa Theresa rum.
OCTOBER 25
Drink: A Honey Mule at Blackbird — ’til the end of the month, they’re donating $1 per drink to the Helen David Relief Fund, supporting women with breast cancer.
OCTOBER 26
Drink: A half-bottle of Au Bon Climat at Waterbar. Get a seat on the patio, the weather’s supposed to be nice tonight.
OCTOBER 27
Drink: The Purple Rain (Lo-Fi Amaro, dry orange curacao, maraschino, vanilla bitters, Champagne) at Burritt Room + Tavern, because six months (and six days) without him is six months and six days too many.
OCTOBER 28
Drink: It’s Hallowine.
OCTOBER 29
Drink: Metropolitans for Day 2 of Halloween-related festivities at the W’s 5th annual holiday bash, which is ridiculous and fun. We’re sure they’d serve pumpkin Champagne if they could. Three floors, three rooms, plus the VIP lounge.
OCTOBER 30
Drink: Whatever’s included in the ticket price on board the San Francisco Belle for Sunset Sound System’s Halloween on-the-water party. Or vodka tonics (won’t stain, won’t be sticky) at the Great Northern after-boat-party.
OCTOBER 31
Drink: St. Georg Absint Verte from Cask, because it’s finally Halloween and it’s time to stay home and relax with a lovely green drink.
NOVEMBER 1
Drink: Maracuya Sours (Siete Misterios mezcal, maracuya puree, vanilla agave, lime juice, etc.) on the Día de los Muertos at Mezcalito.
NOVEMBER 2
Drink: Corpse Reviver #2 at Absinthe, with London dry gin, dry curacao, kina l’aero d’or, lemon juice, and absinthe.
NOVEMBER 3
Drink: Happy hour draught sake and pork team buns at Michael Mina’s Pabu — just get there by five.
NOVEMBER 4
Drink: Escape to Tahoe! Where better to wait out the election? Congratulate yourself on getting out of town with a bottle of Louis Latour Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru at Manzanita.
NOVEMBER 5
Drink: Down to Truckee for PBRs and lobster rolls at Morgan’s.
NOVEMBER 6
Drink: A 2003 Château Doisy-Vedrines Sauterne will do nicely following the Chef’s Tasting Menu at Trokay.
NOVEMBER 7
Drink: Raise a glass to America and the peaceful transition of power at the Palace Hotel’s Garden Court with Napa Valley Chandon Etoile — because we do everything better, including Champagne/sparkling wine.
NOVEMBER 8
Drink: Literally as much as possible of whatever you have to hand.
NOVEMBER 9
Drink: to forget the past two years of politicking at the Tonga Room with as many Mai Tais as can be safely imbibed.
NOVEMBER 10
Drink: Theme night: A Brown Wolf at Alembic (bourbon, St. George Spiced Pear Liquer, Amaro Lucano and mole bitters), followed by our favorite movie about the encroaching cold: The Grey.
NOVEMBER 11
Drink: Mosswood Irish Whisky at ABV.
NOVEMBER 12
Drink: Road trip to Wine Country for the Napa Film Festival! Tonight’s gala event will feature wines from dozens of galleries — we opt for samples from Priest Ranch.
NOVEMBER 13
Drink: There’s no better location than oysters and Manifesto’s sauvignon blanc at Hog Island’s Oxbow location.
NOVEMBER 14
Drink: An Icelandic Einstok, just because, at Toronado.
NOVEMBER 15
Drink: California’s own cask-strength Slow Hand craft whiskey at Dirty Habit — ideally on the heated outdoor patio.
NOVEMBER 16
Drink: Baby Daddy Session IPA at Southside Spirit House, to go with the MacGarlic Fries.
NOVEMBER 17
Drink: Mikkeler’s Mexas Ranger (a stout with almond milk, black beans, cocoa, chili and avocado leaves) and bratwurst.
NOVEMBER 18
Drink: Lagunitas and blues at the Saloon, a properly historic S.F. institution.
NOVEMBER 19
Drink: College football on the big screens and Guinness at McNally’s, well worth the trip across the bridge.
NOVEMBER 20
Drink: Anything available at the 500 Club, our favorite bar in town, bar none.
NOVEMBER 21
Drink: Old Crow at Fred’s Place, our local choice. It’s trivia night. Come prepared.
NOVEMBER 22
Drink: Water. Flying’s dehydrating.
NOVEMBER 23
Drink: We hope you’re enjoying your horrible flight home. We’ll be at Cat Cora’s (Terminal 2, in the Virgin America wing) with a cucumber martini and the tacos that are more like pieces of fish wrapped in lettuce.
NOVEMBER 24
Drink: Post-Thanksgiving Long Island Ice Teas at the roadhouse on the highway by your high school. Or maybe that’s just us. Improvise.
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