San Francisco Cocktail

A San Francisco cocktail is a variation on the classic martini, with a sweet twist. Made with sloe gin, vermouth, and bitters, it’s a smooth and elegant drink.

about this San Francisco cocktail

If you love a gin martini, but are looking for something a little different, this San Francisco cocktail is for you. This little number’s been flying under the radar, but it definitely deserves a place on your cocktail recipe roster.

This drink first popped up in a cocktail book from the UK. Talk about a plot twist, right? A San Francisco drink making its debut across the pond!

The real beauty of this low ABV cocktail is it’s flavor because it is very unique for a martini. The flavor is fruity and dry, herbaceous and slightly sweeter than a classic cocktail. You get lovely aromas and flavors with every sip, so it’s just an all-around fantastic cocktail for those who love gin.

To us, it’s very old school meets modern-day with the revival of so many older cocktails coming back to star on cocktail menus. I’m surprised I have seen it in the best bars, but the one I had originally made me make my own version to share with you all.

ingredients

gin. Use sloe gin in this recipe, if possible! Some brands we recommend are Hayman’s Sloe Gin or Sipsmith Sloe Gin.

vermouth. You will need both dry and sweet vermouths for this recipe. Make sure that you are buying a good quality of both!

bitters. This cocktail uses a combination of Angostura bitters and orange bitters. Feel free to switch it up!

cherries. Brandied cherries make for the best garnish for this cocktail.

this recipe’s must-haves

All you need to make this drink is a cocktail shaker, jigger, and cocktail strainer!

I like to use coupe glasses, but you can also use a martini glass instead.

here’s how to make a san francisco cocktail

shake

Place your cocktail glass or martini glass in the fridge or freezer to chill while you make the cocktail. It’s better to chill the glass versus using an ice-filled glass which will dilute the drink.

Add all of the ingredients for the cocktail to a shaker filled with ice.

strain

Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied cherries and serve.

tips and tricks

use high quality ingredients. When you are making a spirit heavy cocktail, it’s best to use the best ingredients possible to achieve the best flavor.

check your vermouth. Did you know that Vermouth can expire sooner than other spirits? You generally need to use it up within three months, so be sure to check to make sure it’s still good to use.

More tasty gin cocktails to sip on: Gin Sling | Blackberry Gin Fizz | Strawberry Gin Smash | Watermelon Gin Cocktail | Irish Coffee

are there two san francisco cocktails?

There are two San Francisco cocktails! The first one is the one you see in this post (more detail in the next question on that!). However, the second modern San Francisco cocktail is totally different than the original! It is made with vodka, banana liqueur, grenadine, and tropical fruit juices. The difference is big between the classic cocktail and the fruity drink.

Of course, we prefer the very different sloe gin-based san francisco cocktail to the tropical sweet vibes!

where did this San Francisco cocktail originate?

The original San Francisco cocktail comes from the *Cafe Royal Cocktail Book *****published in the UK Bartenders Guild in 1937. This cocktail book was a collection of recipes from the 1920’s and 1930’s, which have sense been made into standards we know and love today (ex. the margarita!).

Though it isn’t a cocktail that originated in the city of San Francisco, I feel like the smooth sophisticated flavor could totally be it.

can I change up the bitters?

Yes, this is my favorite way to play with the cocktail recipe! The original combination is orange bitters and Angostura bitters, but you can really use a variety of other flavors. We like to use smoked orange or cherry for the fruity element. You could also try alpino, chocolate, or any other favorites that you might have on hand.

what is the difference between sloe gin and gin?

Traditional gin is distilled with juniper berries and other botanical ingredients, however, slow gin is made by infusing gin with slow berries and sugar. Therefore sloe gin is a bit sweeter and fruitier than traditional gin! We like to use sloe gin in this recipe, but you can also use traditional gin.

Need some inspiration for your next gathering? Check out my easy appetizer recipes page!

what to serve with a San Francisco cocktail

This cocktail goes with a variety of foods! I personally like to serve it as a pre-dinner drink (aperitif) because it goes so well with olives, cheeses, and other pickled items that are usually found on a charcuterie board.

The martini variation also pairs well with steak so fire up the grill to make a grilled NY strip steak or easy steak fajita foil packets.

more easy classic cocktails to make

A Patron margarita is fresh and vibrant, using only fresh citrus juice to make the Patron tequila really sing.

This bitter and balanced aperol negroni is a fantastic signature drink for your next cocktail party.

A chili salty dog is a spicy twist on the classic recipe, making it even more flavorful and juicy.

Try a bourbon manhattan cocktail, using bourbon instead of rye whiskey!

A paper plane cocktail is a modern classic, with a unique flavor profile that you will love.

Finally, if you make this San Francisco cocktail recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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