Last night, Lauren and I went to Absinthe for a quick postprandial drink before she had to head back to San Jose (don’t worry, she was quite sober before she headed out). We discussed blogging, and I said that one of us should write the place up, so here we are.

The bartenders at Absinthe are dedicated to the art of the cocktail–they love them, and they make them wonderfully. Lauren’s selection, the Mujer Verde, is shown to the right: Hendrick’s gin, lemon-lime juice, simple syrup, and “a dash of Green and Yellow Chartreuse.” The overall effect was almost savory, a bit like coriander. I had a Vesper, the drink that James Bond famously ordered “shaken, not stirred” in Casino Royale. It was good, but I think I prefer the all-gin martini. Next time I go to Absinthe, however, I’m going for something a little more distinctive. An easy order to fill for them, as they have a very long list of house cocktails with names like Brazil 66, Daedalus, and the 21 Hayes (“concocted by Dr. Schwartz to provide relief to those arriving at our door by way of San Francisco’s Municipal Railway”). Check it out next time you’re in Hayes Valley.