Had a chance to visit the Boubon and Branch bar in San Francisco this week after reading about it in several magazines. It is a great cocktail bar with a great selection of whiskey and bourbon.

Any bar that has a rule about not even thinking about ordering a "cosmo" and that proudly boasts that the only Canadian whiskey they have is Crown XR is ok in my book

The bar fashions itselft a "speakeasy" . You have to obtain reservations via email and are given a password. When you arrive at the bar (in a pretty seedy part of San Fran), there are no markings on the door, just a sign reading "Anti-Saloon" league. You knock on the door, it opens slightly and you give the password to be allowed entry. Ok, a little kitchy but gets you in the mood

The bar itself is dark, with red wallpaper with small tables for intimate conversation. No food is served, just drinks and since you need reservations, everyone has a seat and there is no "rush" at the bar.

All the classis cocktails are prepared here. Whiskey cocktails, champagne cocktails, Rum, Gin, Vodka Tequila. The bartenders take great care in building the drink just right. I overhead them refusing to make certain variations that were ordered as "that is not how that drink is made"

They did have a pretty good selection of Boubons and Whiskey's althought nothing I couldn't get from mailorder. or a good liquor store in Jersey. They had Pappy 20yr, Hirsh 16, the new Stagg, Black Maple hill 23 and others that I do not recall. They had about 5 different Rye's including the pappy 13 and the BMH. They had a large selection of single malts and judging by the price of the pour (some up to $95), they seem to be relatively rair

the whiskey cocktails where made with Old Overhalt Rye. I personally had a Sazerac, a Negroni and a 1794 (thier own invention - Rye, Campari, Sweet Vermouth (they use Vya) )

I also had some sips of the Stagg

The bartender was real friendly and engaged in intellegent conversation about boubons and whiskey's and watching them build the drinks is impressive.

cocktails were around $10 each. pours of the higher end spirits where higher

highly recommended.

http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/