Sunset The Spirits Issue 2021

SUNSET is the definitive guide to living an inspired life in the modern American West—stretching from Alaska to Mexico, and California to Texas. Each issue is filled with epic destinations and adventures, home and gardening tips from celebrated writers, and fresh recipes shared by some of the West’s most creative chefs. From boutique hotels to coastal camping trips, Baja fish tacos to backyard edible gardens, we translate the iconic elements of the West directly to your everyday life.

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IN THIS ISSUE

LETTER FORM THE EDITOR

Every year an esteemed panel of professional tasters convene to sample the abundant and diverse spirits being produced by top distilleries throughout the West and beyond. They sniff, sip, ponder, and eventually anoint a select group as winners of prestigious Sunset International Spirits Awards. To coincide with the announcement of the winners—and to celebrate the ongoing evolution of excellentvodkas, gins, whiskeys, tequilas, mezcals, rums, and more—we’ve compiled some our best spirits content to give you the ultimate buying guide and how-to manual to make the most of your home bar. Cheers, Join the Sunset Community Write to us, tweet us, or tag us on Instagram; we promise we read each and every one of your comments. facebook @sunsetmag @Sunset pinterest.…

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IN THIS ISSUE

BELLY UP TO THE BAR CART

FRANCOPHILE Inspired by the iconic outdoor furniture of Paris’s Luxembourg Gardens, this super sturdy bar cart comes in a rainbow of colors and will look right at home in most any decor. $1178; fermobusa.com MID CENTURY With sleek mid mod lines and brass accents this throwback cart is the ideal perch for your Old Fashioned makings and vintage cut crystal decanter collection, but its sustainable wood construction is entirely contemporary. $299; westelm.com TROPICAL Keep the vacation vibes going year round with this Kingsley trolley bar cart that conjures up beach breezes and Mai Tais for days. Made with handwoven rattan, it’s an elegant addition to your patio or living room. $795; williamssonoma.com…

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IN THIS ISSUE

GO PRO WITH YOUR GEAR

Sure you could get some kitschy three piece vintage-style shaker, a Tiki themed mixing glass, or a “home bartending kit” from any number of companies who will also happily sell you a sofa, but you’re not going to see any bartenders using any of this gear for a reason: it’s usually not the most efficient way to get a drink from bottle glass and it’s not necessarily built to last. Fortunately, pro-bartender supply house Cocktail Kingdom has put together a true professional-grade cocktail making kit that has all the tools you need to efficiently mix up round after round of drinks in perpetuity and in style. $139.99; cocktailkingdom.com 1. JUICER A heavy duty essential for making batches of lime or lemon juice. 2. BARSPOON Use for stirring drinks, tasting for adjustment, or cracking ice. 3.…

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THE ONLY THREE GLASSES YOU NEED

THE COUPE Use for: Martinis, Manhattans, gimlets, gibsons, flips, and other shaken, stirred, and strained cocktails. Leopold Coupe Glass, $41.99 for6; cocktailkingdom.com THE LOWBALL Use for: Sazeracs, Margaritas, Old Fashioneds, bourbon, Negronis, and other drinks best served on the rocks. Yarai Stackable Rocks Glass, $29.99 for 6; cocktailkingdom.com THE HIGHBALL Use for: Palomas, collinses, gin and tonics, greyhounds, and other tall drinks. Buswell Collins Glass With Gold Rim, $24.99 for 6; cocktailkingdom.com COUPE: ALICE GAO; HIGHBALL: © KC SLAGLE…

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BREAK THE ICE

Did you know that up to a quarter of a cocktail can be comprised of water once you’re done with all the shaking and stirring? Yes, dilution is the secret ingredient in many a fine drink and if you use just any old ice that’s been sitting in your freezer or came out of your ice machine two weeks ago you’re doing a disservice to all that top shelf liquor you just put in your cocktail. Enter top shelf ice, which you can make at home with filtered or bottled water and Williams Sonoma’s vast range of silicone ice molds that come in custom shapes and sizes for high balls, low balls, and everything in between. Don’t want to dilute that small batch bourbon? Opt for a reusable whiskey stone…

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THINK BIG

Stag Special The Saratoga bar (temporarily closed due to Covid. Be sure to visit when it reopens!) in San Francisco’s historic Tenderloin district serves this modified version of the punch detailed in famed San Francisco barman, “Cocktail Bill” Boothby’s 1908 book entitled The World’s Drinks and How to Mix Them. It’s a robust but lively blend of bourbon, rum, maraschino, green tea, pineapple, lemon and mint that will take you to the shores of the Carribean with every sip. 4 oz. Pineapple6 oz. Lemon1 oz. Orange2 oz. Strong Green Tea (Spring Jade)6 oz. Angostura 5 year old rum8 oz. Buffalo Trace2 oz. Maraschino12 Dashes Angostura Bitters4 Heavy tsp. SugarFresh mint Combine all liquid ingredients in a mixing tin. Stir. In the bottom of the Crystal Dispenser muddle two handfuls of mint. Top with…

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