Alcademics

Category: San Francisco

  • 100 Years Ago: Duncan Nicol Dies, Takes Pisco Punch Recipe to the Grave

    Published Feb 10, 1926, San Francisco Chronicle

    ‘Pisco Punch’ Secret Lost
    Famed Drink Mixer of Old Days Passes

    Popular Bar Prey of Drys

    Duncan Nicol died last night.

    With him passed the secret of his famous Pisco punch in the days of the Bank Exchange, which once stood on the southeast corner of Montgomery and Washington streets. Travelers in all parts of the world knew “Pisco John’s place,” as it was most frequently called, and his Pisco punch, or “stirrup cup,” was the vaunted drink of his day.

    Nicol had been ill for two years. Death overtook him in a private hospital at 1054 Sutter street. He was 72 years old and a native of Glasgow, Scotland.

    Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary Nicol, living at 1770 Union street, and a brother and sister, William and Mary Nicol.

    OPENED IN FIFTIES

    The Bank Exchange opened in the fifties. The marble of which it was built was brought round the Horn and it was the handsomest drinking establishment of the time.

    Then came Nicol, a lone, penniless boy from Scotland. He saved the money he earned at hard work and eventually was able to take over the Bank Exchange. From that moment its popularity was revived.

    Nicol was remembered and liked by all with whom he came in contact. Captains of industry, merchants princes, the greatest politicians of the day discussed their most confidential business within Nicol’s hearing as he chilled his glasses with infinite care and poured into them strange and soothing potions of which no man knew the contents save himself.

    BORE GOOD NAME

    There was no rowdyism in Pisco John’s place. Men brought their wives and sweethearts there, even their mothers, for a refreshing sip or two of Nicol’s famed concoctions.

    Travelers and tourists from afar ranked a visit to the Bank Exchange on a par with a tour of Chinatown and few left San Francisco without having been there.

    The famous painting, “Samson and Delilah,” which once hung over the bar of the Bank Exchange, was purchased by the late M. H. de Young and placed in the de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park.

    With prohibition Nicol was compelled to quit his business. He took a trip to Glasgow with his wife, then returned to San Francisco.

    He did not condemn prohibition; he settled down to an attempt to keep up with the times, although old age was coming fast upon him.

  • Nightingale Bar to Become Shotski’s Alpine Lodge

    The Kearny Street bar Nightingale is about to change theme. Owned by Future Bars and most recently home of the pop-up The Merriest Bar, Nightingale will soon become Shotski’s Alpine Lodge in a change of concept.

    (image from Nightingale Facebook page)


    They promise “the essence of a ski getaway, minus the cold. As summer approaches, Shotski’s will transform into a picturesque lakeside hunting cabin. Initially, Shotski’s will offer a vibrant indoor/outdoor atmosphere featuring warming cocktails, icy shots, amusements, energetic DJs, and live bands—all while showing sports on TV. It will be the perfect place to celebrate the day’s adventures and embrace the ambiance of the mountains.”

    The bar had a huge successful event during Santacon this year where they took over the 1-block Claude Lane out back (they don’t usually have a patio out there) for DJs, etc. Given this description I would guess that they’re going to try to capitalize more on the back alley rather than the front sidewalk.

    I work nearby so I’ll be checking in on its progress.

    Nightingale was themed as a fern bar with nods to 1970s drinks on the menu and in the design. It has a larger downstairs and a cute little upstairs bar – and now maybe room out back for apres-ski-inspired shenanigans.

    Here’s a screen cap from the website:

  • 103 Things to Drink in San Francisco, 1855

    I am reading the 1855 book Land of Gold, Reality Versus Fiction by Hinton Helper. You can find it online here. It talks a lot of smack about San Francisco and I love it.

    San Francisco was a brand new city in 1848 when gold was discovered in Sacramento, but by 1855 the population was over 20,000, soon to be 30,000 in another couple of years. And already you could get all this stuff to drink.

    BILL OF FARE OF A CALIFORNIA GROGGERY.

    1. Scotch Ale,
    2. English Porter,
    3. American Brandy,
    4. Irish Whiskey,
    5. Holland Gin,
    6. Jamaica Rum,
    7. French Claret,
    8. Spanish Sack,
    9. German Hockamore,
    10. Persian Sherbet,
    11. Portuguese Port,
    12. Brazilian Arrack,
    13. Swiss Absynthe,
    14. East India Acids,
    15. Spirit Stews and Toddies,
    16. Lager Beer,
    17. New Cider,
    18. Soda Waters,
    19. Mineral Drinks,
    20. Ginger Pop,
    21. Usquebaugh,
    22. Sangaree,
    23. Perkin,
    24. Mead,
    25. Metheglin,
    26. Eggnog,
    27. Capilliare,
    28. Kirschwassen,
    29. Cognac,
    30. Rhenish Wine,
    31. Sauterne,
    32. Malaga,
    33. Muscatel,
    34. Burgundy,
    35. Haut Bersac,
    36. Champagne,
    37. Maraschino,
    38. Tafia,
    39. Negus,
    40. Tog,
    41. Shambro,
    42. Fisca,
    43. Virginia,
    44. Knickerbocker,
    45. Snifter,
    46. Exchange,
    47. Poker,
    48. Agent,
    49. Floater,
    50. I O U,
    51. Smasher,
    52. Curacoa,
    53. Ratafia,
    54. Tokay,
    55. Calcavalla,
    56. Alcohol,
    57. Cordials,
    58. Syrups,
    59. Stingo,
    60. Hot Grog,
    61. Mint Juleps,
    62. Gin Sling,
    63. Brick Tops,
    64. Sherry Cobblers,
    65. Queen Charlottes,
    66. Mountaineers,
    67. (continued)
    68. Brandy Smashes,
    69. Whiskey Punch,
    70. Cherry Bounce,
    71. Shamperone,
    72. Drizzles,
    73. Our Own,
    74. Red Light,
    75. Hairs,
    76. Horns,
    77. Whistler,
    78. White Lion,
    79. Settler,
    80. Peach and Honey,
    81. Whiskey Skin,
    82. Old Sea Dog,
    83. Peg and Whistle,
    84. Eye Opener,
    85. Apple Dam,
    86. Flip Flap,
    87. One-eyed Joe,
    88. Cooler,
    89. Cocktails,
    90. Tom and Jerry,
    91. Moral Suasion,
    92. Jewett’s Fancy,
    93. Ne Plus Ultra,
    94. Citronella Jam,
    95. Silver Spout,
    96. Veto,
    97. Deacon,
    98. Ching Ching,
    99. Sergeant,
    100. Stone Wall,
    101. Rooster Tail,
    102. Vox Populi,
    103. Tug and Try,


    One mistake: 67 is (continued) where it went onto the next page, so make that 102 things to drink!



    To learn more about San Francisco’s bar and cocktail history, join me for an upcoming history walking tour. Information is here!

  • Speaking at the Museum of the Eye Dec 28

    I’ll be giving a short talk at the event “Celebratory Bubbles, Not Eye Troubles” at the Museum of the Eye in San Francisco on December 28th. It’s an annual New Year event.

    My talk (probably a short one of 20ish minutes) is “Eye-Openers, Corpse Revivers, and Anti-Fogmatics: The Medicinal Morning Cocktail.” It’s based on stuff from my book Doctors and Distillers, of course.

    More info and link to tickets is here.

  • Did the Original Cocktail Sauce Contain Angostura Bitters?

    I am researching Prohibition and a search for “cocktails” in the San Francisco Chronicle turned up a story from 1920 on the origin of the “oyster cocktail” that I think is what today we call “cocktail sauce” that is used more on the shrimp cocktail. (I am a 30+ year vegetarian so I could be wrong it though!)

    I just noted the part about Angostura Bitters and ketchup – see the second image. If you give that recipe a try… let me know how it goes.

  • Ginger’s in San Francisco is Closing

    I got wind that Ginger’s, a gay bar in downtown San Francisco, was closing suddenly. The truth may be that there is still a chance to save it if they find the right person to run it, but honestly the job sounds nearly impossible. 

    Bars named Ginger’s have a long history in San Francisco dating to 1978. I felt that the closing of the last one needed to be memorialized. So I pitched a story and wrote the whole thing in one day – some if it from the waiting room of my doctor’s office. 

    Hopefully I did it justice – read it at this link. 


  • The Spirits Micro-Festival Era is Here

    While huge fests like Whiskies of the World, Fog City Social, and WhiskyFest have long been annual traditions, and single-brand tastings are regularly held in bars and liquor stores, an interesting new format has entered the chat. And at least two more of them are scheduled over the next few weeks. 

    Elixir is hosting its second whiskey tasting festival on October 25th – a malt whisky festival they’re calling it. Only 50, $50 tickets are being sold, because 50 people inside Elixir would be a lot on a regular day. Their first one was a bourbon fest with “10+ whiskey vendors” on Sept 13.

    Likewise, Kona’s sponsored a Spirit Showcase: Bourbon Edition at the end of September, with plans for more that will branch out into other spirits categories. This one had 6 producers (each with 3-8 products) and a full food spread including caviar for $75.

    And on October 18th the Dawn Club and Lark Bar plus Cask (all owned by Future Bars) is holding a Whiskey and Blues Fair with 20 distilleries with an outdoor block party down Annie Street for $45.

    I think it’s an interesting new phenomenon happening; a social event, a reason to come out to the bars; a good bargain; and probably good money for the bars as they can partner with the brands on the tastings.

  • Bartender’s Ketchup is Back on the Menu in SF

    Bartenders ketcup

     

    I wrote a story for the SFStandard about elderflower liqueur making a huge comeback. It was so popular when the brand St. Germain first launched in 2007 that it was given the nickname “bartender’s ketchup.”  

    It’s so back, but now bartenders are using a wide range of products. Read the story here. 

     

    IMG_5857

  • 50 Year Time Capsule from the Transamerica Pyramid

    There’s a new exhibit at the Transamerica Pyramid from a time capsule buried 50 years ago. I checked it out. 

    The building was completed in 1972- the time capsule is from 1974. Before that, from 1853-1959, it was the Montgomery Block that hosted the Bank Exchange Saloon. The Bank Exchange was the home of the Pisco Punch, the most famous cocktail in SF from roughly 1870-1920. Duncan Nicol, mentioned in the pictures, was the proprietor of the Bank Exchange in its later decades, and the person who popularized the Pisco Punch. He took his secret recipe to his grave.  

    I’ve left these images purposefully crappy to encourage you to go see it yourself! 

    Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_1

    Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_1 Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_4

    Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_5
     Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_7

     Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_10
    Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_11 Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_13

  • All of the Olives’ Brine Time to Shine

    My latest story for the San Francisco Chronicle is about all the ways bartenders are liquifying olives in their Martinis – in the vermouth, gin, vodka, brine, leaf tinctures, oil-washing everything, and even an “olive turducken.”

     

    Here’s a gift link so you can read it. 

    CHRONICLE