Giant Cocktails: A San Francisco Giants Baseball Podcast

It's Happy Hour! In this episode Ben presents a clarified milk punch cocktail called Clearly It's Fall. It's long and complicated but very much worth the effort. Meanwhile Matthew is clinging to summer with a minty French Pearl that brings hint of absinthe. They also agree on their favorite part of Fall (even though they can't agree when it starts) and tell you how to mix up your favorite cocktail recipes with a simple hack. Recipes below.Clearly It's FallTwo Cinnamon SticksTwo Slices Fresh Ginger2-4 Cloves4 oz Over proof Rum4 oz Cognac2 oz lemon juice4 oz simple syrup1 cup whole milkCombine rum, cognac with cinnamon stick, ginger and cloves in sealed container and let steep over night. Remove ginger, cinnamon sticks and cloves from spirit mixture.Bring milk to roughly room temperature. (Microwave 30-60 seconds on high.) Slowly add spirits to milk (do not pour milk into spirits!) in short pours over a minute or two.Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes or up to over night in the refrigerator.Using a large strainer and cheese cloth, strain the mixture into another container. Work in batches if the strainer is not large enough. Let the liquid strain completely.Refrigerate strained liquid until chilled.Serve in a rocks glass over a large chunk of ice.French Pearl2 oz Gin3/4 oz Lime Juice3/4 oz Simple SyrupAbsinthe Rinse6-8 Mint LeavesMint leaf for garnishPrepare a chilled coupe glass by rinsing it with absinthe or use an atomizer to spray the inside of the glass. Add all other ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake 10-12 seconds. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a mint leaf.

Did you enjoy the meaningful games in Denver? They were a lot better with cocktails. Ben is coping by drinking his Horseman's Head. Meanwhile Matthew is crying into his Limon Love Affair (with Bourbon).On the baseball side of things our "believers" discuss the Giants dwindling playoff chances, the huge votes of confidence Zaidi and Kapler received from ownership, and just how fans should feel about this season and prospect of another under the current regime.

It's Happy Hour! In this episode Matthew gets involved in a Limon Love Affair (with Bourbon), a lemon forward cocktail fortified with homemade Super Juice. (We promise, it's not weird.) Meanwhile Ben continues with his fall cocktail series with a "spicy" cocktail he's calling the Horseman's Head. Also, how to make your own Super Juice and why it's OK to be cheap. Recipes below.Limon Love Affair (with Bourbon)1 1/2 oz Bourbon1/2 oz Lemon Juice3/4 oz Limoncello5-6 Mint Leaves1 Tbs Apricot Preserves (Lemon Curd?)2 dashes Black Lemon Bitters2 dashes Orleans BittersAdd all ingredients to a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a mint sprig and or a lemon wheel.Horseman's HeadInspired by Morgan Eckroth's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QgMY5Jc1001 oz Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur1 oz Vodka2 oz Heavy Cream / Whipping Cream3/4 oz Pumpkin Spice Syrup (See recipe belowCombine Mr. Black’s, vodka and pumpkin spice syrup in a mixing glass. Stir to combine. Pour over a very large single ice cube in a rocks glass. Stir gently to slightly chill. In a separate mixing glass slightly whip cream with a milk frother. (You can also shake in a mason jar.) Once cream has thickened to a thick but pourable consistancy, gently pour into the glass directly over the top of the ice.Pumpkin Spice Syrup1 part pumpkin juice1 part demerara sugar2 cinnamon sticks2-4 slices of fresh gingerWhole nutmegHeat pumpkin juice over low heat. Add demerara sugar and stir until dissolved. Bring to a slight simmer and add cinnamon sticks and ginger slices. Remove from heat and let ginger and cinnamon steep for 5 minutes. Remove ginger. Steep for another 5 minutes. Grate whole nutmeg over syrup to taste. Stir to combine and store in a well sealed container with cinnamon sticks. (Or remove them, I don’t care. I’m sure someone on the internet has a strong opinion about this, maybe you can search for it.)No horsemen were harmed in the making of this episode.

Does this regime deserve more time? Sounds like drinking talk! Matthew sides with the establishment while drinking his Strawberry Southside. Meanwhile Ben is sharpening his pitchfork while enjoying his Jack Rose.On the baseball side of things our disputants remind us that the season isn't over yet before asking how much mediocrity is enough? They discuss the lack of landing a major free agent, the state of the young players finally breaking through, and the need for this regime to alter how it handles its roster.

It's Happy Hour! In this episode Ben falls all over himself while presenting the classic Jack Rose. Meanwhile Matthew stubbornly refuses to give up on summer with his Strawberry Southside. They also argue about when is the right time to say goodbye to summer and give tips on what glassware to buy and where to find it. Recipes below.Jack Rose2 oz Applejack3/4 oz Lemon juice3/4 oz GrenadineLemon twist for garnishCombine Applejack, lemon juice, and grenadine in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled double strain into coupe glass. Add lemon twist as garnish. Ben's Grenadine1/2 cup Pomegranate juice1/2 cup Demerara sugar1/4 tsp Vanilla extract1/4 oz Lemon juiceCombine pomegranate juice and Demerara sugar in a sauce pan and stir over low heat until sugar disolves. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature before using. (I mean, do what you gotta do in the heat of battle, but letting it cool is best.) Good for a month when stored in a refrigerator.Strawberry Southside2 oz Gin1 oz Lime Juice1/2 oz Strawberry Syrup6 mint leaves1 strawberryStrawberry for garnishAdd all ingredients to shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Double strain into a chilled couple glass. Garnish with a strawberry and mint leaf. Enjoy.

We’re kidding, of course. The Giants are still in it! It just feels like they aren’t. Ben is managing these conflicting emotions by drinking a (Pineapple) Gin Kir Cocktail. Matthew is barely hanging on with the help of his original Summer Haze.On the baseball side of things our “believers” discuss the disappointing end to a week that started with such promise. They also discuss who is to blame for the abundance of mediocrity, why there is still hope, and how this all bodes for next season.

It's Happy Hour! In this episode Matthew gets lost in a Summer Haze, a riff on a recipe he introduced early this summer. Meanwhile Ben goes for style and substance with his version of Martha Stewart's (?) Pineapple Gin Kir cocktail. They also discuss childhood trauma and how to make a cocktail pretty. It's all happening on Happy Hour! Recipes below.Summer Haze2 oz Bourbon1/2 oz Amaro Nonino Quintessentia1/2 oz Strawberry Syrup1 oz Lemon Juice2 Dashes Lavender Bitters1 Egg WhiteAdd all ingredients into a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake vigorously. Add ice and shake again until well-chilled. Double Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a strawberry slice and a sprig of mint.Gin Pineapple Kir2 oz Gin3 oz Pineapple Juice1/2 oz Lemon Juice1/4 - 1/2 oz Creme de CasisPour Creme de Casis directly into the bottom of an empty collins or highball glass. In a separate mixing glass combine the gin, pineapple juice and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Fill cocktail glass with ice to the top. Slowly pour gin mixture into glass. Add straw. Stir cocktail before consuming.

A clubhouse leader has emerged! Can he inspire the Giants to the playoffs? Matthew clings to hope being buoyed by his Ginger Rosemary Whisky Sour. Ben is all in after drinking seven of his Ben's Whiskey Sours.On the baseball side of things our believers discuss Thairo's team meeting, the recent slump of Camilo Doval, and whether rookies or veterans should be at the center of the playoff push.

It's Happy Hour! In this episode the brothers are both presenting whiskey sours in honor of National Whiskey Sour Day on the 25th of August. Ben is presenting his gussied up sour which he calls ... Ben's Whiskey Sour; very original Ben. Meanwhile, Matthew gets aggressive with his Ginger Rosemary Whiskey Sour. Also, the brothers get narcissistic on their road trips and Matthew advocates for experimenting with herb. Recipes below (including a special recipe from episode 2!).Ben’s Whiskey Sour2 oz High Proof Rye Whiskey1 oz Simple Syrup1 oz Lemon Juice2 dashes Angostura bitters1 small Egg White (1/2 oz)Red Wine for floatCombine all ingredients except wine in a shaker with no ice. Shake for 5 seconds. Open shaker and fill with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top off with red wine float. Add two brandied cherries as garnish.Ginger Rosemary Whiskey Sour2 oz Bourbon3/4 oz Lemon juice3/4 oz Simple Syrup1 egg white2-3 slices fresh ginger1 sprig rosemaryBloody Colon1 1/2 oz White Rum1/2 oz Cointreau1/2 oz Fresh lemon juice1 dash Cherry Bitters1 dash Lemon Bitters3 oz Pineapple Juice2 Luxardo Cherries1/2 Luxardo cherry syrup from jarCombine rum, Cointreau, lemon juice, cherry bitters, lemon bitters and pineapple juice in a rocks glass with ice and stir. Place two Luxardo cherries on a cocktail pick and place pick in glass. Drizzle cherry syrup into glass. Stir as desired.

Kyle Harrison is finally here. Will the Giants woeful offense finally show up too? Ben ponders this while drinking a Cold Brew Old Fashioned. Matthew eagerly nods his head as he downs his Paloma.On the baseball side of things our sabermatricians discuss why a discrepancy between xBA and BA may not be just a matter of luck, Gabe Kapler and his recent antics, and trying to catch lightening in bottle with Wad Meckler. Also, the long awaited and often teased xDEBUT of Kyle Harrison!