This year, TY KU Liqueur, Soju, White, and Sake offer surprisingly chic and colorfully apropos options for your taste buds, which – when creatively mixed – can remind you of the rolling hills of the Emerald Isle as much as the Land of the Rising Sun. TY KU is the new spirits line of choice for many jet-setters.

With these TY KU cocktails being under 100 calories, you will still be svelte in your little black dress or favorite Armani suit for many St. Patrick’s to come:

The Natural

2 ounces TY KU Liqueur
Splash of club soda
Squeeze of Lemon
On the rocks

TY-Tini

1.5 oz TY KU Liqueur
0.25 oz citrus vodka
Squeeze of lemon
Splash of soda
Serve chilled

Superfruit Mojito

2 oz TY KU Liqueur
Fresh mint leaves
Fresh berries
Splash of diet citrus soda
Squeeze of lemon
On the rocks

Skinny Senorita

1.5 oz TY KU Liqueur,
0.25 oz Tequila,
2 Squeezes of Lemon,
Splash of Soda,
Serve Chilled

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up and while most 30-somethings and beyond consider it “Amateur Night,” choosing to stay in versus braving crowds of kiddos out at pubs doesn’t mean you have to settle in for a night of television and frozen lasagna. Create a wee celebration for yourself and – if you really have the luck of the Irish – a date, for a little quiet imbibing and candlelight corned beef.

Courtesy our friends at Three Olives Vodka and 1800 Tequila, below are drink ideas to dress the night with some festive cocktails. These are guaranteed to offer more grown-up flair than green beer:

Lucky-tini

2 oz. Three-O Grape Vodka
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
Splash of Pineapple Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

The Shamrocker

1 oz. 1800 Silver Tequila
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
Splash of Orange Juice

Mix with ice, and garnish with an orange slice.

Irish Espresso Martini

2 oz. Three-O Triple Shot Espresso Vodka
1 oz. Irish Cream
1 oz. brewed coffee

Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass.

The above golfer (Anton), pretty lady (Klaras) and hunter (Torstens) are all designed by Asa Lindstrom and available (along with other styles) at JustScandinavian.com for $59.

Cheers!

For your “very fashionable” parties, the Lacroix bottle is simply a must and is still available through Evian. At $118 for a case of 12 (750ml) bottles, your tables will be prettily adorned and guests happily treated to refreshment that is refined, calorie-free, and pairs well with your fine crystal.

From 2009 is the Jean Paul Gaultier bottle. It is also quite sexy:

Finally, our fave is the newly announced 2010 Paul Smith bottle:

Available for a limited time at Evian.

So, ding-ding-ding gently on your glass with a butter knife, clear your throat and bravely stand up to say:

May the man upstairs lose your paperwork.

May your little black book need more pages.

May your banker be afraid to lose your business.

May the horses you bet on be almost as fast as mine.

Another candle in your cake? That’s no reason to pout. Just be glad you have the strength to blow that damn thing out.

May the woman of your dreams wake you up.

May your winnings outnumber your wagers.

I’ve known lots of women. Liked more than a few. But I’ve loved only one, and this toast is for you.

May you find yourself in a higher tax bracket.

And, if you happen to live in Kentucky…or love a good glass of bourbon…

To the great state of Kentucky, to white fences, green hills, and strong mares. To a great bottle of bourbon and friends who know how to share!

Cheers!

Chef Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill developed these authentic Mexican-American barbecue rubs, exclusively for Crate & Barrel:

In coffee-laced Spicy Redeye for ham, pork chops, ribs and burgers; Tangy Smoky Cider for chicken, ribs,

shrimp and chops; smoky-sweet Chipotle Honey for any meat, poultry or seafood. Coordinate well with the sauces, below! $6.95 each, at Crate & Barrel (crateandbarrel.com).

Chef Bayless also created these three sauces for your barbecue, including Spicy Redeye, Tangy Smoky Cider, and Chipotle Honey, for your grilling and finger-licking pleasure. $9.95 each, at Crate & Barrel (crateandbarrel.com).

Sterling Caviar is farm-raised, white sturgeon caviar that absolutely bursts in your mouth. From Sacramento, California, it is likened to Osetra, with nutty flavor that is both smooth and robust.

From $62 for 30 grams (Classic Caviar), up to $88 for 30 grams (Imperial Caviar). Order at SterlingCaviar.com.

By Gillian Benary | As a true San Franciscan, I cannot fully enjoy the pleasures of the city without a fabulous cocktail in hand, one crafted with an artisan’s attention to detail, and composed of premium spirits and local, gourmet ingredients, of course.  Perhaps the most intriguing cocktails in the city are hiding deep within the Tenderloin District, at Bourbon & Branch, a bar so inconspicuously located at 501 Jones Street that you could be standing right in front of it without realizing.  The cryptic sign out front reads, Anti-Saloon League, and after uttering the secret password through the stereotypical speakeasy slot (announcing yourself as having a reservation – hint, hint), the heavy wooden door creaks open to reveal burgundy, velvet-flocked wallpaper, the din of jazz and warm chatter, and grinning bartenders with metal shakers in hand.

The mixologists at this speakeasy take their cocktails seriously, making a visit to this gem of a watering hole an enlightening, as well as intoxicatingly historic, experience.  Bourbon & Branch staff are well-versed in the differences between barrel-aged bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, and Scotch whisky, and you will grow more trusting by the moment as you peruse the extensive menu of fine whiskeys, vodkas, and tequilas.  Also highly recommended is their menu of classic cocktails drawn from the annals (and flasks) of American History with curatorial care.

Once the nightly Amuse Bouche arrives, it will surely whet your whistle for a signature concoction. Standouts include the Democrat (bourbon, honey, peach liqueur, and lemon, in homage to Harry S. Truman), or the Claremont Affair, of pear-infused rye whiskey, Amaro Nonino, bitters and clove essence, telling the story of a doomed romance, from the sweet beginning to the bitter end.  San Francisco embraces the revival of classic cocktails, and Bourbon & Branch fully deliver in that reawakening.

By Gillian Benary | Due to competitive nurturing and the quality excesses of Nature, San Franciscans demand only the most delicious food and above-par, tantalizing cocktails. But, even more distinguishable could be the environment and scenery, to be savored with as much gusto as any edible delicacy.

For anyone wishing to combine top-notch cuisine with breathtaking views, a visit to Epic Roasthouse at 369 The Embarcadero is in order.  Epic is the brainchild of industry veterans Pat Kuleto and Jan Birnbaum, a duo who excel at taking inspiration from the classics, and adding a San Franciscan twist.

Epic’s space is richly textured and inviting, and elements of the industrial-cozy decor originate from the saltwater pumping stations used to combat the Great Fire that set San Francisco ablaze in 1906.  The interior is just grand enough to hold its own against its sweeping view of the Bay available through the restaurant’s enormous windows.

While Epic is open nightly for dinner, highly enjoyable is their weekend brunch, when the Epic Bloody Mary (with house made pickled vegetables and a lavender sea salt rim) and a magnificent view of a sun-kissed Embarcadero are all the hangover cure an explorer could require.  The wine list is also fantastic, extensive, and thoughtfully composed.  Diverse offerings include hand-picked “rising stars” of the wine world, from Australia to Slovenia and right back to Sonoma, as well as vintners who double as surfers, skateboarders, and poets.

Epic’s menu itself is concise and confident, with several standout offerings, such as Beef Tartare with a Raw Quail Egg or the Epic Prime Rib, Wood Oven Roasted Liberty Duck Breast, Seared Day Boat Scallops with Oxtail Ravioli, Duck Confit Salad, and sumptuous late summer Heirloom tomatoes with the most divine house made mozzarella cheese.

But, according to locals and critics alike, it’s the House Burger which is truly, well, Epic.  Recognized by many as the best in the city, the burger, comprised almost entirely of filet mignon, with ribeye and lamb added for flavor and richness, arrives open-faced.  Accompanied by freshly fried, golden, basket-weave potato chips, a wedge of bright fuchsia grilled onion, crisp lettuce, ruby-red tomatoes, and vibrant chartreuse pickles, it comprises a marriage of colors and flavors that will not be easily annulled.  The burger is presented with a flight of homemade garnishes, including house mustard, pickled mushrooms, and sweet corn relish.  It all makes for a meal so delectable that it would tempt even the most disciplined of vegetarians.

Poleng Lounge:  A favorite night spot for Western Addition dwellers, this restaurant/tea lounge/bar (1751 Fulton St) has a low-key (read: unannoying), clubby atmosphere.  Check their website (www.polenglounge.com) to see what events or DJs might be there that evening, or just come to enjoy some delicate cocktails and split a few plates off their innovative pan-Asian menu.  My favorites are La NOPA Ninja (a complex and memorable blend of Herradura tequila, lime, cilantro, green tea and a dash of chili), as well as the Walu Butterfish Kinilaw, a ceviche-like dish of raw Hawaiian butterfish served in a mellow but flavorful blend of coconut milk, sugarcane vinegar and thai chiles.  Yum.

Uva Enoteca:  Located at 568 Haight Street in Lower Haight, Uva (the Italian word for grape) offers the best of locally crafted meats and cheeses, as well as antipasti, gourmet pizzas, and panini. Select Italian wines are served quartino-style, richly heightening the overall experience of Italian bistro authenticity, as initially imposed by the dark woods, exposed brick walls and marble countertops of this warm, inviting space. Ensure you finish and cleanse your palate with one of Uva Enoteca’s locally-created gelatos! You won’t need reservations, unless your group is larger than four.

Beretta:  If you crave Italian “comfort food” with the colorful flair of locally-sourced ingredients, but need organic, vegan or vegetarian selections for someone in your group, Beretta will satisfy all. Located in the Mission District at 1199 Valencia, dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.! Food is not all you will want to indulge in, as their cocktail list offers beautifully mixed selections for any discerning soul.

Ducca:  Located at 50 Third Street in the heart of downtown, Ducca (pictured below) bills itself as offering “timeless Northern Italian favorites with a modern California influence.” That is exactly what it delivers, in addition to the richness of Venetian-style dining, whether in the warmly appointed dining room, or al fresco on the terrace (complete with a fire pit for cooler evenings). Ducca offers breakfast, lunch and dinner hours, as well as cocktails until 12:30 a.m.

Tangerine:  If a brighter, pristinely white atmosphere and Pacific Rim cuisine with a California interpretation is more enticing at the moment, Tangerine will leave you well satisfied.  Locals rave about their brunch, dinner menu, and sake and soju-based cocktail creations. With its location in the colorful Castro neighborhood at 16th and Sanchez (3499 16th), you can easily combine food and drink at Tangerine with a stop at the legendary and historic Castro Theatre, for films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, To Have and Have Not, Touch of Evil, and even sing-along viewings of classics such as The Sound of Music.