4. San Francisco

With house rules that include “no cell phone use” and “don’t even think of asking for a Cosmo,” you know you’re in for a serious drink when you visit San Francisco’s Bourbon & Branch. It feels like walking back in time to the prohibition era when you have to ring a buzzer and use the password “books” before being escorted to the secret bar location with floor to ceiling books. A reservation is recommended for the the main bar, but you can visit the library anytime between 6 pm and 2 am Wednesday through Saturday, without a reservation. Once an actual speakeasy that operated illegally at this location from 1921 to 1933, the modern day speakeasy located in the Tenderloin district has an ingredient-focused mentality and drinks utilize fresh herbs and spices, often in combinations rarely seen outside the kitchen. Think: white rum mixed with sage and maple syrup or applejack garnished with rosemary. The selection includes hand numbered Noah’s Mill, Buffalo Trace, and Rittenhouse 21 Year (the real deal, not fake hand numbered), and their scotch collection includes rarities like the Monkey Shoulder, Glenmorangie Margaux Finish (one of 1,200 bottles in the U.S.). Try “The Autoroute Alpine,” an Italian-inspired indulgence that marries Campari and Vermouth, with tangy grapefruit flavors offset by honey syrup and a dash of black pepper tincture that adds an earthiness and mellow spice, garnished with a basil leaf that leaves hints of a licorice-like aroma. (501 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-346-1735)

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