By Christine Richard, Sunset features editor

I like cocktails. It seems like, in the past year, restaurants have stepped it up a notch. Or perhaps I’ve wandered away from wine. Some of my favorites are

The Southern Exposure  junipero gin, fresh mint, lime juice, celery juice, touch of sugar
at Alembic in San Francisco

Gaby de Lys gin, orgeat, absinthe, bitters
at Mystery location in San Francisco; it's too crowded over here already and it used to be my neighborhood haunt. So sorry, but no. You have to find the Gaby de Lys on your own.

Almond smoked sea salt, toasted almond, tequila at Aziza in San Francisco

Corpse Reviver #2, Carter Beats the Devil (Serious kitsch; building is fabulous deco)
at Flora (no Web site) in Oakland, 510/286-0100

Joie de Veev Veev acai infused vodka, acai juice, fresh lime juice with a cinnamon sugar rim
at West in Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles. The view is pretty fantastic too

Keep the creative cocktails coming (but it would be nice if they weren’t $15 for a splash).

Happy long weekend.