Giant Cocktails: A San Francisco Giants Baseball Podcast
Come for the cocktails, stay for the funny alcohol-fueled rants as two lifelong San Francisco Giants fans discuss their favorite baseball team while enjoying homemade cocktails. Published every Monday and Thursday.
Halfway to ... Wherever This Team is Going
It will be fascinating to watch, that's for sure. The boys review the series against the Wayward Vagabundos before breaking down the first half, but first they react to the on going Pride Night saga, follow up on the Devers pinch-running incident, and check in on the Jung Hoo Lee Earns Ben's Respect progress.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking an I'm Sorry while Matthew is drinking I Love Lamp. Recipes below.
I'm Sorry
1 1/2 oz White Rum1/2 oz Felernum3/4 oz Lavender Syrup3/4 oz Lime JuiceCombine all ingredients in a shaker...Miami Reality Check
Maybe the Giants shouldn't go to Miami anymore. The brothers react to the miserable Miami series, celebrate the recent successes of the starting rotation, and debate who's to blame for the Devers' pinch running fiasco.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a For Baby while Matthew is drinking an Irish Godfather. Recipes below.
For Baby
2 oz Gin1/4-1/2 oz Lavender syrup2 dashes Angostura bittersCombine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir to desired level of dilution. Double strain into a rocks glass with a single large chunk...It's Raining Wins and Trade Rumors!
A sweep is a sweep even if it isn't a sweep. The boys relish in the winning streak by breaking down the rain shortened Braves series and discus the ROY chances for Bryce Eldridge and the rumors that the Giants have put every veteran player on the trade market.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking Annie's Cocktail while Matthew is drinking a Velas Sour. Recipes below.
Annie's Cocktail
2 oz Pink Gin3/4 oz Lavender Syrup3/4 oz Lemon Juice1 dash Angostura bitterCombine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake until chilled...Bryce Eldridge's Giants
I mean, there's no disputing that, right? The brothers return from their hiatus to discuss the rise of Bryce Eldridge, the continuing education of Tony Vitello, and ketchup on other odds and ends: why is the offense so hit or miss (pun intended)? Boy are we lucky to have Logan Webb! And, wait, we have a closer now?
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking a Dana Maria while Ben is drinking a Chocolate Smoke. Recipes below.
Dana Maria
1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila3/4 oz Green Chartreuse3/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur1 oz Lime...A Happy Stay In Chicago
We're accentuating the positive! The boys break down the first two games of the Cubs series (before Matthew runs off to Morocco ... or wherever). They ponder the strange offensive outburst in game one followed by the dearth of runs in game two (and game three!). Next Matthew tells Ben all of the reasons he and other Giants fans should still be happy.
By the way, we will not be publishing after the Nationals series. We will return in one week.
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking a Watermelon Basil Margarita while...
A Mental Health Walk in the Lavender Fields of Milwaukee
That title is funny, but only if you listen to this episode wherein the brothers discuss the series split against the first place Brewers, the firing of Hector Borg, the dominance of Logan Webb, and the withering bullpen. Also mentioned: Kyle Harrison, Rafael Devers, mental health.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Lavender Fields of North Dakota (Wisconsin?) while Matthew is drinking a Watermelon Sugar. Recipes below.
Lavender Fields of North Dakota (Wisconsin?)
2 oz Empress Gin1 oz Lemon1 oz Lavender Syrup (Regular simple syrup made with lavender extract)Combine...19 Runs, 25 Hits, 13 Games Under .500
Oops, we forgot to mention Borg being replaced, but we we're trying to adjust to the new reality of the Giants being bad. We cover the player roster changes, the Rockies series, and then ponder what Buster will do with a bad team.
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking Jitters while Ben is drinking a Hoboken Sour. Recipes below.
Jitters
3 oz White Rum (Planteray 3 Stars)1 oz Lime Juice1/2 oz White Crème de cacao1/2 oz Simple SyrupShake everything with ice until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a...Two Month Review & Listener Comments
It's time to true the books. Our accountants respond to recent listener comments, review the most recent sweep of the Giants by the dbags, and take time to review the team after two full months (i.e. 54 games) of the season. It's not good, you know that. But they try to be funny. Maybe they're make you laugh.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Karl the Fog Negroni while Matthew is drinking a Low Expectations. Recipes below.
Karl the Fog Negroni (from the Gotham Club)
1 part Smoked Rosemary Gin1...Why We're Still Excited About 2026
Only 7 series away from homeostasis. Our realists react to the series win against the White Sox including presence of Ron Wotus in the coach's box, dugout and clubhouse, the return of Rafael Devers from wherever he's been, and the offense overall. Then they discuss what their still looking forward to from the 2026 season: trades, young players and cocktails.
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking a Lemon Basil Margarita while Ben is drinking a What A Guy. Recipes below.
Lemon Basil Margarita
1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila1 oz Cointreau1/2 oz Lemon Juice1/2 oz...It's Time for a Rebuild
Matthew has reached rock bottom. The boys react to ugly series sweep at the hands of the DBags. They agree the Giants are bad and then do a review just to confirm. Then they discuss what a shift to a rebuild in 2026 would look like.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Kalimotxo while Matthew is drinking a Call It A Night. Recipes below.
Kalimotxo (Ben Style)
1 part red wine1 part Coca-Cola1 oz Bourbon (definitely optional and not traditional)Call It A Night
2 oz Bourbon3/4 oz Sweet...The Vitello Learning Curve
How steep it is. Our leaders react to the Athletics series and discuss the learning pains of one Tony Vitello. How will the Giants cope with the loss of Heliot Ramos? Is Bader tradable now?! Is Eldridge in the laundry cart? Finally, how good of a student is Tony Vitello? Hopefully better than Matthew and Ben think.
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking a Prospector while Ben is drinking 43 Problems, But Whiskey Ain't One. Recipes below.
Propspector
1 1/2 oz Cognac or Brandy1/2 oz Green Chartreuse (or Luxardo Del Santo)1/2 oz Cointreau1/2...Dodgers Split & Fixing the Roster
At least they have winning record against the Dodgers. The boys react to the Dodgers series McDonald! Houserdeeznutz! Offense! Ray? Roupp? No offense? Then they pretend that they can figure out how to fix hte 2026 Giants on the fly. Does the roster need to be fixed or does it need to be used better? Yes. Definitely yes.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking an Outfield while Matthew is drinking Nectarine Mint Gimlet. Recipes below.
Outfield Camaraderie
1 1/2 oz congac/brandy1/2 oz apricot liqueur3/4 oz lemon juice1/2 oz simple syrupCombine all ingredients...Patrick Bailey Traded, Who's Next?
Was that the most surprising unsurprising trade ever? The brothers react to the Patrick Bailey trade, the Ryan Walker demotion, and oh yeah, the Pirates series. Did they actually win that series? More importantly who will the Giants trade next after Patrick Bailey? Most importantly, are they already sellers?
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking Smoke & Mirrors while Ben is drinking Tequila, I Hardly Know Her. Recipes below.
Smoke & Mirrors
1 1/2 oz Gin1/2 oz Mezcal1/4 oz Maraschino Liqueur3/4 oz Lime Juice1/2 oz Simple SyrupShake all ingredients with ice. Double strain into...Are the Giants Bad? ... Yes.
Matthew wrote that title. The brothers react to the Padres series including the stellar outing of Trevor McDonald (EIEIO), the debut of Home Run Jesus [Rodriguez], and what both of their performances mean for the Giants roster. They then ask the question no one wants to hear: Are the 2026 Giants bad? That answer might all hinge on the performance of just a few players.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Whisk(e)y Highball while Matthew is drinking an Essex Street. Recipes below.
Whisk(e)y Highball
2 oz Whisk...Will the Eldridge Knight Save Vitello?
Can two rookie call ups right the ship? The boys react to yet another sweep, this time at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, a organization with significantly less resources yet a vastly superior team. The Giants can't score, suck at strategy, and can't coach third base. But Buster is sending reinforcements, the question is, will Vitello play them?
On the cocktail side of things, Matthew is drinking El Jardine while Ben is drinking a Dom You Forget About Me.
El Jardine
1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila3/4 oz Green Chartreuse (or Luxardo Del Santo)3/4 oz...A Flood of Losses in Philadelphia
That was a coaching disaster. Our critics react to the bad baseball against a bad team by calling out the ever guilty offense, pinning a little blame on the bullpen before pointing their fingers at the horrible coaching by Vitello and his staff. Then they ask, who should be the closer. For no reason whatsoever.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Parking Consulate while Matthew is drinking a Basil Gimlet. Recipes below.
Parking Consulate
1 oz Congac/Brandy1 oz Aged Rum1 oz Lime Juice1 oz Simple Syrup (or less if...Sweet, Sweet Homeostasis & 1st Month Review
Sweet, glorious, predictable homeostasis! The boys confront the joy and pain of being slightly below average. There’s optimism after taking the Marlins series, a lot of feelings about Patrick Bailey vs. ABS but then they confront reality with a “lightning round” breakdown of Month One that absolutely was not short.
Oh, and Ben may or may not have adopted a cat against his will.
On the cocktail side, Matthew is drinking a Golden Nickel and Ben is drinking a Stupid Cat Has No Name.
Golden Nickel
1.5 oz London Dry Gin0.5 oz Yellow...Giants Pitchers Outduel LA Corpos
That was some good pitching and the timeliest of hitting. The boy celebrate the victory over the stupid Dodger by singing the praises of good defense and find pitching, especially by Tyler Mahle. They then debate if this Giants rotation is "good" again.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Gin Gin Fizz while Matthew is drinking a Peach Gin Spritz. Recipes below.
Gin Gin Fizz
2 oz London Dry Gin1/2 oz Simple Syrup3/4 oz Lemon Juice1 egg white4 oz Ginger BeerCombine gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and egg white in...Heliot Was Killian It in DC
Someone tell Tony who our closer is! Our patriots react to the Nationals series including the breakout of Heliot Ramos, the continued lackluster results for Logan Webb, and the dominant bullpen. Then Matthew tries to drown Ben in optimism when he claims "this team is starting to look good."
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking a What in the Heliot while Ben is drinking a Now He's an Accountant. Recipes below.
What in the Heliot
1 1/2 oz Añejo Tequila1/2 oz Drambuie1/4 oz Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry2 Dashes Chocolate BittersOrange Pe...Eyebrows, Beanballs, and 2.8 Runs Per Game
The Giants lose another series but somehow prove their bullpen is both broken and the best part of the team—make it make sense. Ben and Matthew break down a Reds series full of weak contact, questionable hitting philosophy, and just enough chaos (and chippiness) to keep things mildly entertaining. Also: Landen Roupp for Cy Young, probably. And maybe it's time to blame Hunter Pence—sorry, Hunter Mense—for everything.
On the cocktail side, the boys are drinking…
Out of Work Child Actor
1/4 oz raspberry syrup4–6 oz ginger beer3–4 dashes Angostura bittersAdd all ingr...
Baltimore Blues and Bruising Beavers
The Giants did what they do best: flirt with competence just long enough to make the inevitable crash hurt worse. Ben spends a solid chunk of the episode prosecuting a beaver-related crime scene at second base, while the brothers spiral into a delightful “what if the kids actually played?” fantasy starring Bryce Eldridge, Casey Schmitt, and Daniel Susac. Somewhere between Logan Webb getting baseball-godded and the bullpen once again setting fire to a winnable series, they talk themselves into—and immediately out of—trading the future. By the end, the only thing more reliable than homeostasis is the existential dread of...
Daniel Susac & the Giants Clobber the Philadelphia Punching Bags
The Giants offense comes alive! The brothers react to the series win over the Philadelphia Phillies, celebrate new Giants legend Daniel Susac, and then ask some tough questions such as: Is our outfield a problem? (Yes. Definitely yes!)
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a City Connect Sour while Matthew is drinking a Philadelphia Freedom. Recipes below.
City Connect Sour
2 oz Plymouth Gin1/2 oz Creme de Violette1 oz Lemon Juice1/2 oz Simple Syrup (optional)Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a coupe...Giants Bumble Through Mets Series
Daniel Susac for president! The brothers vent over the troubling showing of the Giants against the Mets after singing the praises of former Rule 5 draftee Daniel Susac. They complain about the offense, the pitching, the defense and the base running. And Ben has his first Jayce Tingler rant.
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking a Pathetic in Pink while Ben is drinking a White Elephant. Recipes below.
Pathetic in Pink
1 1/2 oz Hibiscus and Orange-Infused Vodka1/2 oz Cointreau1/4 oz Simple Syrup3/4 oz Lime Juice2-3 oz Sparking Wine or Sparkling WaterShake...Padres Series, Offensive Breakout and Cracks in the Bullpen
The Giants win a series over the Padres for the first time since 2024. Our secularists celebrate while they analyze the offensive "breakout", weird lineup changes and the usage of the bench (or lack thereof). Then they ponder the condition of the bullpen given Ryan Walker's shakiness and the injury to Jose Butto.
Speaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Mellow Vitello while Matthew is drinking a Chatham. Recipes below.
Mellow Vitello
1 oz Whisk(e)y1/2 oz Yellow Chartreuse1/2 oz Elderflower liqueur2-4 oz Club sodaCombine all ingredients in a highball glass with ice...Way Too Early Overreactions
This is fine. The brothers react to the opening series sweep by the Yankees over the Giants. First they point out few observations from the opening series before fully overreacting to the Giants historically anemic offense and it's surprisingly good bullpen.
On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking a 0 and 3 while Ben is drinking a Do It for Wilson. Recipes below.
0 and 3
3/4 oz Navy Strength Gin3/4 oz Smith & Cross Rum3/4 oz Orange Curacao1/4 oz Green Chartreuse1/2 oz Lime Juice1/4 oz Simple Syrup2 Dashes Angostura BittersShake all ingredients in a shaker with ice...Opening Day Punch to the Face
Let the mediocrity begin! Our deflated hosts celebrate the arrival of Opening Day and Season Six of Giant Cocktails. The release a new intro, go over the Opening Day roster and their predictions, and break down the dismal Game 1.
On the cocktail side of thing Ben is drinking an Opening Day Fizz...le while Matthew is drinking an Opening Day Black Eye. Recipes below.
Opening Day Fizz...le
1 oz Dark rum1 oz Light rum3/4 oz Lime juice1 oz Simple Syrup1 egg whiteClub SodaCombine rums, lime juice, simple syrup and egg white in a shaker...2026 Predictions
Opening Day (night, whatever) is nigh! Our pontificaters make their 2026 predictions! Who will make the final roster? Will Tony Vitello troll fans and have Heliot Ramos not start in left field Wednesday night? How many games will the Giants win? And most importantly, will they make the playoffs? And, many more. Buckle in, this is a long one.
On the cocktail side of things, Ben is drinking a French Gimlet while Matthew is drinking a Timber Cove. Recipes below.
French Gimlet
2 oz Gin3/4 oz Elderflower Liqueur3/4 oz Lime JuiceLime wheel for garnishCombine ingredients in...2026 Opening Day Roster Predictions
10 days and counting! The brothers take their one and only crack at predicting the Opening Day roster. Will the Bryce Eldridge make the team? Will the Giants have a bullpen? Will a Giants great make a triumphant return from the past? The author of this blurb says "no, no, and no!" But the brothers disagree!
On the cocktail side of things today Matthew is drinking his version of a Mai Tai while Ben is drinking an Orang & Black Old Fashioned. Recipes below.
Matthew's Mai Tai
1 1/2 oz Jamaican Rum3/4 oz Orange Curacao3/4 oz Lime Juice1/2...Bullpen? What Bullpen?
Do the Giants know we need a bullpen? The brothers discuss the WBC from a Giants perspective and which Giants had a hot week. Then they break down the state of the pitching staff. Spoiler: it's a work in progress.
On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking a Sloppy Joe's #1 (aka Slappy Ben) while Matthew is drinking In a Pinch, Pivot! Recipes below.
Sloppy Joe's #1
3/4 oz White Rum3/4 oz Dry Vermouth1/4 oz Orange Liqueur1 oz Lime Juice1/4 oz GrenadineCombine ingredients with ice in a shaker and shake until chilled. Strain into a...The Hot Offense & Early Position Battles
So far, so good. Ben & Matthew discuss the early offensiveness of the Giants before breaking down position battles. Does long time farmhand Victor Bericoto have a chance of making the team? Can we expect strike outs to stay low? Oh, and do we need to talk about Hayden Birdsong?
On the cocktail side of things, Matthew is drinking a Banana Bliss while Ben is drinking a City Connect. Recipes below.
Banana Bliss
1 oz Cognac or Brandy3/4 oz Sweet Sherry (Or Dry Sherry)1/4 oz Banana Liqueur (Banane du Bresil or Tempus Fugit)Combine all ingredients...Why Bryce Eldridge Won't Make the Opening Day Roster
Spring games have begun, time to overreact. The brothers happily break down the first two games of Spring including the rocky start for Hayden Birdsong, the bizarre debut of Robbie Ray and the stellar arms of the new look outfield. After they debate whether Bryce Eldridge will make the opening day roster.
On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking a Naughty Ben while Matthew is drinking a Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. Recipes below.
Naughty Ben
2 oz Rum (any of your choice)1 - 1 1/2 oz Grenadine1/2 - 1 oz Lime Juice2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters2-6 oz club so...Eldridge in the Outfield?! JHL Sleep Eating? Spring is in Full Swing!
The boys are back to weekly episodes just in time for Spring Training silliness. They react to Eldridge shagging fly balls, JHL's calorie intake, and the young pitchers learning new pitches.
On the cocktail side of things, today Matthew is drinking a Negroni while Ben is drinking a No Groni. Recipes below.
Negroni
1 oz London Dry Gin1 oz Campari1 oz Sweet VermouthLarge Orange Twist for garnishCombine gin, Campari and sweet vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until just chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large single chunk of ice. Express...Spring Training Has Sprung! Are the Giants Ready?
Kitchers and patchers report tomorrow! The boys celebrate the end of darkness by catching up on recent roster changes and asking the question: are they satisfied with the roster changes the Giants have made?
On the cocktail side of things. today Ben is drinking a Passion Fruit Daiquiri #2 while Matthew is drinking a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milk Punch. Recipes below.
Passion Fruit Daiquiri #2
3/4 oz Demerara Rum3/4 oz White Rum1/2 oz of Passion Fruit Liqueur3/4 oz of Lime Juice1/2 oz of Simple SyrupCombine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into...Harrison Bader Signed! KWT Traded! Oh, and Guest Alex Pavlovic
Special Guest Alex Pavlovic joins our ruffians to discuss the Harrison Bader signing, the Kai Wei Teng trade, and the otherwise underwhelming off season for the San Francisco Giants.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking an Astral Plane while Matthew is drinking El Primo. Recipes below. Alex is eschewing a cocktail this time around, but his recipe from his last time on the show is also listed below.
Astral Plane
2 oz Gin1/2 oz Elderflower liqueur1/2 oz Creme de Violette3/4 oz Lemon juice1 tsp Edible glitter bittersCombine gin, elderflower liqueur, creme...[CORRECTED] Why Won't Anyone Trade with the Giants?
Ben once again published the wrong file yesterday. Matthew & Bob are having an emergency meeting to discuss. In the meantime here's the actual episode we recorded!
It's like they don't like what we have or something. The brothers ponder the lack of trades and the news that it's not for a lack of trying. Then Matthew gives a quiz and accuses Ben of failing it. For the record here is Ben's recollection of how he did on the quiz:
#1: Correct, because even though I said the wrong answer I knew what the right answer was...
Why Won't Anyone Trade with the Giants?
It's like they don't like what we have or something. The brothers ponder the lack of trades and the news that it's not for a lack of trying. Then Matthew gives a quiz and accuses Ben of failing it. For the record here is Ben's recollection of how he did on the quiz:
#1: Correct, because even though I said the wrong answer I knew what the right answer was but didn't want to say it. I also get credit for getting question 1-B right. So at this point I had a score of 200%
#2: Wrong, but...
Are the Giants Blowing Their Opportunity to Win?
The 2026 Rotation is set. Our curmudgeons discuss the signing of Tyler Mahle, the non-signing of Tatsuya Imai, and whether the Giants have enough pitching to succeed in 2026. They also discuss if the Giants are blowing their opportunity to take advantage of the solid core of players they've already assembled.
On the cocktail side of things, Ben is drinking Candlekeep Team while Matthew is drinking an Espresso Martini. Recipes below.
Candlekeep Tea
1 1/2 cups Gin1/2 cup Orange Liqueur1/2 cup sweet vermouth1/2 ounce bitters12 ounces water2 orange wheels4 cloves1 cinnamon stick2 tea bags Earl Gray Tea1/4 cup...The Giants Will Definitely Sign Tatsuya Imai (Yes, That's Clickbait)
We're not too proud for clickbait. Our download fishermen discuss the impending signing deadline Tatsuya Imai, the tepid offseason overall, and the Giants bought ... a theater? Also, Bob calls for a lightning round where they discuss Logan Webb in the WBC, whether the Giants future success depends on the performance of Bryce Eldridge, and Ben's new job.
On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking a Bourbon Foster while Ben is drinking The Hand of Vecna. Recipes below.
Bourbon Foster
1 1/2 oz Bourbon3/4 oz Banana Liqueur1/2 oz Aged Rum1/4 oz Spiced Demerara Syrup3 Dashes...Winter Meetings Review
Wait, Jeff Kent is a Hall of Famer? Our snowbirds discuss the rather lackluster winter meetings including the draft lottery, Rule 5 draft, and the size of Buster's suite. Later they break down the Giants approach to improving the roster and why Ben won't be able to dress up as the Black Power Ranger. Also, Jeff Kent makes the Hall of Fame and Marco Luciano is a Pirate.
On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Calamansi Margarita while Matthew is drinking a Holiday Old Fashioned. Recipes below.
Calamansi Margarita
2 oz Blanco...Will the Giants sign Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai or 3 Joe Schmoes? Plus the Looming Lockout.
Buster is a spender but Johnson says long pitching contracts are risky. The brothers debate this conflict and discuss who the Giants will target after Buster inevitably wins. Also how will the looming lock out of 2027 impact this off-season? And yes, the lockout is most certainly coming.
On the cocktails side of things, today Matthew is drinking a Winter Daiquiri while Ben is drinking a Whinter Sour. Recipes below.
