17-1? No problem. Really! The brothers break down the Diamondbacks series and discuss why it shows that this team is better than its record. Then they discuss the slowly improving bullpen. Is this the final piece the Giants need to reach the lofty heights of 86 wins?

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking a Kentucky Buck while Ben is drinking a Margarita (returning to the show for this first time since episode 1). Recipes below.

Kentucky Buck

• 1 hulled strawberry
• 2 oz Bourbon
• 3/4 oz Lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2-3 oz Ginger Beer

Muddle strawberry in the base of a cocktail shaker. Add next four ingredients with ice. Shake 10-12 seconds. Double strain into a highball glass with fresh ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel and strawberry slice.

Margarita

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz Cointreau
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1/4 oz Agave Syrup (optional)

Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.

The Giants bats have scratched out some runs but should winning be this hard? The brothers break down the Marlins series: The hidden closer trick! Keaton Winn with a lead! A clutch double play ... on offense?! Also, Ben gives Matthew a shoulder to cry one before shoving him in the proverbial mud.

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking Gilda (that's the name of the cocktail, he's not a vampire) while Ben is drinking a Drunken Monkey (again, a cocktail). Recipes below.

Gilda

• 2 oz Blanco or Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup

Combine, shake and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a lime wheel or pineapple wedge or frond.

Drunken Monkey

• 1 1/2 oz Smith & Cross Rum
• 2 1/2 oz Plantation 3 Stars rum
• 1 oz Banane du Brésil
• 2 dashes chocolate bitters

Combine rums, banana liqueur and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir to desired dilution. Strain into a rocks glass. Add large chunk of ice. Garnish with a copious amount of Luxardo cherries. At least 3 or you’re a cheap monkey or curmudgeon monkey.

Well, Snell had another rough outing. That's ok, it's only his second start of spring. The brothers discuss this fallacy and exactly when fans are "allowed" to be frustrated by his non-competitive outings. They also discuss the up and down nature of the lineup and how no one is coming to save it. They also check in on the front end of the bullpen. How do we feel about Avila, Miller, and Teng?

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking a Giant Hit while Ben is choking down a Nevermind. Recipes below.

Giant Hit

• 1.5 oz Rye Whiskey
• 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1/2 oz Cherry Heering
• 1/4 oz Rich Demerara Syrup
• 2 dashes Chocolate Bitters
• 1 dash Cherry Bitters
• Brandied Cherry for Garnish

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir vigorously for 30 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a Nick and Nora glass and garnish with a brandied cherry.

Nevermind

• 1 oz Galliano
• 1 oz White Rum
• 1 oz White Port

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a Nick & Nora glass.

We almost got swept by the Nationals. But we didn't! So everything's fine right? Uh, no. The brothers break down the good (Hicks! Fitzgerald!) and the bad (RISP. Snell.) of the series. And we promise there are no mentions of chicken strips at all in this episode.

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking a Gimlet while Ben is drinking a Fitzgerald. Recipes below.

Gimlet

• 2 oz Gin
• 3/4 oz Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz Simple Syrup

Put all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake 10-12 seconds. Strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

Fitzgerald

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2-3 dashes Agostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake 10-12 seconds. Double strain into a coupe glass.

The brothers break down their first 2024 game at the park: Cocktails! Food! Vibes! A two hour anemic loss! This experience prompts them to break down the offensive woes and what it might mean for the roster.

On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking a Ben's Buck while Matthew is drinking a Cinnamon Daiquiri. Recipes below.

Ben's Buck

• 2 oz Rye Whiskey
• 3/4 oz Ginger Syrup
• 3-4 oz Club Soda

Add rye whiskey and ginger syrup in highball glass and stir to combine. Add ice. Top with club soda. Gently stir one time combine.

Cinnamon Daiquiri

• 2 oz White Rum
• 3/4 oz Cinnamon Syrup
• 3/4 oz Lime Juice

Mix em, shake ‘em and strain ‘em.

OK, look, we all knew this could happen. And it did. So we're going to talk about it. While drinking. The boys are discussing the Dodgers series and if it matters as much as it hurts. Also, they're checking in on the bullpen. Were the reports of a dumpster fire just a bunch of smoke? In the lightning round: Should Soler be hitting lower in the line up? Should the Giants and Dodgers brawl? Do the Giants need to run more?

On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking a Rum Old Fashioned he's calling Pineapple Rum & Friends Old Fashioned while Matthew is drinking a Bourbon Old Fashioned. Recipes below.

Pineapple Rum & Friends Old Fashioned

• 2 oz Pineapple Rum
• 1/2 oz Heering Cherry Liqueur
• 2 dashes of chocolate bitters

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir to desired dilution. Strain into a rocks glass and add a single large chunk of ice. Garnish with a handful of Luxardo cherries.

Bourbon Old Fashioned

• 2 oz High Proof Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Demerara Gum Syrup
• 2 Dashes Black Walnut Bitters
• Orange peel and Luxardo cherry for garnish

The Good, the bad, and the ugly: the boys are discussing everything about the opening weekend. First they discuss which players impressed them the most. (Chapman! Lee! Hicks! Conforto?!) Then they wallow in the less impressive outings. (Soler. Jackson. Jeffries?!) Then they discuss the ugly ending to the Joey Bart saga. Also, should Soler be hitting second? Do we have a bullpen problem?

On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking a Negroni ... his last one while Matthew enjoys a Bennet. Recipes below.

Negroni

• 1 oz London Dry Gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
• Large Orange Twist for garnish

Combine 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 orange twist over glass and put twist in glass. Good luck.

Bennet

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10-12 seconds. Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

It's opening day! That means predictions! But first we need to talk about the still unknown roster. Who's in and who's out on the 40-man? Will the Giants carry 3 catchers?! Will any of the young guys make it? We don't know! But we're talking about it.

As for those predictions. How many games will the Giants win? Will they make the playoffs? Will Camilo Doval save 162 games? Things get ridiculous. But in a good way.

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is taking us out to the ballgame with his Cracker Jack infused Opening Day. Meanwhile Ben is creating his version of the Giants' new Orange Splash. Recipes below.

Opening Day

• 2 oz Cracker Jack-Infused Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1/4 oz Caramel Syrup
• 2 dashes Orange Bitters

1. To infuse bourbon, combine 4 oz of bourbon with one box of Cracker Jack into a large mason jar. Let rest for 3-4 hours or overnight. Strain bourbon into a fresh vessel and discard cracker jacks.
2. Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and diluted. Strain into a rocks glass with a large chunk of ice. Express orange peel oils over drink and drop the peel in the glass to garnish. Enjoy.

Orange Splash

• 2 oz Anejo Tequila (Because that’s what I had)
• 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur
• 1 oz Freshly squeezed orange juice
• 4-6 oz Lemon-Lime Soda
• Orange wedge for garnish

Combine tequila, orange liqueur and orange juice in a funky souveneir glass with ice. Top with lemon lime soda. Garnish with orange wedge.

Opening Day is nigh! It's time for one last review of the off season. Matthew and Ben give their final grades and discuss which players they are most excited about. They also discuss the upgrades to the stadium experience. The big question, will they be buying tickets early this year? Also, apparently there was some Dodgers news?

On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking the Sweet Goodbye #2 while Matthew is drinking the Mixed Feelings.

New YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPp3zZdvOP3bGDpmGOKqzHQ

For the last time on Giant Cocktails, it's Happy Hour! Yes it's true, Happy Hour is moving to a new podcast all about cocktails that will be launching soon. It will make way for a new baseball focused episode starting on Opening Day.

In this last episode Matthew presents his original Mixed Feelings. It's an adventurous mix of large flavors tamed by the bubbles of a spritz. Meanwhile Ben is coming with not one, not two, but three(!) original cocktails: The Banana Republic, Sweet Goodbye #1 and Sweet Goodbye #2 as he says goodbye to his month of sweetness. They also discuss how to embrace change and give the best cocktail making tip of all. Recipes below.

Mixed Feelings

• 3/4 oz Campari
• 3/4 oz Absinthe
• 3/4 oz Elderflower Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Mandarin Orange Juice
• 3/4 oz Pineapple Gum Syrup (or Simple Syrup)
• 2-3 oz Club Soda

Add all ingredients except the Club Soda to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10-12 seconds. Strain into a highball glass with fresh ice and top with Club Soda. Give it a gentle stir to incorporate. Garnish with a mandarin orange slice.

Banana Republic

• 1 oz Bourbon
• 1 oz Banana Liqueur
• 1 oz Heavy Cream

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and well incorporated. Double strain into a Nick and Nora glass.

Sweet Goodbye #1

• 3/4 oz Kahlua
• 3/4 oz White Creme de Cacao
• 1 1/2 oz Bourbon
• 1 oz Tawny Port

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Double strain into a Nick & Nora glass.

Sweet Goodbye #2

• 1 oz overproof Rum
• 1 oz Tawny Port
• 1/2 oz Creme de Cacao
• 1/2 oz Mr. Black

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Double strain into a Nick & Nora glass.