Sake can be enjoyed not only as it is, but also as a cocktail by combining it with other beverages and ingredients.
In this article, I will explain how to make sake cocktails, which are usually drunk as they are, with a little twist to make them even tastier and enjoyable to drink
Sake Cocktail Recommendations
Sake is a very good base for cocktails.
The key points are as follows
“Transparency" | That does not affect the color of the finished product
“Simple taste" | That is made only from rice
“Good balance" | That does not destroy the body when heated
For example, fruity sake with a sour taste can be mixed with fruit juice to make it easier to drink, or fragrant sake can be mixed with soda to make it more refreshing.
1. Samurai Highball (Sake + Soda)
The term "highball" originally refers to a drink made by mixing whiskey with soda.
This time, the whiskey is replaced by sake in the recipe.
The base alcohol used in cocktails is usually about 30 to 60 ml, but sake is not as distinctive when diluted, so this recipe is a half-and-half recipe.
<Ingredients: 300ml glass>
- Sake｜120ml
- Soda｜120ml
- Ice｜proper quantity
- Garnish: Lemon slices
- (Sake alcohol content 10%)
<Method>
- Put ice and sake in a glass.
- Slowly pour the soda into the glass.
- Stir gently 2-3 times to complete the drink.
2. Sake + Fruit Juice
Sake, with its excellent balance of sweetness and acidity, goes well with fruit.
This type of cocktail is best when made with "Ginjo" or "Daiginjo".
Adjust the amount of sake and fruit juice according to the sweetness and acidity of the juice you are using.
<Ingredients: 300ml glass>
- Sake｜120ml
- Fruit juice｜60-120ml (taste and adjust)
- Ice｜proper quantity (Sake alcohol content 10%)
Juices that go well with sake cocktails: grapefruit, orange, apple, pineapple, etc.
<Method>
- Fill a glass with ice and sake.
- Pour in the fruit juice of your choice.
- Gently stir to complete the drink.
3. Sake Sangria
Sangria is a wine cocktail of Spanish origin made by adding fruit to wine, but it can also be made by replacing the base alcohol with sake.
Simply prepare the sake of your choice, cut up your favorite fruit and add it to the sake.
You can also make it with fruits you have at home when you want to finish off the sake you bought in bottles.
Fruits that can be added to sangria include apples, kiwis, pineapples, strawberries, bananas, oranges, blueberries, peaches, and pears. Just to give you a quick idea, there are a variety of fruits.
<Ingredients｜1 pitcher or decanter>
- 1 bottle of sake (750ml)
- 3-4 kinds of seasonal fruits
- 20g Caster sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Mint (for garnish)
Sugar can be replaced with honey (16g)
<Method>
- Prepare a pitcher or decanter.
- Add the cut fruits, sugar, and cinnamon, and pour in the bottle of sake.
- Add ice and mix well.
If the fruit is soaked too long, it will become bitter, so it should be consumed ideally within 3 hours or a day at the most after it is made.
4. Mulled Sake
Mulled Sake is recommended for the coming season.
Just as wine is heated and served as mulled wine from this time of year, sake can be enjoyed as "mulled sake" with spices and fruits added.
Mulled wine is traditionally served with brandy, but sake should be tasted as it is.
If you want to warm it up, “Junmaishu” or “Honjozo” is recommended.
<Ingredients>
- 1 bottle (750ml) of sake
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cloves
- 2 star anise seeds
- 2 cardamom seeds
- 1/2 lemon, sliced
- 150ml honey
- 10g rooibos tea leaves
<Method>
- Add all ingredients (except garnishes) to a medium-sized pot
- Heat at the lowest heat possible for 30 minutes, with the lid on, stirring periodically.
- Serve in your favorite cup!
SUMMARY
In this article, we have introduced a basic type of sake cocktail for those who are new to sake cocktails.
Sake can be used as a base for many other cocktails.
If you are interested, please try your own original cocktails.
KAMPAI!