5 cocktail recipes you can easily make using Japanese sake

 Did you know sake can be a good base to make cocktails?

Even if the original sake is a bit of a challenge to add to your drinks list, a sake cocktail might be a good entry-level to start going into the world of sake.

In this article, we will be introducing you to recipes for cocktails made from sake.

Sake Cocktails Recipes

Samurai Rock

This cocktail was originally called “Sake Lime” but is known as Samurai. First of all, the overall look of the cocktail is eye-catching! Also, the combination with citruses, like lime or lemon will make it easy to drink. This will help to match well, especially with lighter taste Japanese appetizer dishes.

Ingredients

• Sake 60 ml

• Lime syrup 5 ml (or a squeeze of lime) *can be replaced by lemon

Steps

1. Add sake and lime syrup to a mixing glass with ice and stir.

2. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass.

3. If you have fresh lime, cut and decorate to the glass.

Saketini

As you might have already guessed, Saketini is a cocktail arranged from a martini. The dryness of the Gin and the more round taste of the sake make up a very balanced cocktail!

Ingredients

• Olive (If you can get Ao-ume or young green ume plums, it will be a more ideal Saketini.

• Sake 15 ml

• Dry Gin 5 ml

* If you want to make it drier, easily adjust by moving around the ratio of the Sake and Gin.

Steps

1. Stick an olive/ume with a cocktail pin and chill it in the fridge.

2. Add sake and Dry Gin to a mixing glass with ice and stir.

3. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and add the olive/ume.

Sake cocktails in collaboration with a shot bar from Osaka, Matayoshiya

We introduced you to two main sake cocktails that are gaining popularity in Japan, so we now want to share with you 3 more original ones from a shot bar in Osaka, Matayoshiya.

The cocktails are recipes where you use simple mixing procedures, but if you prefer the cocktails to have a more rounded feeling to the tongue, we recommend you use a shaker.

Sake Sakura Drop

Ingredients

• Sakura liqueur 10 ml

• Sake 60 ml

• Lemon 5 ml 

Steps

1. Add sake and Sakura liqueur on a mixing glass with ice, then squeeze the lemon and stir.

2. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass.

Sake Verde

Ingredients

• Green tea liqueur 10 ml

• Sake 60 ml

Steps

1. Add sake and Green liqueur on a mixing glass with ice and stir.

2. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass.

Miyabi

Ingredients

• KI NO BI Dry Gin 10 ml

• Sake 60 ml

• Lemon 5 ml

Steps

1. Add sake and KI NO BI Dry Gin to a mixing glass with ice, squeeze lemon, and stir.

2. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass.

Which sake should you choose to make cocktails?

You might be wondering, "Which sake should I buy to make my cocktails?"

The basic answer is, "Any sake you can buy nearby."

But let us give you some tips on which one to choose if you have some options.

Choose sake that has a high rice policing rate

High polished rice sake is the base sake we want to recommend, as these sakes will typically lead to a cleaner taste.

This means that it doesn't disturb the match with other ingredients you put into the cocktail, and would even enhance the flavor.

Types of sake which are called “Ginjyo” or “Dai-ginjyo” are the candidates, which has a rice polish rate of more than 60%. Also, “Namazake”, a type of sake that doesn't go through flame sterilization is recommended as a suitable cocktail base sake.

Pair sake and ingredients that are from the same region

The Paring of oysters and Chablis is so famous as it's believed that the Chablis region was once an ocean. Sake is no exception. Sake that is locally produced and herbs/fruits grown in the same region will match relatively well.

Let us give two examples. Peaches that are produced in Yamagata prefecture match very well with“Sake Juyon-dai” produced in the same prefecture by Takagi Brewery is a perfect match. Apples grown in Akita and “Sake Aramasa” produced by Aramasa Brewery goes really well. The same idea can be implemented on matching herbs, and of course, with local dishes.

In the end, it's personal preference!

You will go less wrong by choosing the sakes mentioned above, but in the end, it's personal preference. You should experiment with a few varieties that tempt you.

Also, sake usually would have less degree of alcohol compared to other bases like gin and vodka. After you get started in your experiment for the best taste that fits you, you will naturally be playing around with the ratio of If you like high alcohol beverages, you can add more sake than the below recipes.