Sakura

Spring is in the air.  It is time to celebrate to the springtime with a light refreshing cocktail.  There are many places notably Japan where the cherry blossoms are blooming.

This cocktail was inspired by the blooming pink flowers that are growing everywhere.  People enjoy watching the cherry blossoms at hanami parties.  Hanami in Japanese means cherry blossom watching.  There are sakura festivals around the world most notably those in Japan and in Washington D.C.

The Sakura uses a distinct cherry blossom liqueur from Suntory called Japone Sakura（ジャポネ　桜).

The taste of cherry blossom is very distinctive and unique.  It has no apparent cherry flavor to it.  Instead, it has a dry bitter floral flavor it.  Imagine eating a flower.  There is a subtle sweetness to the liqueur that is probably coming from the added sugar to it.  It is a unique product.

The other ingredients in the Sakura compliment the unique taste of the cherry blossom liqueur.  Gin adds a nice unique botanical drink to the drink.  When choosing a gin for the Sakura, it is best to avoid a juniper heavy gin.  The juniper tends to overpower the unique flavor of the cherry blossom liqueur.  When I made the Sakura, I used Beefeater Gin.  I find that the Beefeater adds a nice dry note to the drink.  There is a juniper note in the gin, but it is not overpowering.  Try to find a floral gin for this cocktail.  The last ingredient of the Sakura is dry vermouth.  The dry vermouth adds a balance to the cherry blossom liqueur and the gin.  The dry vermouth tends to add roundness to the flavor of the cocktail.  I used Martini and Rossi for the vermouth.  A French dry vermouth would also be nice in this cocktail.  The choice for the vermouth is entirely up to you.  I was using Martini and Rossi because that is what I have at the moment.

For a touch of Japanese spring to your household, make yourself a Sakura.  It is a great springtime cocktail. 

Sakura

20 ml of gin

20 ml of dry vermouth

20 ml of Japone Sakura liqueur

 

Pour the ingredients in to a mixing glass.

Put ice into the the mixing glass.

Stir the mixture until it is properly chilled and diluted.

Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.

 

Enjoy!