Whether you’re a total novice when it comes to enjoying Japan’s national drink or well-versed in the nuances between Junmai and Ginjo sake (and if you need a refresher, here’s our handy sake guide), it’s always worth having a bottle on hand for cocktails. With flavours that can range from earthy to saline to floral, sake is one of our favourite drink ingredients, especially when used to balance higher-ABV spirits like gin, as is the case in this beautifully garnished Sakura Martini from Manhattan’s Bar Goto and Brooklyn’s Bar Goto Niban, as well as sweet, acidic pineapple juice, which you’ll need to make a crowd-pleasing batch of Pineapple-Sake Sangria Punch.
Some sakes can have sweet essences and hints of tropical fruits like melon, banana, and apple that can create unique drinks. Sake’s flavors are derived from both the rice polishing and fermentation processes. When it comes to choosing which sake to use, asking your bartender a few questions can go a long way. It is sake’s delicate yet diverse flavor profile that makes it a great contender for cocktails.
The main thing is to have fun with your cocktails, try different styles and try mixing things up for some fun combinations and flavor profiles.