One of the nice things about having lots of friends, is that sometimes your friends challenge you to try different things. I am not a huge fan of sake cocktails. Mostly they are either too simple (i.e. just cucumber or ginger) or way too complicated and push too much booze to punch up the cocktail and you loose the sake flavor.
Well, thank god for talented friends. Tonight a friend who lives in China, rolled through town and put together three cocktails that pushed the sake to the front in the best way.
Cherry Sake Float
2 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
Green Tea Cherries & Juice
1 oz Palisade Peach Sake
Top with Soda Water
Sometimes you just start with desert first. This Cherry Sake Float was a lovely way to start the process. It was a light, low alcohol treat with a lot of flavor.
High Country Lemonade
1 Shiso Ume
1-2 Lemon Rounds
1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
1 oz. Ginger Pear Shrub
1/4 Cup Elderflower Liqueur
1/2 Cup Queen City Sake
is roughly enough for 4 drinks. split between 4 glasses, give each one a shiso ume and a lemon round, some ice, and top with soda water.
This tart salty treat was absolutely refreshing. It hits all the right spots and really made me miss summer.
North Fork
1 Tablespoon Peach Jam
2 Tablespoons of Apple Juice
1-2 Drops of Cherry Bitters
Shake and pour into the bottom of a highball glass
2 oz of Palisade Peach Sake
1 oz of Ginger Ale
Fill Glass with Tiny Ice
Float 1/4 oz of Colorado Rose on top
Garnish with Brandied Cherry
This was a great way to end the tasting. It really pushed the sake to the front of the cocktail. The combo of all the ingredients paired really well with the sake and brought out all the best characteristics of the sakes.
I'll get the recipes uploaded soon and thanks to everyone who came out tonight to offer their feedback.