Celebrate spring with a sake cocktail

Every year in September, the Southern Hemisphere begins to blossom with new signs of life as winter gives way to the rejuvenating season of spring. Many cultures around the world acknowledge this change and most famously, Japan celebrates the arrival of spring with a Cherry Blossom Festival, or Sakura Matsuri.

The Gekkeikan sake brand has come up with a special Cherry Blossom Cocktail recipe incorporating traditional Japanese sake.

Sake is an inseparable part of Japanese life and culture that dates back over 1000 years, and is used in traditional stories and ceremonies as a symbol of the miracle of nature. In modern Japan, sake is also a key ingredient at social gatherings of all kinds, but the polite gesture of pouring sake for another representing the recognition of the needs of others, is a tradition that remains intact.

Many Australians enjoy Japanese cuisine such as sushi and teppanyaki as part of their internationally inspired lifestyle as well as a fascination for refined Japanese culture. Accordingly, the tradition of the Cherry Blossom Festival has flourished in Australia. Most notably Cowra (in regional NSW) hosts a famous five day festival of blooms at the Cowra Japanese Garden with sake tastings, origami, bonsai, kimono and karate demonstrations that delights thousands of visitors each year.

Many Australians host Cherry Blossom parties in local gardens and backyards throughout the country. Share this spirit with a Cherry Blossom Cocktail.

Cherry Blossom Cocktail (aka The Tibetan Mule)*

25ml Gekkeikan sake
15ml Gingembre (ginger) liqueur
20ml Finlandia Vodka Classic
10ml Coriander syrup
10ml Lime juice
45ml Ginger beer
4 Pineapple chunks
5 Coriander stalks

Method:
Muddle fruit and stalks, add all ingredients but for ginger beer. Shake and strain over rocks in tall glass. Release fruit and stalks from the strainer on top of the drink. Top with ginger
beer, crushed ice and garnish with a coriander leaf.

Saketumi*

30ml Gekkeikan sake
20ml Finlandia Vodka Lime Fusion
5ml Vanilla liqueur
30ml Grapefruit and/or lavender sorbet
20ml Fresh grapefruit juice (preferably ruby red)
1 inch Cucumber

Method:
Muddle cucumber and shake with all ingredients. Fine strain into a martini glass with a skewered cucumber sail garnish.

*Created by Garth Foster at Sydney’s The Loft

Gekkeikan is traditional sake that has been naturally brewed in Fushimi, Kyoto (Japan’s former capital) since 1637. Gekkeikan sake is highly versatile and can be served at room temperature, chilled or slightly warmed for your enjoyment. The delicate taste and fragrance of Gekkeikan sake means that it is best enjoyed with light meals such as fish, poultry or vegetarian cuisine.

Weblinks:

• Gekkeikan Sake
• Cowra Japanese Garden

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