Craving something beyond the usual wine and beer? Shake up your routine with these 13 sake cocktails that’ll have you saying “kanpai” all night long, from subtly sweet to explosively tangy.
1. Saketini
In search of something you can quickly mix together? The two-ingredient saketini makes a great choice.
Simply mix together sake and either vodka or gin. Use a cocktail glass for serving and stir it all together. Top it off with a cucumber slice for the right garnish.
It comes pretty close to tasting like your typical martini, with a crisp and fresh taste.
2. Spicy Mango Sake Rum Cocktail
I understand that this ingredients list is rather long and might scare you, but don’t let it because this is an easy cocktail to make. You can leave the bulk of the work to your food processor.
This is likely the spiciest of all the drinks here, with the chili water heating up every sip. Its foundation is sweet and tart, featuring tropical and tangy fruit juices and mango liqueur. If you’re sensitive to spiciness, you should probably skip this one.
3. Pink Sakura: A Cherry Blossom Sake Cocktail (Nigori Sake & Cherry Liquor)
When you think of things that represent Japan, you probably think of cherry blossoms right along with sake and samurai. In this magnificent drink, I’m going to capitalize on two of those three (no samurai, sadly).
This lovely pink drink is ideal for any springtime brunch. It uses pink grapefruit juice, sake, and even just a bit of Maraschino cherry liqueur. The drink’s aroma is wonderful, and it has a captivating flavor that tastes just as great as it smells.
It’s also just a bit thicker than you might think.
4. Lotus Blossom Martini
It only takes around 3 minutes to make this martini, and its fruity flavor is zesty with lots of pear notes. Its light gold color makes it work perfectly for more formal events. It comes together easily with just five ingredients, so it’s excellent for simpler occasions, too.
Its taste is quite fruit-forward, so it’s great during the spring and summer. It’s also easier to find lychees those months, too.
5. The Cherry Blossom – A Sake and Gin Cocktail
This second cherry blossom cocktail is more potent compared to the last drink, and its red coloring is much more vibrant. Just like the other cocktail, this one mixes cherry liqueur with sake. However, it also includes some tarter, more citrusy liqueurs.
It’s more powerful and features a higher mouth-pucker factor for whoever drinks it. Those who like a tangy cocktail should definitely check this out.
6. Sake Mojito
This drink’s flavor will depend on the spirit you’re using.
Using dry sake means you’ll barely taste much difference from a normal mojito. If your sake is a bit sweeter, you might detect a flowery aftertaste. However, some sakes even give the drink a tarter profile, almost like limeade or lemonade.
In any case, this is a great choice if you want a crisp, minty, and refreshing cocktail. Serving a tray of these on a hot summer day will surely impress your guests.
7. Grapefruit Honey Sake Cocktail
It might seem odd to put sake, honey, and grapefruit together, and I can see why this is more of an acquired taste. If you love loading your grapefruit up with sugar, you’re probably going to like this.
Simply saying it tastes like sweet grapefruit doesn’t really cut it. It will get you in the general neighborhood, but doesn’t perfectly paint the picture. A better description would be sugared grapefruit with caramelized nuts sprinkled in.
Although it’s rather sweet, it’s still a refreshing drink. The fruit’s bitterness seems to give it the crispness it needs.
8. Sake Lychee Martini
This has to be the prettiest glass on the list. It’s also quite easy to make. This martini has a subtle, classy look that’s just right for anniversaries or weddings.
Simply pour dry sake and lychee juice into a cocktail shaker, and you’re good to go. Serve it up in a cocktail glass and use a lychee as a garnish. Putting it all together should only take a few minutes.
Fortunately, it tastes as great as it looks. Its flavor is brisk and light, and not too sweet at all.
9. Sake Bloody Mary Cocktail
This sake version of a Bloody Mary is a bit weaker than your standard version. You’ll sub out the vodka and use sake as the base spirit instead. It may not hit quite as hard as a Bloody Mary with vodka, but it still tastes great.
It’s wonderfully tomatoey and has a cleaner, fresher, and better taste. During summer brunches, this is a magnificent choice.
10. The Phantom Love Song Cocktail
Check out this other fancy cocktail with a bit of a ghostly look to it.
You’ll taste lots of flowers in this light and smooth cocktail because of the elderflower liqueur.Use a sweeter sake if you’d prefer a brighter, fruitier base, but I think it works best with a dry sake.This is how you’ll get a unique, otherworldly flavor that matches the drink’s spectral presentation.
11. For Goodness Saké – A Saké and Ginger Cocktail
Some folks have told me this cocktail tastes just a little bit sweet, but personally, I haven’t really noticed any. I’d say that it is mostly tart, almost outright sour in its base. Every so often, you might detect some hints of flowery flavors, but even those aren’t too sweet or sugary, and more bright and tangy.
Expect some strong citrus notes in this cocktail, and the pickled ginger doesn’t overpower it as much as you might expect. However, it definitely adds a nice burst of spice.
If you’re looking for a drink that isn’t very strong, give this one a go. You’ll find it quite light and energizing.
12. Grapefruit Cocktail
You’ll find everything you want in this bubbly, refreshing cocktail. Expect a flavor that’s tangy, tart, and even just a touch bitter and spiced. It tastes like a pretty unique combo that really emphasizes grapefruit.
You’ll need about 10 minutes, a shaker, and quite a few ingredients to make it.
You’ll find it perfect for summer if you don’t like overly sugary cocktails. And despite its subtle pink color, don’t be fooled because this drink packs quite a punch.