This Sakitini – Sake Martini is a refreshing, thirst quenching cocktail that is great with any light dish you are serving or perfect alone after a long hot day in the sun!
This weeks Friday Cocktails selection is the Sakitini – Sake Martini. It’s a very refreshing cocktail that is a change upon my normal straight-up gin martini.
A few years ago my husband and I were eating sushi at Kabuki, a restaurant here in California when he saw a note in their menu for a sake tasting. While I’m a certified sommelier, I had never really developed a taste for sake so I wasn’t excited about going. I’m so glad he talked me into it!
At the tasting, they had a Master Sake Sommelier explaining about each individual Sake selection. They paired the selections with various menu options so you could see how versatile it is.
It was eye-opening for me. We were able to purchase all of the items we tasted and I must admit we went home with almost every single one of them. I found the possibilities endless for drinking Sake in mixing it in many different cocktails, while also being able to enjoy it on its own.
THE TECHNICAL MUMBO JUMBO OF SAKE!
Most people think Sake is a rice wine. But actually wine is the fermentation of fruit, so sake is more closely related to beer production in that it is fermentation/milling of a grain(rice.)
Like various wine requirements, there are classifications of Sake too. The highest grade sake “Junmai” is required to mill down the rice to less than 50% of the original size of the rice. Each lower grade has less reduction if the rice. (Daiginjo, Futsu) You can check out more specific information about the grades of Sake here.
Each of those classifications can be broken down even further by one or more of the following methods:
- filtering/not filtering out the rice sediment
- pasteurization/non-pasteurization
- aging it in casks
- adding additional alcohol
- adding a sparkling quality to the sake with similar methods to champagne/sparkling wine
ANALYSIS OF the Sakitini – Sake Martini Recipe
Easy? Measure and shake! Cant get much easier than that!
Make-Ahead? Yes, premix # of servings in a pitcher then pour into shaker over ice to shake when ready to serve! As long as it’s not stored over ice it won’t dilute so you can make it as early in the day as you’d like.
Pairs well with: Avocado Poke, Shrimp Appetizer or even a very simple chips and dip! This drink is so light it is just nice to have on its own as well!
Make this the next time its hot outside! It is completely refreshing and thirst-quenching! (This recipe was inspired by something similar we were served at the tasting at Kabuki!)
Cheers!
Sakitini - Sake Martini
This Sakitini - Sake Martini is a refreshing, thirst quenching cocktail that is great with any light dish you are serving or perfect alone after a long hot day in the sun!
Ingredients
- 2.5 ounces Sake
- 1 ounce Vodka
- .5 ounces orange curaçao
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- Into an ice filled cocktail shaker pour all ingredients but the garnish.
- Shake vigorously for 60 seconds.
- Strain ice out as you pour into cocktail glasses.
- Twist orange slice and drop into glass.
- Serve.
Notes
For a party premix the qty times 8 and have in a pitcher ready. You can then shake to order as your guests arrive/ or are ready for another cocktail!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 151Carbohydrates: 4gSugar: 4g
Jeff
Monday 24th of April 2017
What a great way to serve sake!
Michele
Tuesday 25th of April 2017
Its a favorite in our house.... we have it often! ~m
Kit Graham (@thekittchen)
Saturday 4th of June 2016
So easy to make and so outside the box!
Michele
Sunday 5th of June 2016
Im glad you like it! It is really easy to make... thats kind of becoming my requirement these days! ~m
withtwospoons
Wednesday 1st of June 2016
This looks amazing! Refreshing and perfect for summer!
Delicious Everyday
Wednesday 1st of June 2016
Measure and shake, I love cocktails like this. The last thing I want to be doing on a Friday evening is faffing about with lots of different ingredients to make a cocktail, so I love this! I love sake, so I'll definitely have to give this a try. Such a great idea!
Michele
Thursday 2nd of June 2016
I agree... I like it when I pretty much have everything in our bar for making! WIN?WIN!! ~m
Amanda Mason
Tuesday 31st of May 2016
Great read...I've always hated saki....but I think it's because I only had really cheap brands. Your article is interesting and now I'm thinking I should give it a 2nd chance like you did! Thanks for the info in this article!
Michele
Thursday 2nd of June 2016
I don't know why I didn't care for it either.... of course my husband says its an acquired taste.... :) ~,m