Name: Toucan Charlie's Buffet & Grilles Saké To Me Recipe
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1 servings
Ingredients: 2 oz junmai or ginjo saké; 0.75 oz Ketel One Citroen vodka; 0.75 oz blueberry puree; 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice; 0.5 oz Combier (orange liqueur); 0.25 oz simple syrup (1:1); 2 dashes hopped grapefruit bitters; 6 leaves fresh mint leaves (for shaking and garnish); 1 cup ice (for shaking); 1 cube large ice cube or crushed ice (for serving); 1 sprig mint sprig (garnish); 1 slice lemon wheel or twist (garnish)

Method

Cocktail

Prepare glass

Chill a rocks glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail. If using a large ice cube, place it in the glass and set aside.

Muddle mint and puree

In a cocktail shaker, place 4 of the mint leaves and the blueberry puree (0.75 oz). Gently muddle once or twice to release mint oils and to incorporate the blueberry flavor, being careful not to shred the mint.

Combine spirits and citrus

Add the saké (2 oz), Ketel One Citroen (0.75 oz), Combier (0.5 oz), fresh lemon juice (0.5 oz), and simple syrup (0.25 oz) to the shaker.

Add bitters and ice

Add 2 dashes of hopped grapefruit bitters and then add ice to fill the shaker (about 1 cup).

Hard shake

Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds. Because saké is lower in alcohol and lighter in body than many spirits, a good hard shake chills and slightly aerates the mix, integrating the blueberry and mint.

Double strain

Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled rocks glass over the reserved large ice cube (or over crushed ice if preferred) using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer to remove small mint bits and blueberry solids.

Garnish and finish

Express a lemon twist over the drink to release oils and rim the glass lightly, then drop the twist or add a lemon wheel. Slap the remaining 2 mint leaves and the mint sprig to awaken the aroma and place the sprig on the drink. Optionally add an extra tiny dash of hopped grapefruit bitters on top for aromatic lift.

Serve

Serve immediately while cold. Encourage the drinker to nose the mint before sipping to appreciate the aromatic interplay of saké, citrus, blueberry and hopped grapefruit bitterness.