Sakura Cocktails

I got so caught up in the start of spring that I didn't do a very good job of blogging last week.  But never fear, I'm back.  And I've been working on sakura cocktail recipes to celebrate the cherry blossoms blooming.

The first drink John and I attempted was a Sakura Martini.  It was pretty strong, and the consensus was that you'd have to really like Gin to like this drink. Now, I really like gin, but even I thought it was a pretty intense drink.  It might be better with vodka, but in general it wasn't necessarily a winner.

Sakura Martini

1.5 oz Gin

0.5 oz Sakura Liqueur

Maraschino Cherry

Ice

Combine Gin and Sakura Liqueur with ice and shake well.  Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.

Next up I tried a Sakura Gin and Tonic.  It not only looked prettier, it tasted a lot better too.  I'd recommend this one.

Sakura Gin and Tonic

1.5 oz Gin

0.5 oz Sakura Liqueur

4-6 oz. Tonic Water

Maraschino Cherry

Lime Wedge

Ice

Combine the Gin and Sakura Liqueur over ice, top with tonic, garnish with a maraschino cherry and a generous lime wedge.  On a side note, did you know Tonic Water is different here in Japan?  It's not allowed to have quinine in it, so the flavor is a little different than what I'm used to.

If all else fails, Kirin's got you covered with a Sakura Wine Spritzer perfect for cherry blossom viewing.