Are you celebrating Valentine’s Day with your “koibito” (Japanese for sweetheart)? Well, why not make it extra special with a fun and flirty drink inspired by Japanese artisans. Think pink – the colour of love and desire – with Roku’s Sakura Shower. The cocktail below is easy to make and will leave your koibito quite impressed as the tantalising sakura-esque aroma lingers just beyond the tip of your nose. In fact, it’s as if the petals are falling all around you.
Roku Japanese Gin is a handcrafted gin made with six distinct Japanese botanicals. These high-quality botanicals, harvested from Japan’s best growing areas, include sencha and gyokuro teas for summer, as well as the Sakura flower and leaf for spring. In addition, Sansho pepper – which represents the winter botanical – adds a unique taste to the harmonious flavours of Roku Japanese Gin. Lastly, the peel of yuzu fruit finishes the harmonious flavours of Roku Japanese Gin.
The six botanicals are distilled using a variety of different pot stills, each chosen to ensure the best flavour is extracted from each botanical. In the end, the gin is complex yet harmonious, with a smooth, silky texture.
50ml Roku Gin
25ml White Vermouth
10ml Absinth
1 Dash of Angostura bitters
Combine all ingredients together and shake well.
If you’re not a fan of fancy cocktails, Roku can also be served on the rocks. Alternatively, opt for a classic G&T. The Japanese Gin & Tonic is served with ice and ginger slices, complementing the refreshing citrus top notes of yuzu.
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