Do You Yuzu?
I realized that vodka has been noticeably absent from my feed for awhile. I have nothing against vodka, and its neutral canvas is quite useful for infusions, etc. But it’s also great for cocktails where the main flavor might get bullied by other spirits. In the case of this drink, I wanted to go for a really clean, refreshing cocktail that allowed the star flavor, yuzu, to shine.
The build is…a bit atypical. It may read as sweet but the yuzu liqueur brings some acidity to it. Combine that with the dryness of the sake and it really only needed a small dose of fresh citrus. It comes across fresh, slightly dry, and incredibly refreshing— taste-wise, belonging in the martini family. I suppose for bonus points you could use clarified citrus to be able to stir and really treat it as such.
Recipe
1.5oz vodka (@ashevillevodka, gifted)
0.75oz yuzu liqueur (@choya_usa)
0.75oz dry sake
0.25oz lemon juice
2 dashes grapefruit bitters (@scrappysbitters, gifted)
Combine all ingredients and shake with ice until chilled. Fine strain into coupe or Nick & Nora and garnish with mint + lemon twist. Cheers!!
