Sake
Sake at the Bar
Sake, pronounced "Sah – key," is a Japanese liquor. It is a fortified rice wine that is brewed much in the same process as beer as opposed to many other liquors. The English refer to this drink as Sake, however in Japan, which is a very broad term meaning Japanese alcohol. It is sometimes referred to as Nihonshu, which is how the Japanese identify the beverage. Many different brands offer the cocktail and so it can be found in almost as many different versions as rum or even wine.
How to Enjoy Sake
Sake is enjoyed in a wide array of styles, depending upon the time of the year, the area of the country (or globe) that you are ordering it and the specific bartender based on his or her preferences (or utensils). Most commonly, it is served room temperature or chilled in small ceramic cups that are called choko. It is also usually served from a ceramic flask or pitcher, too.
If it is cold outside, you may find that it is possible to get Sake served warm, just like a tea. This is only going to be the lower quality sakes, however. The high grade ones will not be served hot because the aromas and flavors would be lost. If you ever find that a bar is serving a high grade sake warm or hot, they are not aware of the product that they are serving and you should think twice about ordering a cup in general
Sake in Some "Special" Cocktails
Sake is almost always served by itself the way most would enjoy a glass of Scotch or a really good, aged tequila. Though, just like those ingredients, it has been known to make itself known into a variety of cocktails that has been made famous across the globe. If you go into a bar and they have this Japanese rice wine, then they'll probably know how to make:
- Sake Bombs
- Japanese Cobbler
- Ginza Strip
A Sake Bomb is usually a pretty expensive drink at the bar, however it is also very popular amongst those who are looking to enjoy the wine in a very different manner (and those looking to get a buzz very fast). A shot of the sake is placed into a glass shot glass and then dropped into a pint of beer. The beer can be of any flavor, though it is typically a lager. Those who have ordered this "bomb" usually proceed to chug the contents of the glass until there is nothing left.
A Japanese Cobbler is a little bit more sophisticated. It involves pineapple wedges, oranges, lemon wedges, a little maraschino liqueur, Sake, and a splash of soda. It is all combined into an old fashioned glass and then served over crushed ice.
A Ginza Strip is made inside of a cocktail shaker with ice. A shot of Sake, two dashes of Sweet Vermouth and one dash of Angostura Bitters are added. Shake it about a minute and then strain into a cocktail glass. It is usually garnished with a cherry.
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