With the infinite combinations of botanicals that gins have today, making co*cktails that capture the spirit’s personality can be tricky. But Reshawn Choo has a trick. “What grows together, goes together,” said the group beverage manager of Japanese restaurant and bar, Goho. So, when tasked with creating a co*cktail using Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, the debut release in Roku Gin’s new festival-inspired series, he chose rhubarb.
While the plant is not common in Japan, it is a quintessential spring ingredient, just like the cherry blossom that personifies the limited-edition Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition. The result is a Martini-style co*cktail amplified by a vermouth infused with rhubarb and spring herbs, plus a garnish of dried strawberries for a burst of fruitiness.
In one of Mikk Tan’s Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition co*cktails, the beverage manager at Vue fortified the gin’s floral element with the equally aromatic Lillet Blanc. Charlie Kim deepened the gin’s primary character with maraschino cherry distillate and cherry blossom syrup. “We tried to stay true to its unique profile by doing less,” said the bar manager at MO Bar.
Other bartenders took cues from Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition‘s inspiration. The gin embodies springtime in Japan, which Leona Lee of Stay Gold Flamingo captured with the freshness of peach. Kim Dongje of The Backdrop manifested nature in bloom with sage and jasmine. Justin Su turned his Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition co*cktail into a trip through time. “I wanted to develop a drink that encompassed all seasons,” said the head bartender at Spectre. “Sakura in spring. Oranges in autumn. Shiso from summer to winter.”
Ultimately, it is Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition’s versatility that makes it a companion to co*cktails. Defined by flowers and salted leaves of the cherry blossom and backed by yuzu peel, sencha and gyokuro teas, and sansho pepper, it adds a delicate floral scent, subtly sweet taste, and an intriguing hint of saltiness to any beverage. In their words, here are how eight Singapore bartenders make Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition co*cktails.
How to use Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition in co*cktails
Kim Dongje
Head bartender, The Backdrop
In Bloom
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Jasmine tea
Peach liqueur
Lemon juice
Sugar syrup
Sage
Soda
“In Bloom captures the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms and the ephemeral nature of spring by blending floral and herbaceous elements with bubbles for a light and refreshing co*cktail.”
The Backdrop,581 Orchard Road, #01-15/16 Voco Orchard, Singapore 238883
Justin Su
Head bartender, Spectre
Shiso Martini
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Shiso-infused vermouth
Orange bitters
“I wanted to develop a Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition co*cktail that encompassed all seasons. Coming from a country where it’s summer all year round, it seemed only fitting to create an experience that is unique and evergreen.”
Spectre, 120 Tanjong Pagar Rd, #02-01, Singapore 088532
Leona Lee
Senior bartender, Stay Gold Flamingo
Shun Gyo
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Peach tea
Peach oleo saccharum
Disaronno
Saline solution
“I want guests to experience the freshness of an early morning in spring. To do that, I used peach tea to impart dry fruity notes, Disaronno to contrast against Roku Gin Sakura Blossom Edition, and peach oleo saccharum to add a subtle sweetness and enhance the co*cktail’s long finish. A touch of saline solution helps to shine a light on the gin’s botanical ingredients.”
Stay Gold Flamingo, 69 Amoy St, Singapore 069888
Reshawn Choo
Group beverage manager, Goho
Rhubarb
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Rhubarb and spring herb-infused vermouth
“The floral notes of Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition complement the freshness from the rhubarb and spring vermouth, giving the co*cktail a light, fresh, floral and tart flavour.”
Goho, 53A Duxton Rd, Singapore 089517
Charlie Kim
Bar manager, MO Bar
Under the Sakura Tree
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Maraschino cherry distillate
Sakura syrup
Citric acid solution
Saline solution
“This co*cktail is a twist on a Martini with Japanese-inspired ingredients. We hope guests will be able to experience very different expressions of Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition and how it can showcase many different flavours in a co*cktail.”
MO Bar, 5 Raffles Ave., Mandarin Oriental, Singapore 039797
David Kim
Principal bartender, Live Twice
Awaken
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Cherry syrup
Live Twice spring amaro
Soda
“The idea of cherries immediately sprang to mind as a perfect complement to the flavours in the gin. I find that the soft, floral notes of Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition beautifully complement the gentle sweetness and subtle almond undertones of the fruit.”
Live Twice, 18-20 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089834
Mikk Tan
Beverage manager, Vue
Angel’s Touch
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Lillet Blanc
Luxardo Maraschino
Lemon syrup
Saline solution
“It’s a sour that’s bright and jammy with subtle floral notes and warming cherry. Lillet Blanc adds complexity, infusing the drink with floral and citrusy notes, while Luxardo Maraschino lends its typical rich and luscious sweetness. A dash of homemade lemon syrup perfectly rounds off the co*cktail’s sweet and sour flavour profile.”
Marlon Aseoche
Lead mixologist, Antidote
Blossom Fizz
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
Cacao
Cherry Berry
Vanilla cream
Soda
“The Blossom Fizz was inspired by my favourite co*cktail, Kaikan Fizz. Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition lends a subtle saline touch, which I complemented with cacao, cherries, and vanilla cream.”
Head to this website for information on where to purchase Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, partner bars, and more details.
(Hero and featured images credit: House of Suntory)
