Saketini cocktail recipe

The Saketini, or sake martini, is a delightful cocktail that combines the purity of vodka with the flavour and complexity of sake.

The recipe is very easy to mix up and makes for a wonderful aperitif or dinner drink. In the Saketini, the sake works as a substitute for the vermouth of a Classic Martini, bringing a nuance of flavour and textural complexity inherent to this fermented rice beverage. Although most people refer to sake as rice wine, its production method makes it a lot closer to beer than wine – it's brewed from grain rather than fruit.

The Saketini’s provenance is difficult to trace, and there are plenty of confliciting opinions about its origins. Some believe the first Saketini was made at the 1964 opening of the original Benihana on West 56th Street, NYC. Another often-cited story suggests the Saketini was created at the 1964 World's Fair Japanese Pavilion by a chef named Matsuda San. However, there are no official recipes that can confirm this speculation. The first formal recipe can be traced to the Kyoto Steak House in Detroit, a restaurant that was known for its Japanese-influenced cocktails, including the Dirty Ninja Sakatini made with Japanese vodka, gin and sake muddled with cucumber, nori strips and sweetened rice wine vinegar.

Whatever its origins, the Saketini is a delicious, easy-to-mix drink with fantastic possibilities for experimentation and exploration.

At first glance, it may seem like there’s not that many opportunities for experimentation and adaptation with the Saketini. But like the classic Martini that inspired it, there’s plenty of ways to explore different flavours and textures through the base spirit – or in this case, sake.

Just as there are hundreds of vodkas being made in a range of styles and prices, so too are there plenty of fantastic sakes available to enjoy. From sweet to dry, fruity to savoury and even cloudy or sparkling styles, getting playful with the type of sake you mix with will offer a slightly different experience each time, and you may find a preference for one over all the others. As with any beverage, the better the quality sake you buy, the better experience you'll have drinking it on its own or mixing it in a Saketini.

By the same token, exploring different vodkas or garnishes is another great way to adapt the Saketini to your own tastes. And if you usually prefer a gin-based Classic Martini, try swapping out the vodka for your favourite gin. The Saketini’s simple construction makes it not only easy to mix, but a great cocktail to have fun with and experience the many different sake styles.