Japan: a country known for its precision, honor, and dedication to quality. Is it any surprise that the tools associated with Japanese bartending embody these cultural values? Or does the surprise lie in hearing that many of this finely crafted Japanese barware has a Western origin?
Cocktails and American barware were brought to Japan in the 1880s at the behest of Emperor Meiji, who sent ambassadors around the world and requested they bring back the best of other cultures. Once in Japan, the barware began its assimilation, and new pieces were crafted with the pursuit of perfection that underlies so much of Japanese culture. Japan became a prolific producer of barware and glassware during the 20th century, producing pieces like finely decorated shakers, spiraled mixing spoons, etched glass pitchers, and jiggers. All creation was approached with a desire to move beyond utilitarian function.
From that precision, arose Japanese bartending, a profession that exists around the world, but is uniquely practiced in The Land of the Rising Sun. Japanese bartenders approach their craft as a career path, one that begins with an apprenticeship and ends, after many years, with mastery. Every aspect of creating a drink is studied and heightened, from cleaning, pouring, and ice carving to actual drink mixing. The art is not unlike that seen in Japanese tea ceremonies where every movement celebrates meaning.
Cocktail aficionados searching to bring this art form to their own home bar can begin by seeking out unique Japanese bar tools and cocktail sets. With an eye for precision behind every design, it’s easy to see why these pieces stand out in any home. Try sipping an Old Fashioned from a rocks glass made in Japan , and notice how the ultra-smooth texture of the glass adds a sense of calm and relaxation to your cocktail hour. Enjoy the flow of conversation as guests admire the sleek lines of Japanese-made crystal coupe glasses. Highlight the history behind every piece and give a traditional drink a Japanese twist by adding matcha, lychee juice, or sake. For further inspiration, try of the classic Japanese cocktails below.
Lemon Sour
Shochu is a traditional Japanese distilled hard liquor made from grains or vegetables such as sweet potato, rice, or barley.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Shochu
1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
Club soda
Instructions:
Add sochu and lemon juice to an ice filled collins glass, stir and top with soda water.
Matcha Highball
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves. It has become highly popular thanks to its health benefits.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Japanese whisky
½ oz. Fresh lemon juice
½ oz. Honey Syrup*
¼ tsp. Matcha green tea powder
4 oz. Soda water
Instructions:
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine whisky, lemon juice, honey syrup and matcha. Shake vigorously, then pour into a chilled, ice-filled collins glass. Pour the club soda into the shaker, swirl around to rinse, then stir into the glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
*Honey syrup recipe - In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup honey in 4 oz. water over moderate heat until blended. Remove from the heat and let cool, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Umeshu-tini
Umeshu is a traditional Japanese plum liqueur made by steeping ume fruits (while still unripe and green) in alcohol and sugar.
Ingredients:
3 oz. Umeshu
1 oz. Gin
Instructions:
Combine umeshu and gin in an ice filled cocktail pitcher. Stir until chilled, then strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass.