FRESH YUZU GIN DRINKS

The mighty yuzu is here for good.

Our adventures in gin making (and drinking) have led us to discover some pretty tasty botanicals over the years. And thanks to our travels to Japan and a few collabs with Japanese chefs and distillers, we’ve dabbled with one particular citrus enough times to know it makes a kickass gin (hello Pure Kisumé Gin, Changing Seasons Gin and Rarer Dry Gin). So, we decided it was time to make things official and take it up a notch. Fresh Yuzu Gin is here and it’s here for good.

Yuzu brings a mix of lemon, mandarin, cumquat and grapefruit aromatics to the fore (i.e. citrus galore). So for this gin, we added botanicals like ginger, turmeric and Japanese green tea with roasted brown rice to bring in the depth of flavour. It’s bright, it’s fresh, and damn does it makes some good yuzu cocktails.

So without further ado, we present to you four delicious yuzu gin cocktails to make with your Fresh Yuzu Gin.

FRESH YUZU HIGHBALL

Refreshing, bright and light. This is our take on the classic Japanese staple.

  • INGREDIENTS

    • ­­­45mL Fresh Yuzu Gin
    • 100mL soda water
    • Lemon
  • METHOD

    • Mix gin and soda water in a Highball glass over ice
    • Garnish with a wedge of lemon

YUZU GIN FIZZ

A long cocktail that's equal parts silky and delicate with a citrus punch.

  • INGREDIENTS

    • 45mL Fresh Yuzu Gin
    • 30mL fresh lemon juice
    • 20mL sugar syrup [1:1]
    • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • 1 egg white [optional]
    • Soda water
  • METHOD

    • Shake gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white and bitters over ice
    • Fine strain into a chilled rocks glass and top with soda water

YUZU DROP MARTINI

A Martini for the thrill seekers, not the purists.

  • INGREDIENTS

    • 60mL Fresh Yuzu Gin
    • 20mL fresh lemon juice
    • 10mL sugar syrup [1:1]
    • 10mL triple sec
    • Caster sugar
  • METHOD

    • Rim a chilled cocktail glass with caster sugar
    • Stir ingredients over ice in a mixing glass, then strain into the cocktail glass

COSMOPOLI-GIN

A new-age gin take on this vintage cool cocktail.

  • INGREDIENTS

    • 50mL Fresh Yuzu Gin
    • 30mL cranberry juice
    • 15mL fresh lime juice
    • 10mL triple sec
    • 5mL sugar syrup [1:1]
    • Orange

  • METHOD

    • Shake ingredients over ice then fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass
    • Garnish with a flamed orange zest