The Japanese rice drink, sake, recently earned a spot on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Here’s how Mumbai drinks it. (Story by Phorum Pandya)
Updated On: 2024-12-20 12:42 PM IST
Compiled by : Jyoti Shukla
Ichigo sour
Ichigo sour (Rs 827) is a delightful blend of strawberry, balsamic, and sake, creating a beautifully balanced drink that’s sweet yet sour. Coming up on the menu is kira kira (Rs 850), a sparkling sake with fresh grapes. It’s a take on Bellini or a mimosa.
AT Mizu Izakaya, ground floor, Ganga Jamuna Building, 14th Road, Khar West.
CALL 9372023641
Sakuraaaa
We assure you the spellings are not incorrect. Co-founder of Donmai, Sameer Uttamsingh, has named the cocktails with an extra punch. “In Matchaaaa (R875), we make a matcha concoction with gin and sake, which is then clarified by milk washing. It is stirred over ice. It is garnished with a drop of shiso oil and served with a matcha flavoured pocky. Sakuraaaa (Rs 945), has gin, cranberry juice and cherry extract mixed over ice with edible glitter. This is topped with sparkling sake.
AT Donmai, G-03, Altimus, opposite Doordarshan Towers, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli.
CALL 9730659776
Masako
Masako (Rs 1,250) is spiked with herbal tea blend with chamomile, jasmine, rose and lavender, citrus, mushroom infusion and fresh lychee juice, and is named after the Empress of Japan.
AT Dashanzi, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu.
CALL 66933344
Asian sake lemonade
At Mirai, the mojito gets a refreshing Japanese twist in the form of the Asian sake lemonade (R800). This is prepared with Honjozo sake, aromatic herbs such as lemongrass, kaffir lime, Thai basil leaves and fresh muskmelon.
AT Suburbia Building, between Linking Road and Swami Vivekananda Road, Bandra West.
CALL 9004618228
Geisha-style concoction
Masumi kaya sake and Good day soju are muddled with refreshingly fruity flavours with a garnish of a berry smoke bubble to create a Geisha-style concoction (R870).
AT Amaru, KC Marg, General Arunkumar Vaidya Nagar, Bandra West.
CALL 9833450040
Koli echoes
The residents of Koliwada brew their ferments in-house, which taste very similar to sake, and are very fruity and uplifting. The folks at Slink & Bardot took inspiration and put together a Koli echoes (R1,200), a cocktail with sake, vodka, Umeshu, lychee, cucumber and fresh lemon.
AT Slink & Bardot, Thadani House 329/A, opposite Indian Coast Guard, Worli Village.
CALL 9326965643
Tokachi ice (Representative Pic)
The sake menu at this Bandra space is designed to provide guests with an authentic and curated experience of Japan’s most iconic beverage. They are handpicked from many regions of Japan to give a diverse selection, ranging from Junmai, Ginjo, Daiginjo, Honjozo styles. “We serve our sake in hand-crafted ceramic cups [ochoko] or cedar masu boxes for a traditional touch,” explains Syesha Kapoor, its co-founder. Tokachi ice (Rs 1,200) is an aromatic effervescent drink with umami from shitake rum and vanilla infused sake and topped with sparkling wine.
AT Akina, Turner Road, Bandra West.
CALL 8976452911