Hinoki Martini

Hinoki Martini, Katana Kitten | New York, NY

As befits a bar that tries to straddle Japanese and American cocktails styles, this Martini is an international affair, made with French vodka, Colorado gin, sake and sherry. This is accented by a tincture inspired by hinoki, a type of cypress tree native to central Japan; as hinoki is not available in the U.S., a close species of cypress tree from Colorado is used in its place. The tincture is applied in both dash and spray form—five of each—which lends a woodsy, cooling air to the drink.

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 1 1/4 ounces Grey Goose vodka
  • 1 1/4 ounces Grey Goose vodka
  • 1 1/4 ounces Spring 44 Mountain Gin
  • 1 1/4 ounces Spring 44 Mountain Gin
  • 1/2 ounce Lustau Fino Sherry Jarana
  • 1/2 ounce Lustau Fino Sherry Jarana
  • 5 dashes hinoki tincture (see Editor's Note)
  • 5 dashes hinoki tincture (see Editor's Note)
  • 5 spritzes hinoki tincture (see Editor's Note)
  • 5 spritzes hinoki tincture (see Editor's Note)

Garnish: lemon twist, olive, rakkyu (a Chinese onion), and cypress leaf

Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients except tincture in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled, about 15 seconds.
  2. Strain into stemless frozen glass. It you own a masu, fill it with crushed ice and nestle the glass in the ice.
  3. Garnish with lemon twist, olive, rakkyu (a Chinese onion) and cypress leaf.
Editor's Note

As a substitute for the hinoki tincture, you can use rosemary stem essence. To make, take the stems of fresh rosemary and infuse them in vodka for 24 hours. Strain through a cheese cloth, and bottle. The resulting liquid will lend a piney note to the drink.

Tagged: gin, Martini

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