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"Sake Martini -- Shaken, not Stirred"

Ancient Japanese Drink meets Latest American Trend

by Madelyn Miller

Sake, the quintessential Japanese alcoholic drink -- a clear, rice wine enjoyed in that country for centuries, has finally met up with the Martini, possibly the most famous of American cocktails and the current rage in chic bars across the country, to form the Sake-Martini or, as it is sometimes called, the "Sake-tini."
 
Sake, (pronounced "sa-kay," not "sak-ee", as it's often spoken) has a distinctively dry, smooth taste -- less overpowering than vermouth.  This makes it a perfect complement to either vodka or gin, lending a new subtlety to this classic concoction.
 
Sake Martinis are showing up more and more in some of the most exclusive restaurants and bars in the country, including Windows on the World in New York, and are distinctive stand-out among the hotter Martinis, such as the sweet Cosmopolitan and Chocolate Martinis.
 
Here is the quintessential Sake Martini Recipe:
 
2 ½ Oz Gin or Vodka
¼    Oz. Fu-Ki Sake
¼    Oz. Marie Brizard CuraCao (or other brand)
 
Chill your Martini glass with ice for approximately three minutes.  Pour all ingredients into an iced mixing glass.  Stir 30 times with a bar spoon, or shake ten times.  Pour the ice out of your Martini glass.  Strain into glass. Serve.
 
Fu-Ki Sake is made by Godo Shusei, Japan's largest sake producer, and imported by the Monsieur Henri Wine Company, Inc.  Fu-Ki Sake is produced by cold fermentation using only pure rice, yeast and spring water.  A special process known as "polishing" removes the husk and outer layers from the rice, giving Fu-Ki Sake its famously clean, crisp taste.
 
The Monsieur Henri Wine Company, now celebrating its 63rd anniversary, imports a diversified portfolio of wines and specialty spirits from around the world.

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