Strawberry Sake Cocktail Recipe - Serious Eats

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Strawberry Sake Cocktail

One sip and there's no question what season it is. This cocktail is the perfect way to enjoy one of summer's most iconic fruits.

By Kelly Carámbula

Kelly Carámbula

Kelly Carámbula is an artist and sculptor based in San Francisco. Kelly was the designer and publisher behind Remedy Quarterly (2009–2018), a magazine about food memories and the recipes that inspire them, as well as an award-winning food blogger at The Best Remedy.

Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process Updated April 09, 2025 Save WRITE A REVIEW Print Close

Serious Eats / Kelly Carámbula

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Why It Works

A clean, dry style of sake provides a complimentary and unobtrusive backdrop for the real star of this cocktail: ripe, peak-season strawberries and freshly muddled mint.

Iwas recently flipping through Dale Degroff's The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks, reading his endless mouthwatering cocktail recipes and getting the urge to whip something up. When I got to his mojito recipe, something stuck me—he suggests that a mojito should taste like adult mint limeade, as easy drinking as can be. It seems so obvious, but to me, the quintessential summer drinks are all about the fresh flavors of what's in season; the alcohol is simply a supporting element. With that in mind, I created a drink that fully embraces the sweet flavor of strawberries paired with mint.

In order to let the strawberries shine, I decided to use one of the most underused alcohols when it comes to making cocktails—sake. I used Sho Chiku Bai Junmai Gingo which is produced in California. It's a clean, smooth sake with hints of fruit that's delicious on it's own, but it provides a perfect light base for cocktails as well.

To keep from getting chunks of strawberries in every sip, I muddled the strawberries until they were completely disintegrated. One sip of this drink and there's no question what season it is—it's time to take advantage of as many strawberries as you can.

May 2012

Recipe Details

Strawberry Sake Cocktail Recipe

Prep 5 mins Active 5 mins Total 5 mins Serves 1 serving Save Print Keep Screen Awake

2 strawberries, sliced plus another for garnish
3/4 ounce fresh juice from 1 to 2 limes
1 ounce simple syrup (see note)
1 sprig of mint, plus another for garnish
2 ounces Junmai Ginjo sake
1 1/2 ounces seltzer water

In a mixing glass, muddle strawberry, lime juice, and simple syrup in the bottom of a tall glass until the strawberry is completely dissolved. Add mint leaves and gently tap 5 times with muddler. (Do not over-muddle mint or it will taste bitter and muddy.)
Fill glass with ice and add sake. Stir until the fully incorporated. Pour unstrained into serving glass, top with seltzer and garnish with a sprig of mint and a strawberry.

Special Equipment

Cocktail shaker, muddler

Notes

To make simple syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cool before using.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Simple syrup will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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Liqueurs & Fortified Wines
Strawberry

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
151	Calories
0g	Fat
22g	Carbs
1g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label ×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	151
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 22g	8%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 39mg	194%
Calcium 22mg	2%
Iron 0mg	2%
Potassium 127mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.