Fancy a cocktail with a bit of Japanese flair? The Yuzu Martini's just the ticket. It's bright, zesty, and dead easy to make - just stir together a few simple ingredients, strain into a chilled glass, and you're good to go with a bright, refreshing cocktail that packs a proper citrusy punch. Perfect for a night in or when you're cooking up something special.
Yuzu Martini – At a Glance
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Why You'll Love This Yuzu Cocktail
This one's all about that tart, citrusy yuzu flavor, paired with your choice of Japanese gin or vodka. It's clean, refreshing, and goes down a treat. Great with a few nibbles-think togarashi fries or a tofu katsu burger.
Gin or Vodka?
For the yuzu martini you've got options here:
- Roku Gin: Full of Japanese botanicals-think green tea, cherry blossom, and yuzu peel. Adds a lovely herbaceous kick.
- Haku Vodka: Super smooth and subtle, letting the yuzu shine front and center.
Either way, you're onto a winner.
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Ingredients
Serves 1 | Prep time 5 mins
For the drink:
- 50ml Roku Gin or Haku Vodka
- 12.5ml Tosa Yuzu Juice
- 12.5ml Dry Vermouth
- 12.5ml Cointreau
To garnish:
- Lemon twist
How to Make Yuzu Martini
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add your gin or vodka, yuzu juice, vermouth, and Cointreau.
- Give it a good stir with a spoon or stirrer.
- Strain it into a chilled martini glass.
- Twist a bit of lemon peel over the top, then drop it in or rest it on the rim.
- Serve right away, nice and cold.
Hint: Peel your lemon twist right over the glass so you catch those lovely oils-they give the drink a real lift.
Substitutions
- Yuzu Juice: If you can't find yuzu juice, try mising equal parts of grapefruit, lemon and lime to achieve a similar
- Dry Vermouth: Try Lillet Blanc for a slightly sweeter kick.
- Cointreau: Triple Sec or Grand Marnier will do the trick.
Variations
- Yuzu Honey Martini - Add a teaspoon of honey syrup to soften the tartness and bring a touch of sweetness.
- Herb Twist - muddle in some shiso or mint.
- Sparkling Yuzu Martini - top with soda or prosecco.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Stirrer or spoon
- Strainer
- Chilled martini glass
Storage
Always make this drink fresh for best results. However, you can mix the base (no ice) and keep it in the fridge for a day. Just stir with ice before serving.
Top Tips
- Use Fresh Yuzu if You Can - the flavor's unbeatable
- Keep Everything Cold - glasses, shaker, spirits-keeps it crisp.
- Don't Shake-Stir! - keeps it smooth and silky. Unless you want shards of ice in your drink James Bond style.
Yuzu Martini FAQs
Asian grocery stores, specialty markets, or online-Amazon's a good shout.
If the yuzu is a bit too tart for your liking, just add a splash of simple syrup or agave nectar. Start small-about half a teaspoon-then taste and adjust as needed. This keeps the drink balanced and smooth.
Absolutely! Regular gin or vodka will work perfectly fine. Japanese brands like Roku Gin or Haku Vodka add a bit more of a unique character, but the cocktail will still taste great with standard spirits.
Use plenty of ice in the shaker and make sure your martini glass is chilled in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before serving. Cold ingredients keep the cocktail crisp and prevent it from getting watered down too quickly.
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Pairing
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📖 Recipe
Yuzu Martini
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Bartender's spoon or long stirer (a cooking chopstick would work well)
- Cocktail strainer
- chilled martini glass
- Measuring jigger
Ingredients
- 50 ml Roku Gin or Haku Vodka
- 12.5 ml Tosa Yuzu Juice
- 12.5 ml Dry Vermouth
- 12.5 ml Cointreau
Garnish
- Lemon twist
Instructions cook mode
- Chill your cocktail shaker and fill it with ice.
- Add gin or vodka, yuzu juice, vermouth, and Cointreau.
- Stir well using a bar spoon or cocktail stirrer.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
- Serve immediately while ice-cold.
Notes
If you cannot find fresh yuzu, bottled yuzu juice works perfectly. Look for unsweetened 100% yuzu juice for the best flavour balance. Spirit choice:
This cocktail works beautifully with both vodka and gin. Vodka creates a cleaner, citrus-forward drink, while gin adds botanical depth. Balance the flavour:
Yuzu can vary in tartness. Taste and adjust the sweetness by adding a little more simple syrup if needed. Chill everything:
For the best texture and flavour, chill your glass and ingredients before mixing. This keeps the martini crisp and refreshing. Shake properly:
Shake with ice for at least 10 to 15 seconds to fully chill and slightly dilute the drink for a smooth finish. Glassware:
Serve in a chilled martini glass for a classic presentation, or use a coupe glass as an alternative. Garnish ideas:
Try a strip of lemon peel, yuzu zest, or a thin slice of citrus to enhance aroma. Make it ahead:
You can pre-mix the liquid ingredients and store them in the fridge for a few hours. Shake with ice just before serving.
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