With notes of punchy citrus, warm local spices and juniper, Wa Bi Gin stands up well in a variety of cocktails which complement and enhance some of its native botanicals such as yuzu, ginger and shiso.
Wa Bi Gin from Japan is distilled from rice spirit and comprised of nine native botanicals along with juniper that give it a distinctive character and flavour profile. Here are three Wa Bi Gin cocktail recipes created by Rockpool Dining Group bartenders presented in the order show above from left to right.
Wa Bi Gin Cocktails: Wa Bi Gibson
“The rich oily texture of Wa Bi Gin is enhanced with this simple mix of dry Australian vermouth, togarashi spiced pickled onion and a yuzu shiso oil for aroma” – Recipe by Jonothan Strathakis of Sake Restaurant, The Rocks.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Wa Bi Gin
- 10 ml Regal Rogue Daring Dry Vermouth
- 1 drop yuzu shiso oil
Glassware: coupette
Garnish: togariashi onion, shiso leaf, yuzu nest
Method
Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupette. Garnish with togariashi onion on a pick and shiso leaf on the outside of the glass. Serve with a yuzu nest.
Wa Bi Gin Cocktails: Wabi Daisey
“Tall refreshing Collins style cocktail with yuzu sake, lemon, soda and a light herbal Chartreuse kick designed to contrast the savoury elements in Wa Bi Gin” – Recipe by Jean-Marc Vicario of Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Wa Bi Gin
- 20 ml Yuzu Sake
- 10 ml lemon juice
- 5 ml simple syrup
- soda water to top
- 5 ml Yellow Chartreuse float
Glassware: highball
Garnish: shiso leaf
Method
Build the drink in a highball with ice cubes. Top with soda water. Float the Yellow Chartreuse on top and garnish with a shiso leaf.
Wa Bi Gin Cocktails: Bean There Done That
“The red bean syrup provides a great complement to the ginger and perilla notes coming from the Wa Bi Gin while Yuzu Sake and black sesame brighten up the dense oily texture of the spirit” – Recipe by Dan Strahand of Spice Temple, Sydney.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Wa Bi Gin
- 10 ml Yuzu Sake
- 5 ml lemon juice
- 20 ml red bean syrup
- 1 dash of bitters
- 1 dash of sesame seeds
Glassware: coupette
Garnish: black sesame seed
Method
Add ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake and strain into a chilled coupette crusted with black sesame seed.
Wa Bi Gin is available in Australia in 700 ml bottles at RRP $135.99 from Dan Murphy’s Cellar Prahran (282 Chapel St, Prahran VIC, Phone: (03) 8347 6662). Also available through Qantas ePiqure at $135.00.
In partnership with Déjà vu Sake Co, importers of Wa Bi Gin in Australia.
Photo by Cocktails & Bars, taken at Spice Temple Sydney – © Copyright: All rights reserved.
