the mixer
Sake has emerged as a contender to vodka as Hong Kong's favourite mixer base. There are probably more sake-based cocktails than gin drinks being shaken by bartenders here as new Japanese eateries and bars sprout up.
The cocktails at Mong Kok's hippest new hangout, Tokoro Robatayaki & Bar, are a case in point, with more than 20 sake twists offered on traditional drinks from martinis to mojitos.
'Sake has a lower alcohol content, so it's lighter in mixes,' the venue's assistant manager, Ben Ho, says of the rice liquor. Tokoro's house sake is just 16 per cent alcohol, compared with 40 per cent for vodka. 'That's perfect for our target audience, which is women,' says Ho.
The Tokoro Lychee Julep, a minty fresh and fruity take on the famed whisky blend, is proving the most popular with female drinkers. Lychees have been a staple of the cocktail scene for many years and they remain in strong demand, says Ho. Incidentally, he reckons canned lychees are just as good fresh ones (and require far less effort to peel and stone) when it comes to mixing drinks. 'Canned lychees are always available, so we can make the drink whether the fruit is in season or not,' he says.
Tokoro, located in Langham Place, is a lively restaurant and bar that draws its inspiration from Tokyo's party district: Roppongi. The funky bar area features a 'ripple-effect' glass wall, giant fish tanks and windows overlooking the madness of Mong Kok's teeming streets. A perfect spot for a sake or seven.
Try Ho's cocktails (HK$77) at Tokoro Robatayaki & Bar, 3/F, Langham Place Hotel, 555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, tel: 3552 3330.
Tokoro Lychee Julep (above)
2 shots sake
3 lychees
10-12 mint leaves
If you're using fresh lychees, peel and stone them first. Muddle the lychees with mint leaves until they're crushed together, extracting the juice and releasing a potent aroma. Add the sake and shake well with ice. Strain into a tumbler over an ice cube or two. Garnish with a mint leaf.
Tokoro Daiquiri (below)
1 shot sake 1/2 shot Blue
Curacao ? shot apple juice
Dash of lemon juice
Put all the ingredients into a blender with ice and process until a bright blue slush is formed. Pour the mixture into a martini glass, leaving a peaked top to poke the straw into. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
