Brews & Spirits | Connecting the ecosystem for beer, spirits & wine industry in India

As we approach the end of the year, the chill in the evening air makes us slowly gravitate towards our warm blankets, knitwear, and steamy drinks. Why not experiment and create exciting cocktails to close the year on a high note and welcome 2022 with a spring of festive cheer? Here are a few cocktail recipes with spirits from the stellar House of Suntory portfolio, such as Suntory Whiskey Toki and Japanese craft gin Roku.

Toki signifies ‘time’ in Japanese. The House of Suntory’s fourth Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo, brought the grain component of the blend from the Chita distillery, where the heavy-type grain whiskey is distilled only twice on column stills, and is sweet and vanilla-rich in its unblended state.

He sourced the malt component from the Hakushu distillery, which produces light, fruity malt similar to many Speyside distilleries.

Hot Whisky

This is an exquisite treat with a delicious aroma wafting from the warm glass. It can be enjoyed in many different ways, going nicely with a great variety of toppings like citrus.

Ingredients

Hot Water

1/3rd to 1/4th quarter of the glass of Suntory Whiskey Toki

Directions

Warm a heat-resistant glass by filling it with hot water. Fill the warm glass with one-third to one-quarter of Suntory Whiskey Toki. Add 2-3 times that amount of water. Stir gently with a bar spoon and enjoy.

Floral Highball

This one is a unique recipe created with hibiscus to bring out the stellar composition of Japanese craftsmanship and aged malts.

Ingredients

Suntory Whiskey Toki: 60ml

Hibiscus and Rhododendron cordial: 15ml

Clarified lime juice: 5ml

Himalayan pink salt

Ginger ale

Block Ice

Directions

Build the drink in a Highball glass and stir. Garnish with an edible flower.

Toki Highball

This chilled Highball beautifully brings out the inherent flavour and fullness of whiskey. It also sets off the taste of various foods.

Ingredients

1 part Suntory Whiskey Toki

3 parts soda water

Directions

Add ice to a Highball glass and stir to chill. Add Suntory Whiskey Toki and stir to chill. Top with soda water, and add a lemon peel for garnish.

True to its Japanese craftsmanship, Roku gin alludes to the impeccable flavours and authenticity of the region. The unique blend artfully balances six unique Japanese botanicals: Sakura flower or Yae-sakura and Sakuna leaf or Oshima-sakura, which add the floral hints, Sencha tea and Gyokuro tea, for the full-bodied aroma, Sansho pepper or Bu-do Sansho, for the spicy notes, and Yuzu peel for the sweet citrus fruitiness.

Roku Hot-up Yuzu

On these cold, winter days, warm up with a Yuzu cocktail.

Ingredients

Roku gin: 30ml

Yuzu tea: 1 tablespoon

Hot water: 150ml

Slice of yuzu

Granulated sugar

Directions

Pour the Roku into a glass and add the Yuzu tea. Pour in the hot water and stir with a spoon. Top with a Yuzu slice sprinkled with sugar and scorched with a burner.