Spring – the season of hope and new beginnings; season for chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies and for the wonderful Sakura blossoms. And to us at Coffee & Cravings, Roku Gin has just given a new meaning to spring: tasty cocktails and meticulous craftsmanship behind one of the finest brands of Japanese gin.
This year, Roku Gin celebrates spring with a special selection of cocktails prepared by some of Singapore’s top mixologists and chefs from VUE, Smoke & Mirrors, One-Ninety or MO Bar, among others.
We kicked off this special season of cocktails at the iconic rooftop bar & restaurant VUE, where we had the pleasure to sample three boozy spring creations: The Pleasant Stroll, Garden of Eden and Lake of Osaka, crafted by VUE’s executive chef Sam Chin.
The Pleasant Stroll ($26) is a sweet and slightly tangy concoction of Roku Gin, Aperol, umeshu and homemade nutmeg lime cordial. This cocktail is robust and strong, for the more adventurous Aperol afficionados who like their Aperol with a certain amount of je ne sais quoi.
For those who prefer their drinks on the sweeter side, there’s the Lake of Osaka ($26) which marries sweet and fruity flavours of peach and yuzu and homemade thyme honey syrup with butterfly pea infused Lillet Blanc and the elegant, floral bouquet of Roku Gin.
Last but not least – our absolute favourite concoction of the night, the Garden of Eden ($26). The Garden of Eden combines the subtle notes of Roku Gin with St Germain elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, orange juice, egg white and simple sugar syrup. Simple, refined and refreshing. A perfect cocktail after a busy day at the (home) office, best enjoyed together with a stunning view of sunset.
Each one of these cocktails embraces the Japanese principle of monozukuri – a unique way of making things with meticulous attention to detail. In the process of crafting Roku Gin, monozokuri ensures that only the best of its key botanicals are harvested each season: Sakura leaves and flowers in spring, sencha and gyokuro teas in summer, sansho pepper in autumn and yuzu in winter.
Let’s celebrate spring with Roku Gin between now and end of May at the following venues: VUE, MO Bar, Good Luck, Smoke & Mirrors, One-Ninety, Last Word, Here Kitty Kitty, Lil’ Tiger and Taki Izakaya Bar.
**This was a hosted tasting—thanks to Roku Gin for hosting.**
