Try the Yokohama Cocktail recipe! Blend Gin, vodka, orange juice, Grenadine, and a dash of Pastis or Absinthe for a perfect summer cocktail.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 132
Ingredients
- 1 oz Gin
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- ½ oz Vodka
- ¼ oz grenadine
- 1 dash Absinthe or Pastis
- Ice cubes
- Orange zest twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Coupe or Martini Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
- Fine strainer
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill a Martini or Coupe glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
- Add Absinthe: Pour 1 dash Absinthe or Pastis into the shaker.
- Add Grenadine: Add ¼ oz grenadine.
- Add Orange Juice: Measure and pour 1 oz fresh orange juice into the shaker as well.
- Add Vodka: Add ½ oz Vodka.
- Add Gin: Finally, add 1 oz Gin to the mix.
- Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
- Strain: Take the Coupe or Martini glass and discard the ice inside. Then, using both the cocktail strainer and the fine strainer, strain the shaken drink into the chilled glass.
- Garnish: Garnish with an orange zest twist: to do so, express the orange zest on top of the glass (you can either discard it after or place it on the rim of the glass for an added citrus touch). Serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Gin: If you don't have Gin, you can try using only vodka to prepare this cocktail; the overall flavor will change, but it will still make for a nice cocktail.
- Vodka: If you’re out of vodka, you can just omit it and use a bit more gin instead. You can also substitute vodka with light rum if you prefer a slightly sweeter cocktail. Triple sec can also work, adding a citrusy note.
- Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice is always best, but store-bought works fine, too.
- Grenadine: If you're out of grenadine, any kind of red berries syrup can be a good alternative.
- Pastis: Anise-flavored liqueurs like absinthe or ouzo can replace pastis if needed.
Making a Pitcher of Yokohama Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 8 oz of Gin, 4 oz of vodka, 8 oz of orange juice, 2 oz of grenadine, and 1 ¼ oz of pastis or absinthe.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the gin, vodka, orange juice, grenadine, and pastis. Add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice, serve immediately into chilled martini or coupe glasses and garnish with an orange peel. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Gin Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic gin substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic Gin's botanicals.
- Vodka Substitute: Opt for non-alcoholic alternatives or use more orange juice to maintain volume.
- Pastis/absinthe Substitute: You can use a drop or two of star anise extract or aroma instead of the pastis. Be careful, these extracts are usually really strong! Make sure to start with a drop only and give it a taste before gradually adding more if necessary. Note that one dash of pastis or absinthe in an otherwise alcohol-free drink won’t raise the overall ABV of the drink: the drink will indeed chemically contain a drop of alcohol, but won’t make you intoxicated at all. Depending on your reason for not drinking alcohol and your degree of tolerance on the topic, you may decide to simply leave them out or to use them anyway when preparing your drink - both ways will work just fine!
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
What is a Yokohama Cocktail?
A Yokohama Cocktail is a cocktail made of gin, vodka, orange juice, grenadine, and a dash of pastis or absinthe. It’s easy to make because it involves simple mixing steps without complex techniques. The cocktail stands out due to its unique combination of citrusy sweetness from the orange juice and the subtle anise flavor from the Pastis.
What is a Yokohama Cocktail made of – The ingredients
These are the ingredients for making a Yokohama Cocktail:
- Gin: Adds botanical and juniper-forward notes.
- Vodka: Provides a neutral base to balance the flavors.
- Orange Juice: Brings refreshing citrusy sweetness.
- Grenadine: Adds sweetness and vibrant red color.
- Pastis: Introduces a subtle anise flavor for a unique twist.
