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Tokyo Drift Cocktail Drink

Tokyo Drift Drink Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Try the Tokyo Drift Drink recipe! Combine Japanese Whiskey, Strucchi Rosso Vermouth, Light Vermouth Amaro, and Strega Liqueur for a bold winter cocktail.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 314

Ingredients
 

  • 2 oz Single Malt Japanese Whiskey - originally Yamazaki 12
  • ¾ oz Sweet Vermouth
  • ½ oz Vermouth Amaro - preferably Cardamaro
  • 1 bar spoon of Strega Liqueur
  • Ice cubes
  • Lemon zest twist - for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Coupe Glass
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Stirring Glass
  • Cocktail Strainer
  • Stirrer or Bar Spoon

Instructions

  • Prep Glass: Fill a Coupe glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
  • Add Strega: Pour 1 bar spoon of Strega Liqueur into the mixing glass.
  • Add Vermouth Amaro: Measure and pour ½ oz Vermouth Amaro into the mixing glass.
  • Add Sweet Vermouth: Add ¾ oz Sweet Vermouth.
  • Add Whisky: Finally, add 2 oz Single Malt Japanese Whiskey to the mix.
  • Add Ice and Stir: Fill the mixing glass with ice. Using a bar spoon or a long stirrer, stir well (for about 15-20 seconds). Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
  • Strain: Take your cocktail coupe and discard the ice inside. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into the chilled glass.
  • Garnish: Garnish with a lemon zest twist (express the peel on top of the drink and then place it on the rim of the glass or drop it directly inside) and serve immediately.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Japanese Whiskey: If you don't have Japanese Whiskey, you can use a single malt Scotch Whisky as an alternative.
  • Sweet Vermouth: Any kind of red vermouth can be used for this recipe. You could also try a fortified wine like port or sherry (Oloroso, Palo Cortado or Pedro Ximenez for example) for a different flavor profile.
  • Cardamaro Vermouth Amaro: If you can't find Cardamaro, you can use Punt e mes or Cocchi Dopo teatro as a substitute.
  • Strega Liqueur: Yellow Chartreuse can be a good substitute for Strega Liqueur, offering similar herbal notes.

Making a Pitcher of Tokyo Drift Drink:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of Single Malt Japanese Whiskey, 6 oz of Sweet Vermouth, 4 oz of Cardamaro Vermouth Amaro, and  1 ½ oz of Strega Liqueur.
  • Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Japanese Whiskey, sweet Vermouth, Cardamaro and Strega Liqueur. Add ice and stir well. Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary. Strain to remove the ice and transfer into a bottle or jar.
  • Serve: Pour the mixture into chilled coupe glasses, garnish with a lemon zest twist, and serve immediately. Be sure to put the bottle back into the fridge between each serving so the drink can remain perfectly cold. If you have any leftovers, you can keep the bottle in the fridge for up to three months.