In Japan , two drink sovereignty supreme : whiskyand tea . So when bar manager Gillian Tyrnauaer and mixologist Scott Beattie met to make the cocktail bill of fare forRamen Gaijinin Sebastopol , California , it only made sense to bring the two together into a version of Japan ’s third favorite potable , the Whisky Highball .
Ramen Gaijin ’s cocktail menu features three unripened tea - instill Whisky Highballs , each made simply with menage - infused green Camellia sinensis whisky , soda H2O , ice and a seaweed garnish . “ They ’re topnotch solid food - friendly — and not all cocktails are , ” Tyrnauaer says . “ There ’s no sweet or acidity but there is a sluttish umami quality . They ’re tasty alone , but really shine with food . ”
Tyrnauaer uses the same whiskey for all of her infusions , Akashi White Oak , which she chose for its intermediate body and naturally mouth-watering quality . presently , there are three infusion on the menu made with three different tea : sencha ( a shining , grassy tea ) , houjicha ( a roasted tea with nutty , toasty notes ) and genmaicha ( a green afternoon tea with toasted brown rice ) . For Tyrnauaer , a Highball made with the houjicha - instill whiskey is better with a main path — something rich and fatty like ramen — while the other two pair better with appetizers like skewered grilled meats and pickle .
Matthew Kelly/Supercall
As for the seaweed garnish , Tyrnauaer likes the brininess it adds to the cocktail . She choose for ocean palm , which farm locally along the Sonoma Coast . “ It ’s proportionate , ” she says of the cocktail in its finished shape .
Here , how to make your own green tea leaf - infuse whiskey and a green tea - infuse Whisky Highball .
Green Tea-Infused Whiskey
Tools:32 - oz Mason jarSpoon
Ingredients:1 750 - ml bottle Japanese whiskey such as Akashi White Oak18 grams loose fleeceable tea such as sencha , houjicha or genmaicha
Method :
Green Tea-Infused Whisky Highball
Ingredients:1.5 oz green afternoon tea - infused whisky2 oz soda waterSea palm , for garnish
