Let your tastebuds flourish as we celebrate the beautiful sakura through these delicious cherry blossom cocktail recipes!

Every year, from March through to May, crowds flock to Japan to watch the sakura flower bloom. Lining the streets, the stunning sakura, otherwise known as cherry blossom, stuns the world with its intricate beauty.

And, as the sakura season is coming into full bloom, Saké Restaurant & Bar has shared with us four cherry blossom inspired cocktail recipes. Perfect for happy hour at home or a mid-afternoon picnic in the park, shake, stir and sip your way through these delicious cherry blossom cocktails this season!

<strong>Cheri Dorinku</strong>
Photographed by Anna Kucera. Image supplied.

Cheri Dorinku

Ingredients:
40mL Pampero Especial Rum
20mL Cherry Heering Liqueur
30mL lime juice
15mL maraschino cherry syrup
15mL simple syrup
Elderflower tonic, to top
Maraschino cherry, to garnish
Mint leaves, to garnish

Method:
1. Add ingredients into a highball glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice and top with tonic.
2. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and mint leaves.


<strong>Little Geisha</strong>
Photographed by Anna Kucera. Image supplied.

Little Geisha

Ingredients:
15mL cranberry juice
15mL lime juice
15mL strawberry purée
15mL egg whites
20mL Tanqueray Gin
20mL Luxardo Maraschino
20mL Amabuki Pink Lady Gin
15mL simple syrup
Edible flowers, to garnish

Method:
1. Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker for 30 seconds and strain into a coupe glass.
2. Garnish with edible flowers.


<strong>Not an Ordinary Cherry</strong>
Photographed by Anna Kucera. Image supplied.

Not an Ordinary Cherry

Ingredients:
45mL Bulleit Bourbon
15mL Cinzano Rosso Vermouth
5mL Sakura Vermouth
Dash of Peychaud’s Bitters
1 tsp Monin Cherry Syrup
Black cherries, to garnish

Method:
1. Coat bottom of a Nick and Nora glass with the cherry syrup.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing glass and stir. Pour mixture into the glass, ensuring a layer of cherry syrup sits at the bottom.
3. Garnish by skewering the black cherries.


<strong>Yozakura</strong>
Photographed by Anna Kucera. Image supplied.

Yozakura

Ingredients:
60mL Ketel One Citroen Vodka
20mL Monin Cherry Syrup
30mL lemon juice
15ml egg whites
Pinch of salt
Edible flowers, to garnish
T2 Turkish Cherry Tea, to garnish
Yukari shiso salt, to garnish

Method:
1. Dip one side of the rim of a Nick and Nora glass in lemon juice, then dip the rim in cherry tea and salt.
2. Pour remaining ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Add a handful of ice and shake for another 30 seconds.
3. Double strain into glass and garnish with edible flowers.


For other spring inspired drinks, why not try these 8 Floral Inspired Spring Cocktail Recipes. And, learn more about the Top 10 Australian Made Botanical Spirits here.

Feature image: Photographed by Anna Kucera. Image supplied.
This article was first published on September 08 2023. It was updated and edited by Hunter and Bligh on April 17 2024.
Editor’s Note: Our writers and contributors have independently selected and curated this article, and all opinions are their own. This article does contain affiliate links which allow us to make revenue off some purchases made by our readers.