A Japanese-inspired cocktail with Cointreau, sake, and grapefruit juice
The Rising Sun is a balanced, slightly tart cocktail with an Asian flair. It combines the citrus-fresh elegance of Cointreau, the smooth complexity of sake, and the slight bitterness of grapefruit juice for a harmonious taste experience. A drop of pomegranate liqueur or grenadine adds a colorful accent – like a rising sun in the drink.
Ingredients for 1 Drink
- 3 cl Cointreau – French orange liqueur
- 6 cl freshly squeezed grapefruit juice – preferably pink
- 3 cl sake – a mild, well-chilled Japanese rice wine
- 1 drop of pomegranate liqueur or grenadine – for color and subtle sweetness
Required Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Bar measure/jigger
- Ice cube tray
- Beaker-shaped glass or tumbler
Preparation
- Fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
- Measure Cointreau, grapefruit juice, and sake and add it to the shaker.
- Shake the mixture vigorously for about 15–20 seconds until well chilled.
- Strain the drink into a beaker-shaped glass.
- Add 1 drop of pomegranate liqueur or grenadine directly to the drink and stir briefly with a bar spoon.
Garnish
- Grapefruit slice – on the rim of the glass or in the drink
- Mint sprig – for a fresh aroma and visual accent
Serving tip
The Rising Sun Cocktail is perfect as an aperitif or elegant sundowner. Its delicately tart balance makes it perfect with Asian dishes or as an accompaniment to sushi and light appetizers.
Variations
- With yuzu juice: For an even more exotic citrus kick.
- With a splash of soda: For a lighter, more sparkling version.
- Non-alcoholic: Replace the Cointreau with orange juice and the sake with cold green tea – ideal as a mocktail.
With its Japanese-French character, the Rising Sun is a cocktail that combines cultural elegance with pure freshness – and is as light as a sunrise itself.