Love savoury cocktails? This umami-laden, silky smooth recipe will hit the spot.
About the cocktail
For those who love the umami punch of a Bloody Mary or the salty olive brine of a Dirty Martini, this Sesame Martini will make sense. The star here is the toasty, nutty flavour of sesame oil, which you might be more familiar with as the finishing touch on your go-to stir fry. Here, those signature sesame-oil flavours are infused into vodka, making a unique, savoury base for our Martini. And while many infusions need time, the beauty of this mix is that it’s super quick and ready straight away. The Sesame Martini also includes some other familiar Asian flavours, with a touch of the sweet Japanese rice wine hon mirin and a deep-fried nori as garnish. The result is a toasty, savoury Martini that, as you might expect, really dials up the sesame flavours. The Sesame Martini works extremely well as a savvy match for your favourite Asian flavours. Since this is a short, strong style of cocktail, we’d pair it with small starter dishes, like crispy spring rolls, pork and chive dumplings, or salt and pepper squid. But considering that sesame also shows up across the Middle East, we’d happily sip this alongside a mezze plate of dips and breads.
Ingredients : Sesame vodka
250mL vodka ¼ tsp quality sesame oil
Ingredients: Cocktail
50mL sesame vodka (see method) 20mL dry vermouth 1 tsp hon mirin Glass: martini Garnish: deep-fried nori
Method
Pop your glass in the freezer to chill while you prepare the drink For your sesame vodka, add vodka and sesame oil to a jar and mix well Add the infused vodka and remaining ingredients to a mixing glass Stir over cubed ice until chilled and diluted Strain into your frosty glass Garnish with the nori
Dan’s top tips
When making your vodka infusion, just remember that sesame oil is a strong flavour. Even though there’s only a little bit going in, it will bring a lot of flavour, so be careful when adding and taste it as you mix. We’re also calling for a good quality sesame oil since you’re really going to taste it. This cocktail gives you a good excuse to browse your local Japanese or Asian grocer. That’s where you’ll find the best selection of deep-fried nori, quality sesame oil and good hon mirin. Picking up a few bags of dumplings while you’re there is essential. As with almost all Martinis, dry vermouth is the best one to use. Anything dry and white should do the trick but, if you have a favourite, use it. And that Martini rule of the colder the better stands here, so don’t skip freezing your glass, and take your time stirring the drink.
What is the difference between a Martini and the Sesame Martini?
A Martini is just vodka or gin and vermouth, whereas the Sesame Martini is sesame oil-infused vodka, vermouth and hon mirin.
Is the sesame vodka easy to make?
Yes! Infusing the vodka with sesame oil is as easy as adding the oil to the vodka and mixing it in.
- What does the Sesame Martini taste like?
The Sesame Martini has a toasty, nutty and savoury flavour profile.
