Spring Snow Cocktail Recipe ｜ A Simple 4-Ingredient Sake Drink

This Spring Snow cocktail — known in Japanese as “Haru no Yuki,” literally “spring snow” — was created by Kazuo Hanasaki, a towering figure in Japanese bartending. Here’s an interesting fact: Hanasaki is also the author of “Bartender’s Manual,” a foundational Japanese textbook for aspiring bartenders first published in 1987 and still referenced by professionals today. The soft white foam that rises in the glass evokes the light, fleeting snow of early spring, while sake and green tea liqueur bring distinctly Japanese flavor, rounded out by gin and lemon’s crisp brightness. This delicate cocktail, built around the season when trees begin to bud, pairs beautifully with Japanese cuisine. It’s an elegant pour worth savoring as cherry blossoms come into bloom, capturing the quiet beauty of Japan’s seasons.

Recipe and Method

Ingredients

Method

・Technique ｜ Shake
・Glass ｜ Cocktail glass
・ABV ｜ Around 23-24%
・Best Enjoyed ｜ Daytime

Spring Snow ｜ Details and Video

Origins and Character

This original cocktail was created by Kazuo Hanasaki, the bartender behind “Bartender’s Manual,” a book often described as essential reading for the profession, first published in 1987. The name Haru no Yuki, meaning “spring snow,” comes from the white foam that rises when the drink is poured, resembling a light dusting of late-season snow. Built around the image of Japan’s early spring, when trees are just starting to bud, it’s a genuinely distinctive expression of Japanese flavor.

Sake brings a mellow, gentle aroma; dry gin adds crisp alcohol presence and juniper’s refreshing character; green tea liqueur contributes distinctly Japanese green tea flavor and a quiet sweetness; lemon juice rounds it out with citrus acidity. On the surface of the poured drink, a soft white foam from shaking settles delicately, resembling snow lightly dusting a budding spring branch.

Take a sip and sake’s soft rice character meets green tea’s gentle sweetness in harmony, while gin’s strength holds the whole drink together. Lemon’s acidity ties every element together, leaving a refreshing finish. It’s a drink where East meets West, tasting almost like the arrival of a new spring.

Give this delicate, elegant cocktail a try as spring arrives, and experience the beauty of Japan’s seasons in a single glass.

Points, Twists, and Food Pairings

Food Pairings

• Sashimi & light sushi — Sake and sushi share the same rice base, a natural affinity, while green tea’s earthy notes cleanse the palate between bites.
• Wagashi (Japanese sweets) — Green tea liqueur echoes the traditional pairing of matcha and wagashi, and the cocktail’s subtle sweetness matches beautifully.
• Grilled or salted dishes (yakitori, salted edamame) — Sake’s umami and gin’s crispness cut through savory richness, keeping each bite fresh.

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Points

A common mistake is shaking too briefly, which leaves the green tea liqueur’s flavor unevenly mixed and the drink tasting one-note. Shake for a full 10-15 seconds so all four ingredients fully combine and chill evenly.

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Twists

• Add a few fresh mint leaves for a cooling, herbal accent that echoes the “spring” theme
• Swap dry gin for a Japanese craft gin for an even more cohesive, wa-inspired profile
• Rim the glass lightly with matcha powder for extra aroma and a striking visual touch

I’d always use a well-chilled, high-quality junmai sake here — a lower-grade or warm sake tends to flatten out once mixed, and this cocktail genuinely depends on sake’s aroma coming through clearly.

Recipe Video

• Recipe Video ｜ BAR DUNBAR Meguro   Channel Home