The Ginza Street cocktail is, true to its polished namesake, Tokyo’s take on the classic Alexander, with sake stepping in where brandy once stood.
Shaken hard with 1 oz (30ml) of sake, crème de cacao and fresh cream, it turns pearly white and silky, chocolate and vanilla wrapping the palate while a gentle hint of sake’s crispness lingers on the finish to keep the sweetness light. A dessert in a glass from Japan’s most elegant street, it’s well worth shaking up tonight.
Recipe and How to Make It
Ingredients
Recipe no.144
- Sake — 1 oz (30ml)
- Crème de cacao — 1/2 oz (15ml)
- Fresh cream — 1/2 oz (15ml)
Directions
Chill the glass beforehand, or fill it with ice and discard the ice and water just before pouring. Chill the fresh cream in the refrigerator in advance.
Add the sake, crème de cacao and fresh cream to the shaker. Mix them briefly with a bar spoon, then add ice.
Shake well, then pour into the glass, and it’s ready to serve. (Because it contains cream, shake harder or for longer.)
・Technique ｜ Shake
・Glass ｜ Cocktail glass
・ABV ｜ Around 12–14%
・Best Enjoyed ｜ Any time of day / After dinner
About the Ginza Street
Photo | Ginza at night
The Ginza Street is a sake cocktail born in Ginza, Tokyo’s most elegant shopping district. Ginza literally means “silver mint,” a name that comes from the shogunate’s silver mint, which moved there in 1612. Since the Meiji era, it has been the place where Japanese and Western culture meet.
That spirit shows in the glass. Pairing sake with crème de cacao and cream sounds daring, yet it follows the build of the classic Alexander, simply swapping brandy for Japan’s own sake.
The result is a dessert-like drink where sake’s clean finish lingers softly beneath chocolate and cream, a cocktail as polished as the street it’s named for.
Flavor and Character
The Ginza Street is a sweet, mellow dessert cocktail that shows sake in a new light. Crème de cacao brings chocolate and vanilla aromas, and cream adds a silky richness.
Its charm lies in balance: despite the sweetness, a gentle hint of sake’s crispness lingers on the finish, so it never feels heavy. It’s easy to enjoy even for anyone new to cocktails, and it’s lovely after dinner with nuts or chocolate.
I’d choose a slightly sweet sake over a very dry one, because it blends more smoothly with the cacao and cream.
Points, Twists & Food Pairings
Tips for Making It
- Shaking too gently (a common mistake) — Many people shake softly, as they would a light drink. Cream needs real force to blend with sake, so a soft shake leaves the drink thin and slightly separated. Shake hard for about 15 seconds for a silky, velvety texture.
- Choose a slightly sweet sake — A fresh junmai with gentle rice sweetness blends smoothly with cacao and cream. I’d skip very dry or aged sake here, because a soft, fruity style keeps the whole drink round and harmonious.
- White cacao and heavy cream — White crème de cacao keeps the drink a pure, pearly white, just like Ginza’s polished style. Use heavy cream (35% fat or more) for body, since lighter cream or milk turns the texture watery.
Twists
- Nutmeg or Cocoa Dusting — Finish with a light grating of nutmeg or a dusting of cocoa powder, just like a classic Alexander. The warm, toasty aroma reaches you first and makes each creamy sip feel even more like dessert.
- Matcha Ginza Street — Add 1/2 tsp of matcha powder before shaking. Its gentle bitterness and grassy aroma balance the sweetness and turn the drink a soft green, giving it an even more Japanese character.
Food Pairings
- Dark chocolate — The cocoa notes in crème de cacao echo the chocolate, while its gentle bitterness cuts through the cream’s richness, keeping every bite and sip balanced and elegant.
- Roasted almonds or hazelnuts — Their toasty crunch contrasts beautifully with the drink’s silky texture, and their nutty aroma brings out the cacao’s sweetness for an easy after-dinner match.
- Kinako mochi — These soft rice cakes coated in roasted soybean flour share sake’s rice roots, while the kinako’s nutty, toasty flavor blends naturally with cacao and cream.
Recipe Video
- Recipe Video ｜ BAR.Channel Channel Home
Ginza Street Cocktail: Creamy 3-Ingredient Sake Dessert Drink
The Ginza Street cocktail shakes sake, crème de cacao and cream into a silky 3-ingredient dessert drink from Tokyo. Get the recipe, tips and pairings.
タイプ: Cocktail
料理: Japanese
キーワード: ginza street cocktail, sake cocktail, sake cocktail recipe, sake and cream cocktail, japanese dessert cocktail, crème de cacao, alexander variation
レシピー歩留まり: 1 drink
準備時間: 3 minutes (PT3M)
所要時間: 5 minutes (PT5M)
レシピー材料:
- Sake — 1 oz (30ml)
- Crème de cacao — 1/2 oz (15ml)
- Fresh cream — 1/2 oz (15ml)
レシピーの説明:
Prepare:
- Chill the glass beforehand, or fill it with ice and discard the ice and water just before pouring. Chill the fresh cream in the refrigerator in advance.
Combine the ingredients:
- Add the sake, crème de cacao and fresh cream to the shaker. Mix them briefly with a bar spoon, then add ice.
Shake:
- Shake well, then pour into the glass, and it’s ready to serve. (Because it contains cream, shake harder or for longer.)
