New drink: Spirited Away

Here’s an original recipe for a great drink. I call it the “Spirited Away.”

My goal was to make something akin to a White Russian, but based on a green tea flavor instead of coffee. It’s better than I could have hoped for.

First, mix a teaspoon of matcha tea powder with a couple of tablespoons of warm water. Be sure to use the most expensive matcha you can find, so as to really scandalize people who respect and honor tea. To that, add about a teaspoon (or more, if you’ve a sweet tooth) of simple syrup. Add 2 ounces of a rice or barley-based shochu liquor (for my test run I used Gyokuro green tea shochu, but any neutral-ish shochu will do.) If you don’t have shochu, vodka will serve. Add about 3/4 ounce of cream - I used half and half. Combine with ice, shake vigorously, and strain to a cocktail glass. It should be a phosphorescent green, and absolutely delicious.

One side effect of using shochu instead of vodka - and part of the explanation for the name - is that it will have less alcohol than a White Russian. This is important, because you will be drinking more of them.