Kamikaze Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Colleen Graham
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson Reviewed on 08/22/20 by
Sean Johnson is a bartender and drink maker with almost two decades of experience who believes a great cocktail can change your life.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Recipe Testing Panel
Sean Michael Johnson
Updated 01/11/21
Kamikaze Cocktail

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
214 Calories
0g Fat
20g Carbs
0g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 214
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Protein 0g
Calcium 22mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The kamikaze is an iconic bar drink that has been around since the mid-20th century. It's one of the best-known vodka "martinis" and offers a sweet-tart taste that many drinkers enjoy. In fact, it's such a popular mix that there's also a kamikaze shooter and several variations to explore.

When looking at the recipe, you'll notice connections between the kamikaze and other famous cocktails. It is, quite simply, a vodka margarita, very similar to the original daiquiri, and the modern cosmopolitan was initially created as a cranberry kamikaze. Like those recipes, this cocktail uses just a few simple ingredients: vodka, triple sec, and lime juice. It's a fine balance of flavors that, when mixed correctly, is invigorating and has a fascinating bite to bring you back for another sip.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce triple sec
  • 1 ounce lime juice (fresh)
  • Garnish: lime wedge​

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for making a kamikaze cocktail

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, pour the vodka, triple sec, and lime juice.

    Cocktail shaker with ice cubes, vodka, lime juice, and triple sec

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Shake well.

    Cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Strain liquid into a chilled cocktail glass

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy.

    Kamikaze cocktail

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Tips

  • This is a cocktail where you want to pour the smoothest vodka in your bar. Use premium vodkas that you would typically enjoy on their own or in a vodka martini.
  • Ensure that the quality of the triple sec matches that of your vodka. Spend a little more on a top-shelf brand; a high-end curaçao works as well.
  • Fresh lime juice definitely produces a better-tasting kamikaze. You should be able to get 1 ounce of juice out of a whole lime and can simply squeeze it directly into the shaker.

Recipe Variations

  • Adjust the ratio to suit your taste. For instance, you might like a little more lime and prefer your kamikaze with 1 1/2 ounces of lime juice and just 1/2 ounce of the orange liqueur. Some people prefer it with equal parts of the three ingredients.
  • Turn the kamikaze a pretty blue color by pouring blue curaçao instead of triple sec.
  • Try flavored vodka; almost any fruit infusion works, including berry, citrus, coconut, and pineapple. Vanilla vodka works well, too; it'll make it similar to the key lime pie martini without the pineapple.
  • Another popular variation is a "SoCo" kamikaze, in which the vodka is replaced with Southern Comfort.

Where Was the Kamikaze Invented?

The kamikaze's origins can be traced to an American naval base in Japan after World War II. It didn't become really popular until the 1970s, though. In his book "Cocktail" (which inspired the Tom Cruise movie), writer Heywood Gould calls it a classic disco-era cocktail invented by teenagers. For years, the kamikaze was primarily served as a shot and often employed sweetened lime juice (particularly Rose's). Bartenders eventually found that fresh lime juice creates a more enjoyable mix, and the cocktail version became a popular addition to modern martini menus.

Why Is It Called a Kamikaze Drink?

In Japanese, the word kamikaze translates to "divine wind." It initially referred to the typhoon that the Mongols were met with while trying to invade Japan in the 13th century. It's also often erroneously attributed to a name used by the Japanese military for its pilots and their missions—although it seems they later adopted the phrase despite the fact that the word used for their pilots was slightly different. It's most likely that the drink took on the name due to its origins in Japan, bold flavors, and alcohol kick.

How Strong Is a Kamikaze Cocktail?

The kamikaze is among the strongest cocktails, weighing in around 25 percent ABV (50 proof). That's typical of drinks in this style and over half the strength of the vodka itself. If you want to avoid a hangover, think twice about mixing up another round.