Saketini

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/16/21
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Saketini sake martini

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
181 Calories
0g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 181
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 15mg 0%
*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 sake martini, or saketini, is a delightful way to enjoy sake, and it can be made with either gin or vodka. The recipe is very easy to mix up and makes for a wonderful dinner drink. In the saketini, the sake acts like the vermouth of a classic gin martini, bringing in a nuance that only this fermented rice beverage can contribute. Although most people refer to sake as rice wine, it is technically closer to beer than wine in the way it's made, because it's brewed from grain rather than fruit.

Since there are plenty of styles and prices of sake available, you can explore pairing the options with different gins and vodkas. Each will be a slightly new experience, and you may find a preference for one over all the others. As with any beverage, the better the quality of the sake you buy, the pricier it will get, but also the better experience you'll have drinking it on its own or mixing it in a saketini.

We bring you an easy-to-mix drink with a few garnish options so that you can have fun with all these possibilities and enjoy your sake experience. There are even a few garnish options to choose from. This drink is gluten free, as sake, vodka, and gin don't have any gluten ingredients and the distillation process makes them safe to drink for people with celiac disease. Be mindful that flavored vodkas can contain wheat-based additives.

"This Sake Martini is a great example of Sake’s mixability because of the simplicity of a well-made Martini. If you understand the function of Vermouth in a Martini, it is not a stretch in the slightest to substitute Sake. This cocktail is such a treat and will have you looking for more Sake cocktail recipes." —Sean Johnson

Saketini Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 ounces gin, or vodka

  • 1/2 ounce sake

  • Cucumber slice, or green olive, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Saketini sake martini ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the gin or vodka and sake.

    Sake martini ingredients in a glass with ice

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Stir well.

    Stir the sake ingredients in the glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Garnish with a slice of cucumber or add a green olive. Serve and enjoy.

    Garnish the saketini with an olive or slice of cucumber

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Vodka and Orange Liqueur Saketini


  • It's very common to invert the ingredients' amounts so the vodka becomes the backup to a good sake. This switch also creates a significantly lighter cocktail. To make it, shake 2 1/2 ounces of sake with 1 ounce of vodka. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add the garnish of your choice.
  • For a sweeter alternative, add a hint of orange liqueur—1/2 ounce or less—to the standard or inverted vodka version.

Garnish Options

There are quite a few ways to dress up the saketini, and you can switch it up to fit your mood. Each option will slightly alter the drink's flavor, and they're just as interesting to experiment with as the alcohol combinations:

  • Olives are always a good option for a clean martini. For the sake, though, you might find it best to stick with a single olive. Quite often, three is too overpowering, especially if you tend to drink rather slow.
  • Sliced cucumber is a favorite garnish for the saketini. Many people prefer the melon-like taste of the Japanese cucumber, though nearly any variety will add a crisp, cooling flavor to the drink. Cut a round slice or go with a very thin strip cut lengthwise down the cucumber. The first option can float on top of the drink and the second is beautiful when folded inside the glass like a ribbon.
  • A maraschino cherry is a nice addition, but the sweet, almost strawberry-like taste of lychee is a wonderful way to brighten up the vodka and sake combo.

How Strong Is a Saketini?

The saketini will be just as strong as a gin or vodka martini because vermouth and sake are typically the same strength (15 percent ABV). You can expect this drink to fall in the 30 percent ABV (60 proof) range. It's definitely a potent mix, which is why drinks like this are served at just a few ounces.