Every spring, Washington, D.C. gets a bit more colorful when its famous cherry blossoms bloom, blanketing the city in a riot of pink and white flowers. This time around, the cherry blossoms will be a thrill to see but also to taste.
“We have guests traveling to the capital from around the world to see the blooms in the spring, and I was inspired to a drink unlike anything they had ever tried before,” Orcun Turkay, Director of Beverage & Mixology for The St. Regis Washington, D.C., says. “The Yoshino 1935 is named after the most popular type of cherry blossom tree—Yoshino—found throughout the capital and marking the first year of the cherry blossom festival, which was 1935.”
The cocktail features Japanese whiskey and cherry, in homage to the trees’ heritage and bright pink color, and is, Turkay says, the perfect tipple to usher in springtime.
“The white and pink blooms appearing in the capital highlight the time of year when Washingtonian’s can trade in their hats and scarves and welcome spring,” he explains. “It is a time of transition, and the Yoshino 1935 is something I devised to be both a warm and cooler weather cocktail, understanding that spring really calls for both. The color of the cocktail is quite vibrant and speaks to the blossoming of spring, while the richness of the whiskey satisfies the palate.”
The Yoshino 1935
3/4 oz Yamazaki 12 whiskey
3/4 oz Cherry Heering liquor
3/4 oz Dolin Sweet Vermouth
3/4 oz Orange Juice
1 Egg white
Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters
Shake all ingredients but bitters until they whip in a mixing tin. Add ice and shake for an additional 15 seconds. Pour into a classic couep glass and add add bitters on top. Garnish with brandied cherries.
