A delicate cherry blossom cocktail with sake, homemade sakura syrup, and Prosecco. A stunning spring drink inspired by Japan’s blooming season.
A Cherry Blossom Cocktail Tribute
Every spring, the world holds its breath for the delicate bloom of the sakura, the cherry blossoms that drift like pale pink confetti across the skies of Japan. Their beauty is fleeting, their season brief, and perhaps that is why we cherish them so deeply.
This Cherry Blossom Cocktail is my tribute to that moment.
Made with smooth sake, a homemade cherry blossom simple syrup crafted from freshly picked spring petals, and a splash of Prosecco for soft bubbles and blush-toned brilliance, this sakura cocktail is as elegant as it is celebratory. Served in a tall fluted glass with cherry blossom ice cubes suspended like frozen petals in time, it is the very essence of spring entertaining.
If you are looking for a floral cocktail recipe that feels both romantic and refined, this cherry blossom sake cocktail is it.
Cherry Blossoms
There is something magical about the ethereal cherry blossom trees in the United States, as their pink clouds of blossoms kiss a blue sky, after a long winter’s sleep.
Here is America, the Japanese Sakura, known to us as cherry blossoms, are among the first flowers to bloom in spring, especially around our nation’s capital.
Perhaps up north, in New York, since it is a little cooler, the blossoms will bloom just after they do in Washington, DC. Visitors pour in each year to see this magical pink occurrence, right up until the last week of their pink blooms, which look like cotton candy on the trees.
When To Serve This Sakura Cocktail
It just so happens also, that the cherry blossom trees bloom around the same time as Mother’s Day, Spring Celebrations and a flurry of Spring Brides. And so, I felt inspired to create a cherry blossom cocktail recipe for both brides and moms. After-all, doesn’t every woman like to sport a signature drink on her big day?
I myself, being both a mom and a grandma, love to look forward to serving and sipping this cocktail on mother’s day, and have served it at several bridal showers.
And while we are in awe of these magnificent flowers that wave in the warm spring air, just over our heads, why not plan a few special occasions just to serve this recipe as spring brunch cocktails, Easter entertaining drinks, garden party cocktails, or ‘just because’!
How To Make Cherry Blossom Ice Cubes
Decorative ice cubes for special cocktails are so easy to make, store in the freezer and are always ready when you are celebrating that special moment.
What could make for a more perfect decorative ice cube than one made with edible flowers, which by-the-way cherry blossoms are included in that wonderful lineup of edible flowers.
Simply fill a few small shaped or rounded ice trays with water, wash the flower blossoms you plan to use, and press down a few petals for each cube, freeze, and in a few hours they pop out easily from the trays and store for months in a closed container in the freezer.
Decorative Party Drink Presentation
When working with flower blossoms in recipes, whether for edible flower cocktail ideas, for example a Peony Colada Cocktail, another tribute I make for a spring brunch inspiration, make certain the flowers have never been sprayed with insecticides.
Know your lineup of edible flowers, what flavor they bring to the food item you will be preparing, and then simply be creative with their beauty.
Homemade Floral Syrups
Whether you are making cocktails that call for a simple syrup, or desserts that lend themselves to an edible flowers, such as my Rosewater Baklava Tarts, you will first need a few simple syrup recipes that are… well, simple to make.
Basically, a simple syrup is equal portions of sugar and liquid, boiled until it thickens into a syrup consistency. The sky’s the limit as to what essence or flavors you want to infuse into that syrup.
Strain and keep in covered glass jars in the refrigerator until ready to use. An added tip for both flavor and extracting the essence of flowers, is to add a splash of alcohol, such as rum or vodka, to the mixture after it has simmered and while the blossoms are steeping. The alcohol works as in making a tincture of any blossom or herb.
Custom Cocktail Recipe
Does every bride want her very own signature drink served at her bridal shower or on the day of the wedding reception? Yes she does! How do I know this? It just so happens that my niece is the wedding planner for her family’s special event catering company, and she knows all about delicious cocktails served at memorable events!
She has said, that a signature cocktail, one she and the bride created in the calm of wedding planning, is a great way to relax the nerves on wedding day. It seems to remind the bride of the excitement she had when planning, instead of the jitters on wedding day.
More Cocktails To Love
My niece has shared several of the more popular cocktails that guests enjoy at a variety of events, both summer and winter, of which I have shared with you on my blog.
- Winter Sangria Cocktail – A Winter Spiced Sangria Cocktail, with fruit, liqueurs, warm spiced simple syrup and herbs, makes for a perfect winter cocktail sip.
- Bridal Lemonade Cocktail – Bridal Lemonade Cocktail – Top Event Planner shares a Secret recipe of lemonade, champagne, a splash of vodka and lots of ice for a hot bridal day!
- Cranberry Pomegranate Cocktail – Cranberry Pomegranate Martini, is a classic Shaken Not Stirred cocktail with vodka and a sprig of rosemary, to satisfy from Thanksgiving through Valentine day!
This special cocktail, with its inventive name, is one I will be sharing with her!
Cherry Blossom Honey
Did you know that cherry blossoms are an edible flower and that honey takes on their unique flavor when the bees obtain nectar from them?
I was sent the most delightful gift of honey from Louisa’s Honey, a company that operates in London but derives its honey from Italy.
The honey she chose to send me was a Cherry Blossom honey; said to be the real nectar of Puglia.
A Cherry Blossom Cocktail With A Japanese and Italian Story
I was feeling quite chuffed with myself as I created this cocktail. For me, this drink had to be both Italian and Japanese! Why?
A quick, wild story about that. It was the 80’s, I was studying Japanese at the Japan-American Society in DC for about three years. My mom and I were going to be attending a wedding in Italy, all the way south, in Calabria.
Trains, planes, automobiles and yet another train pointed us in the right direction. Problem? The further south, the less English, and we had no idea which stop was ours.
I went looking for someone who spoke English, and there were none. But… I found a large tour group of Japanese travelers in the next car. Can you believe it, with my elementary Japanese, I was able to find out where our stop was!
Why Sake Is Perfect For This Spring Cocktail
Back to my cocktail. While I chose Japanese Sake and the Sumo citrus for the Japanese aspect of this drink, which paired beautifully with the cherry blossom honey, I needed more.
I wanted an easy way for the drinks to be prepped ahead of time, making it easy for last minute serving. The perfect addition, to add to the base aspect of the drink, was to look to Italy for a sparkling Prosecco, for a refreshing last minute pour.
While Prosecco will be easily recognized in the cocktail because of its sparkling finish, th slightly sweet yet delicate flavor of the Sake allows the fresh floral notes in the cherry blossom syrup to shine without overshadowing them.
How To Make A Cherry Blossom Wedding Cocktail Recipe
The first order of things, is to mix the Sumo citrus (a blood orange can be used to substitute), and sugar into a saucepan to dissolve and thicken the mixture into a syrup. Cherry blossom petals are then added to steep and draw the essence of the blossoms into the syrup, add the honey and bitter and steep. Strain before using. This can be made in advance and kept cold in the refrigerator.
Ice cubes with cherry blossoms should be made in advance so that they are ready to add to the beautiful champagne flutes just before serving. If you are able to obtain organic, non-sprayed cherry blossoms from a yard or florist, other small blossoms can be used for garnish. Also, small cuttings, with the blossoms and twigs, make for a fun swizzle stick.
When it’s time to serve the drinks, simply place the honey syrup mixture in a cocktail shaker, along with the sake and a few plain ice cubes, give a good shake, pour over the blossom ice cubes until the glass is half filled, and top off with Prosecco.
Ingredients Needed
- Honey – If you can find cherry blossom honey, it is pure magic here, softly floral, light, and almost buttery in texture. It deepens the homemade cherry blossom simple syrup without overpowering the fragile petals. When stirred into the syrup after cooling, honey adds roundness and a lingering sweetness that refined sugar alone cannot achieve.
- Sumo citrus (or Blood Orange) – Bright citrus lifts this cocktail into sunshine. Freshly squeezed Sumo citrus brings sweetness with gentle acidity, while a blood orange adds dramatic blush tones that echo the petals. Either choice enhances the floral notes without masking the sake. The citrus is what keeps this cherry blossom cocktail from feeling too sweet, it gives balance and brilliance.
- Sugar – Just enough granulated sugar is needed to begin the cherry blossom simple syrup. It helps extract the essence of the petals as they steep. Once cooled, the honey joins the mixture, creating a layered sweetness that feels intentional and elegant rather than sugary.
- Bitters (Angostura) – A few drops of bitters ground the drink. Angostura bitters add subtle spice and depth, a quiet backbone beneath the florals. Without it, the drink could float away. With it, the cocktail gains complexity. Just a whisper is enough.
- Sake – The soul of this cocktail is sake. Choose a smooth, high-quality sake from Japan, something clean, lightly aromatic, and not overly dry. Junmai or Ginjo styles are especially lovely for spring cocktails. Sake gives this cherry blossom drink its graceful body. It does not shout; it glides.
- Prosecco – A splash of chilled Prosecco adds lift, pale pink luminosity, and celebratory sparkle. Its gentle effervescence keeps the cocktail light and brunch-worthy. Add it just before serving to preserve those delicate bubbles.
- Ice cubes – Cherry blossom ice cubes elevate this from beautiful to unforgettable. Freeze food-safe blossoms into clear ice cubes for a suspended-in-time effect inside a tall fluted glass. As they slowly melt, they release both chill and romance. Or keep it simple with crystal-clear cubes, elegance never requires excess.
- Fresh Cherry Blossoms – Only use blossoms that are organic and free from pesticides. Gently rinse and inspect them before steeping. They bring subtle almond-like floral notes and visual poetry to your homemade sakura syrup and ice cubes. This is what transforms a sake cocktail into a true cherry blossom cocktail.
Tool for Your Cherry Blossom Sake Cocktail
Creating a floral spring cocktail like this is as much about presentation as it is about flavor. These simple tools help you achieve both grace and precision.
- 2 Tall Champagne Flutes – A tall fluted glass isn’t just tradition, it preserves the delicate bubbles from the Prosecco while showcasing the blush hue of the drink. The vertical silhouette also highlights your cherry blossom ice cubes, allowing the petals to appear suspended like spring captured in glass.
- Shot glass – A simple shot glass makes measuring sake effortless and consistent. Precision matters in floral cocktails, too much and the balance shifts, too little and the drink loses body. It’s small, humble, and essential.
- Measuring tools – Accurate measurements ensure the citrus, honeyed cherry blossom syrup, and sake remain in harmony. In delicate drinks like this cherry blossom cocktail, balance is everything.
- Small jar with a lid – Your homemade cherry blossom simple syrup deserves proper storage. A small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid keeps the floral syrup fresh in the refrigerator for several days, ready for another round of sakura cocktails, or even to drizzle into tea or lemonade.
- Citrus press – A citrus press extracts bright juice from Sumo citrus or blood orange without bitterness from the pith. Fresh juice is what keeps this sake cocktail vibrant and springlike. Bottled juice simply won’t deliver the same brilliance.
- Mini Ice cube trays – Mini ice cube trays are perfect for freezing individual cherry blossoms into crystal-clear cubes. They melt slowly, look exquisite in a tall flute, and elevate your drink presentation from lovely to unforgettable.
- Cocktail shaker – A cocktail shaker gently chills and blends the sake, citrus, syrup, honey, and bitters before topping with Prosecco. Shake lightly, this drink is meant to feel airy, not aggressive. The shaker simply brings the ingredients together in cool harmony.
Cherry Blossom Cocktail with Sake and Prosecco
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Shot glass
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- Simple Syrup
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tbsp Citrus juice Sumo or orange
- 3/4 cup Cherry blossom petals not sprayed and washed
- Cocktail
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tsp Bitters
- 1 cup Sake
- 1 cup Prosecco chilled
- Garnish
- Ice cubes see notes
- 2 Cherry blossom twigs with flowers 1 per glass
Instructions
- In a small saucepan simmer the sugar, citrus juice and cherry blossom petals for 5 minutes. Remove from the stove and macerate the petals in the syrup, and allow to sit 5 minutes. Strain
- In a small container with a lid, pour the honey, bitters, strained cherry blossom syrup in, lid on and give a good shake to dissolve the honey. Set aside in the refrigerator for 5 minutes while preparing the glasses and garnish for the cocktail.
- In a tall champagne flute place small blossom ice cubes. In a cocktail shaker, place 1 shot of Sake, 2 tablespoons of cherry blossom syrup, lid on and give a shake. Pour over the blossom ice cubes, halfway up the glass. Fill the glass with Prosecco, and top with flowers on twigs as swizzle sticks.
Video
Notes
- In an ice tray with very small sections, fill with water and place cherry blossom flowers to freeze inside, preferably done a day in advance.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.