This week saw the arrival of the spring equinox, meaning the season of spring has officially begun for the northern hemisphere. Hurrah!
Along with more sunshine and lighter evenings, flowers begin to bloom and everything generally feels more hopeful after the dreary winter months. One of the most spectacular displays of nature’s awakening happens in Japan when the pale-pink cherry blossom begins to flower.
Japan is, however, not the only place that celebrates the occasion. Washington D.C. has a history of spring traditions dating back to 1912 when Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gifted 3,000 cherry trees to the city as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
Since then, the arrival of the cherry blossoms has become a beloved event and the city honors it with The National Cherry Blossom Festival which runs from March 20 – April 14.
Society, a cool ‘micro-bar’ found within the historic Hamilton Hotel is transforming into a whimsical floral pop-up with lavish floral arrangements and blossom-themed food and drinks. The pop-up bar will seat just 14 guests.
One of the new cocktails created for the occasion is The Cherry Blossom. It features sake, cherry liqueur and lemon and is, of course, the same pink hue as the flower. It’s light, sweet and tangy — like spring in a martini glass.
The Cherry Blossom Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
– .75 ounces sake
– ½ ounce cherry liqueur
– ½ ounce beefeater
– ¼ ounce gran marnier
– ¼ ounce grenadine
– ¼ ounce lemon
Method
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a blue curacao soaked lotus root.
