The yuzu drop is a fun Japanese cocktail that you’ll want to add to your list. Why?
It’s easy to make, super drinkable, and will impress your friends.
This post goes over several recipes with brand recommendations.
What is a Yuzu Drop?
It’s a four-ingredient drink based on the lemon drop. Fun fact: the lemon drop is based on a legendary cocktail, the sidecar.
This citrusy cocktail has a sweet-sour taste and is floral, as well.
And yuzu drops are easy to customize so you can put your own stamp on the drink. You can even omit the sugar rim if you like.
Yuzu Drop Recipe
When I can get fresh yuzu, this is my preferred recipe. Yuzu fruit is most abundant in the winter and early spring in the US. In Japan, it’s available most of the year.
- 1.5 oz Japanese gin or vodka
- 0.75 oz yuzu juice
- 0.75 oz Curacao or triple sec
Start by chilling a martini glass or coupe. Once it’s icy-cold, empty any water or ice. Then wipe the rim with yuzu. And finally, dip the rim into sugar.
I only coat half the rim. And I also avoid getting the sugar on the inside. But to each their own.
Next, combine all of the ingredients into a shaker with ice. Hard shake and double strain into the chilled glass.
Finally, finish the drink with a yuzu wheel, swath, or twist.
But what if no fresh yuzu fruit is available?
Yuzu Drink Variations
Well, below are three variations of this drink that use easy-to-find ingredients.
Yuzu Sake Drop
This yuzu drop variation uses yuzu sake. Also called yuzushu, this low-alcohol drink is made with yuzu juice, peel, sake, and sugar. It’s floral, light, semi-sweet, and tart.
In my opinion, this yuzu drop tastes more complex. But it’s also more bold and citrusy.
- 1.5 oz Japanese gin or vodka
- 0.5 oz yuzu sake
- 0.5 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz Curacao or triple sec
Make this drink the same way as the first. Combine all the ingredients. Then shake hard with ice. Strain the liquid into a chilled glass with a sugar rim. And enjoy!
One note about this recipe. I don’t like to double-strain drinks with yuzu sake. It’s a somewhat cloudy drink and I like to leave that in the cocktail.
Yuzu Drop with Concentrate
Yuzu concentrate is available year-round and easy to find. It’s a bit more intense and bitter than fresh yuzu juice, though. So I like to combine it with lemon juice.
- 1.5 oz Japanese gin or vodka
- 0.5 oz yuzu concentrate
- 0.25 oz lemon juice
- 0.75 oz Curacao or triple sec
Feel free to vary the ratio of concentrate to lemon juice. Overall, this yuzu cocktail is made the same way as the others.
Yuzu Drop with Yuzu Liqueur
My final variation uses yuzu liqueur. This can be hard to find. But it basically lasts forever. So one bottle can produce a lot of yuzu drinks.
- 1.5 oz Japanese gin or vodka
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- 0.75 oz yuzu liqueur
This variation is made the same as all the others.
Recommended Brands
Here are some brands I think excel in this cocktail.
Gin
In my opinion, yuzu drops taste best with gin. Gin is more flavorful, floral, and citrusy than vodka. These flavors and aromas work perfectly in this Japanese cocktail.
And Japanese gin is the best too. Why?
Because many of the Japanese brands include yuzu in the botanicals. And they have less juniper, which suits this drink.
My go-to Japanese gins: Suntory Roku, Nikka Coffey Gin, and Matsui “The Hakuto.”
All three are reasonably priced, smooth, and distinctively Japanese.
Vodka
Vodka is the base spirit in a lemon drop. And so it makes sense to use it in a yuzu drop. It makes a purer, cleaner cocktail.
Use any vodka you like. It will be hard to tell the difference in this drink.
Flavored vodkas can add an additional layer of complexity. Citrus, raspberry, and vanilla are my top recommendations.
Curacao and Triple Sec
Curaçao is a traditional orange-flavored liqueur. There are other herbs and spices in it, as well.
Triple sec is similar. But its flavor is primarily just orange-derived.
Cointreau, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, Grand Marnier, Giffard, and Bols all make decent examples.
Yuzu Sake
Yuzu sake is straight-up delicious. But it can be pricey and hard to find.
Yuzu omoi, Okunomatsu Yuzutoro, Yuzu Homare, Aizu Homare Yuzu, and Tsukasabotan Yuzu are some of the most widely available premium brands.
Yuzu Concentrate
Concentrate is the easiest way to get your hands on yuzu juice. It’s widely available at Japanese grocers and online.
Yuzu Liqueur
Yuzu liqueur is made with a spirit base and won’t have the tart acidity of juice or yuzu sake. But it lasts a lot longer.
Choyo is the most widely distributed brand. But Yuzuri, Sidetrack, and several shochu distilleries have brands too.
Conclusion
I hope you find these recipes useful. Give one a try and let me know how it tastes.
And check out my other Japanese cocktails for more inspiration.