Tokyo Drift

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Cocktail History

The Tokyo Drift is a modern cocktail that was created by Brad Farran in Raleigh, North Carolina. Named for the third installment in the Fast & Furious movie franchise, the recipe is another take on the classic Manhattan template that calls for Japanese whisky as the base spirit in place of rye and mixes it with sweet vermouth, cardamom liqueur, and herbal Strega liqueur.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Japanese Whisky: This is a type of whisky made in Japan with malted barley or grains and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in wooden barrels to develop a refined, balanced flavor.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a type of wine made with red grapes and a blend of herbs and botanicals, which are fermented and then fortified with a neutral spirit and sweetened to develop a rich, grape flavor.

Cardamaro: This is a liqueur made in Italy with white wine, a blend of herbs and botanicals, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bitter, spiced flavor.

Liquore Strega: This is a liqueur made with a blend of herbs, spices, saffron, mint, and botanicals, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a complex, herbal flavor.

Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Suntory Toki Blended Japanese Whisky
• 🔗 Carpano Rosso Vermouth
• 🔗 Cardamaro Italian Amaro Wine
• 🔗 Liquore Strega

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy glass vessel with a wide opening that’s used for stirring cocktails with ice before straining and serving.

Julep Strainer: This is a round metal strainer with a perforated bowl shape and handle that’s used for straining stirred cocktails from a mixing glass while holding back ice and solids.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Peeler: This is a handheld kitchen tool with a sharp blade that’s used for removing thin strips of peel from fruits and vegetables.

Nick & Nora Glass: This is a small, stemmed glass with a round or square delicately curved bowl that’s used for serving stirred, spirit-forward cocktails in smaller portions.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Peeler Set
• 🔗 History Company Nick & Nora Cocktail Glass Set

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Yellow orange color

• Aroma: Lemon oil and whisky spice

• Taste: Malty whisky complemented by the vermouth’s herbal qualities and a touch of the amaro’s bitterness

• Finish: Slight peated flavor

Kendall’s Take: “This was described to me as a Manhattan-style drink, and I think that’s a correct description. I also think that’s why I didn’t care for it all that much. This is one serious, boozy whisky cocktail, and I’m not big on those in general unless I’m in a specific mood. In taste alone, the Tokyo Drift is quite good, especially compared to the Manhattan. It has a lot more complexity, which I liked a lot.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.