Forget sake bombs and its accompanying whiff of college days; sake is a complex, yet elegantly approachable alcohol that deserves more than a quick turn in beer.

Made from fermented rice, the traditional Japanese alcohol performs just as well as the main star in cocktails, or as a supporting character to other ingredients, thanks to its rich umami flavours.

But not every cocktail works with sake.

Sakes usually run between 14 - 16% ABV, making them less potent than distilled spirits like whisky and vodkas — both of which hold up well in mixes.

Also, sakes tend to be more subtle compared to other alcohol types. This leaves them prone to being overpowered by cocktail ingredients and spirits.

That’s why you’ll find most sake cocktails crafted around delicate and fragrant flavours, making them perfect as boozy refreshers.

And what better way to beat the heat than with not one, but nine ways to enjoy a delicious tipple?

Generally, you’d want sakes with a smooth and clean profile for the recipes below. Try sakes that are freshly bottled and leaning slightly towards the dry side (between 0 to +5 SMV).

Alternatively, for that really summery spritzy feel, give sparkling sakes a go instead!

1. Thai Basil-Infused Sake Cocktail

If you’ve ever had authentic Thai cuisine, you’ll know what an amazingly fragrant herb Thai basil is, with its fresh, crisp pungency some liken to a cross between citrus and herbal-licorice. Infuse it in sake, before adding splashes of lime juice and vodka and a hint of yuzu bitters for that perfect Thai escape.

Get the recipe here.

2. Grapefruit, Ginger & Lemongrass Sake Cocktail

This is a gorgeous blend of floral and citrus with just the right kick of spice. Delicate sake notes also come through for a smooth finish. Because ginger and lemongrass lose their flavours if you overheat them, the recipe recommends muddling them with sugar — a great alternative to a simple syrup.

Get the recipe here.

3. Lychee Sake Cocktail

Lychees are like the golden retrievers of the cocktail world. They’re such sweet crowd-pleasers at any gathering! By far the easiest recipe in this list, simply pop a few canned lychees, sake, ice, and lychee syrup in a shaker, give it a couple of good shakes, and voila!

Get the recipe here.

4. Tangerine Ginger Sake Sangria

Forget boring red wine sangria. Stir up sunbeams in a jug with this unconventional yet great-tasting summer recipe! With bright tangerine bursts, spicy kicks of old ginger, and just the right hint of fresh mint, this sake sangria is everything you’d expect to cool you off on a hot day. Use nigori (cloudy and unfiltered) sake for increased feel and flavour.

Get the recipe here.

5. Kyoho Grape Sake Cobbler

Another excellent sake-based cocktail from Loving Cup. This recipe also adds manzanilla sherry, vermouth, and aged cachaca for every alcoh.. — ehemmm, connoisseur’s — boozy dream. Top that with Kyoho grapes, one of the world’s largest and sweetest grapes, and you’re set for delicious memories to last you throughout summer.

Get the recipe here.

6. Lychee Rose Sake Cocktail

This lychee cocktail requires a bit more effort than the previous one, but it promises to be just as delightful, if not more so, thanks to a heady combination of lychee and rose. The recipe calls for a specific bottle of sake — Lychee Hana Sake, but it’s not too difficult to infuse your own sake with lychees for a similar effect.

Get the recipe here.

7. Green Tea, Ginger Lime & Lemongrass Sake Cocktail

Another lovely recipe that uses nigori sake and lime juice as its base, and lemongrass and ginger for accents. The addition of freshly brewed green tea however, gives this cocktail an additional depth that’s pleasant yet not overwhelming, thanks to green tea’s naturally low astringency.

Get the recipe here.

8. Pineapple & Jalapeno Sake Sangria

Refreshingly spicy, this sake sangria is not just delicious for sweltering days, but easy to make too. All you need are sake, 2-3 other ingredients, and just 15 minutes to get a real thirst quencher. Personally, I prefer using bird’s eye chilli (a.k.a chilli padi) because I'm a die-hard chilihead, but if sauces like Sriracha make you shed big manly tears, stick to jalapeño and you can't go wrong.

Get the recipe here.

9. Lime & Kombu Sake Cocktail

Not to be confused with kombucha, the fermented health tea, kombu is a kelp used in many traditional Japanese dishes. Often referred to as the ‘king of seaweed’, kombu lends a rich umami twist to the usual sake and lime juice combination. Use a light, clean, and easy drinking sake to balance out the other umami and tangy flavours.

Get the recipe here.

Note: An earlier version of this was first posted here at sakemaru.me. I'm not affiliated to sakemaru; just an alcohol and travel geek who enjoys writing and occasionally contributing to different sites. With the recent heatwave, I thought I'd share this post as my first entry on Steemit :) Let me know what you think!