Gion Delight

Sachie Nomura is the founder and chef of Sachie’s Kitchen, Australasia’s largest Asian Cooking School, and executive producer and host of Sachie’s Kitchen TV show. Sachie is passionate about raising the profile of women as she is a female immigrant entrepreneur herself. Sachie believes great food and drinks can transport us back in time to great feelings and can instantly change our emotions for the better. 

Having spent a decade being schooled by some of New Zealand’s and Japan’s leading chefs, Sachie’s dream is to pass on her passion for Asian culture and cuisine by demystifying the perceived complexity of Asian cooking, making it easily replicated at home. 

Sachie is a Lexus New Zealand ambassador, and Lexus is proud to share Sachie’s Gion Delight cocktail for the perfect accompaniment to any gathering. This cocktail was crafted by Sachie for Lexus with a special nod to Japanese culture with the addition of sake. “I wanted to introduce sake to people who may not have had it before. I wanted to give people inspiration to use it. As for the colour – pink always works well!” 

SERVES 1 

2 oz (60ml) watermelon water 

2 oz (60ml) pink grapefruit cordial 

2 oz (60ml) sake (please do not use cooking sake) 

100ml lemon lime and bitters 

Garnish 

Slice of watermelon 

Fresh as Sugar Mix (Mix crushed “Fresh As” raspberry or strawberry powder with white sugar) 

Mint leaves 

Ice cubes 

Wet the edge of the glass with little water (I dip the glass edge in a bowl of water), then dip the edge of the glass into your sugar and raspberry or strawberry mix to coat. 

Half-fill the glass with ice and add watermelon, pink grapefruit cordial, and sake. Top up with lemon lime and bitters. Garnish with a slice of watermelon and mint leaves on the side. Serve with a straw. 

Remove the sake from the recipe for a mocktail.