Everyday Creativity…

Not everything we do has to be immense in it’s goal. Yes, it’s a nice idea to collaborate on a start-up that seeks to end world hunger, but we also need the small daily slices of creativity.

It’s my birthday, and I’m not fond of gifts, or doing anything too elaborate, so I’m just having a few friends over for cocktails–so much more relaxing than a big party.

But I do want to try something new, and stumbled upon this recipe for a Whiskey cocktail called a “Mr. Miyagi.” Ingredient include slightly sweet green tea, some exotic ice cubes, a ‘muddled’ Shiso leaf, and a dash or two of aromatic bitters. I’m pretty happy with my test batch. It has the vigor or the alcohol mellowed by the herbal qualities of green tea and Shiso.

Recipe:

Mr. Miyagi

1 shiso leaf

½ ounce green tea syrup (see note)

3 dashes whiskey barrel-aged bitters (Fee Brothers brand preferred)

Splash water

2 ounces blended Japanese whiskey (such as Nikka Coffey Grain or Nikka Pure Malt Taketsuru)

Ice

Press shiso with syrup and bitters (muddle, or crush lightly). Add water, whiskey and ice. Stir and strain over a large ice cube into rocks glass.

Garnish: shiso leaf and star anise pod

Note: To make green tea syrup, place 2 green tea bags (or 2 tablespoons loose tea) in 1 cup boiling water. Add 1 cup sugar; steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags or strain into clean container.