Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things, most recently the owner of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.Japanese culture offers a cocktail idea to keep sippers cool without knocking them over the heads with alcohol. The "chuhai" is a simple summery drink with fresh juice or soda and the Japanese distilled spirit "shochu." (The name is a shortened form of "shochu highball.") Shochu, like vodka, can be made from about anything, such as rice, barley, sweet potatoes and even sesame seeds. It is light in alcohol (around 25 percent ABV), making it a great "session" drink for a long, lazy afternoon.
A dear male friend gave me a book of goddesses, from which I learned about Ukemochi. She is the Japanese Shinto goddess of sustenance. I figure anyone whose name means "goddess who possesses food" deserves a cocktail so I came up with this one in her honor.
Ukemochi Cocktail
2 sprigs rosemary
2 slices of orange peel (no white pith)
1 barspoon turbinado sugar
2 ounces rice shochu
1 ounce fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice
Muddle rosemary and orange peel with sugar. Add ice on top of muddled ingredients and pour in shochu and juice. Shake ten times, counting slowly, and strain into chilled cocktail glass.
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