Do you know what the worst part of being in Japan is? NOT being in Japan, because you’re actually only cruising through the airport on a 14-hour long layover. All the matcha in the world couldn’t mask my frustration.

INGREDIENTS

GROUP A: GIN

• 240 ml gin

• 10 g unsalted butter

• 3 small strawberries

GROUP B: COCKTAIL

• 1/4 tsp brown sugar

• 1/2 tsp matcha powder

• 3/4 oz vanilla oat milk

• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

• 1 1/2 oz strawberry-butter washed gin

• Ice

• 1 small strawberry, to garnish

method

• Make the washed gin: Quarter the strawberries. Melt the butter in the microwave. Add everything to a small glass jar and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Stick the jar in the freezer for at least 2 hours. Strain the gin through a cheesecloth after 2 hours and store the washed gin in the freezer again.

• Make the cocktail: Add everything but the garnish to a cocktail shaker and shortshake. Strain into a coupe filled halfway with ice. Garnish with the small strawberry.