How to Make the Sakura Cocktail from Carnival’s Latitudes Bar
Carnival has really stepped up their beverage program on their ships, elevating their menus beyond a simple Pina Colada or Margarita. Many bars on a Carnival ship have their own dedicated menu with a unique selection of drinks. On their newest ships, the Excel Class, Carnival introduced new bars offering elevated cocktails using unique techniques. On the Carnival Celebration, that bar is the Latitudes Bar and it’s where I found my new favorite drink, the Sakura. I was able to get the recipe for it, so now you can make it at home.
Latitudes Bar’s Sakura Bubble Cocktail
According to Carnival, the Sakura is “inspired by the beauty and fleeting nature of Japanese cherry blossom.” The refreshing drink is a soft pink color. As you sip it, you’ll enjoy the unique floral notes.
The biggest reason people notice the Sakura while onboard is the aromatic bubble on top of the cocktail. The bartender uses a FlavorBlaster to put a glycerin bubble on top which is filled with aromatic smoke. On the ship, the bartender gives you some flower pedals you drop onto the bubble to pop it while making a wish, releasing the fruity aromatics into the air.
Note: You’ll see these bubble drinks all over social media, but only Latitudes Bar has the Sakura. On Mardi Gras, the Fortune Teller Bar has the Crystal Ball, a yellow cocktail with a flavor profile similar to a margarita. On Jubilee, Dr Inks PHD Bar serves a blue bubble using vodka, curacao, and apple juice.
Carnival’s Sakura Recipe
Sakura Cocktail from Latitudes Bar
Ingredients
- 2 oz Snow Maiden Nigori Sake
- 1.5 oz Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
- 1 oz St. Germain
- .5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 3 dashes Cherry Bitters (see notes)
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice to the shaker.
- Shake cocktail vigorously
- Strain into a martini glass (with no ice)
- Once glass is placed in front of guest, add aromatic bubble (optional)
Notes
Do not use angostura bitters, the most common ones you’ll find in a grocery store. That will completely change the flavor of the drink. You can find proper Cherry Bitters on Amazon (click here).
How to Make the Bubble on the Sakura
While you don’t need the bubble to make the cocktail, it does add a lot of flare to the drink. If you’re having a party or event, a machine to make the bubble might be worth purchasing to give guests a “wow” experience. The machine has a vaporizer which turns the aroma fluid into a smoke, which is the encapsulated in a glycerin bubble.
Carnival uses the FlavorBlaster Pro on the ship, which usually retails for $500 on Amazon. For Christmas, I received the cheaper home version, the FlavorBlaster Mini, which worked just as well for home use. It costs $269 and is available through the manufacturer.
- Enhance your drinks and desserts with the mesmerizing bubbles and clouds of smoke created by the vapour blaster cocktail bubble smoke gun
- Take the party with you wherever you go with the portable and lightweight design of this compact smoke gun, complete with a rechargeable lithium battery for convenience
- Simple and easy to use, this smoke gun features a stable smoke intensity and multiple flavors of aromatherapy options to suit your preferences
AnchorChef also makes a cheaper home version available through Amazon, but I haven’t tried that yet.
Try the Sakura Only on the Carnival Celebration
If you want to try the Sakura yourself, stop by the Latitudes Bar on Deck 6 of the Carnival Celebration.
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