Cocktail Correspondent: Weldon Gardner Hunter
even in Kyoto
longing for Kyoto
the cuckoo
- Basho, Summer of 1690
trans. Jane Reichhold
This is one of the most famous haiku ever. It's meaning is enigmatic - is the poet pointing out how hard it is to enjoy the moment? Does the poem lament a Kyoto of the past that the speaker will never get to see again? Could it also be saying something about the presence of the natural world in an urban space: the cuckoo 's name (hototogisu in Japanese) almost rhyming with the name of the city?
I dunno. But my reverie was inspired by a delightful cocktail I had at Okini (1864 West 57th Avenue), a restaurant in the little pocket of Southwest Vancouver known as Shannon Station, an easy walk from my abode.
On this very rainy Wednesday, I popped in to try their Happy Hour Menu: all cocktails 2$ off from 330-5pm. I ordered a One Night in Kyoto:
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| Hojicha infused Flor de Cana 12 yr Rum, House miso syrup, lime |
First of all, the colour. A beautiful orange/brown shade which I discovered is called "Gamboge." It matches the woody, chalet-like space and furnishings of Okini. The slight somberness of the hue was a subtle parry to the grey skies and sheets of rain outside the walls.
It's a complex cocktail. The first sips were nutty with undertones of chocolate. It paired very well with the Sticky Toffee pudding I had just eaten. The hojicha brought afternotes of green tea. The lime rounds out the umami earthiness of the drink. The element that delighted me the most, though, was the unexpected suggestion of honey and maple that appeared as I imbibed. Somehow, it became autumn distilled into a liquid ...
I'll finish with a haiku-like poem of my own:
All the fall colours
In this glass -
Umbrella from the rain
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