I’m kind of obsessed these days with cocktails that include sake. Sake is a complex and fascinating beverage; it’s not wine (no, it’s not “rice wine”), it’s not distilled booze, and while it’s brewed, it’s not beer either. It’s … sake. Click on this link for a terrific illustration of how sake is made and how that’s different than making wine or beer.

Most pertinently, sake (best served chilled if you’re drinking it ‘neat’) has mild and versatile flavors that pair especially well with seafood or other light fare, and it also makes a great base for tasty, classy cocktails that are modest in alcohol content.

I love this particular cocktail for its complexity: rum, sake, a smidge of dry vermouth, and a dose of sea salt from fino sherry. It’s well balanced and delicious!

DAMN IT JIMMY
1½ oz Sake
1½ oz Light rum
¼ oz Fino Sherry
¼ oz Dry vermouth
1 tsp Simple syrup (optional)

Stir ingredients with ice, strain into chilled Martini glass, garnish with blue- or gorgonzola cheese stuffed olive.

Where did that name come from? I knew that this cocktail was developed by bartender, cocktail guru, and entrepreneur Simon Difford, but the first time I found it there was no explanation of the name’s origin. My best guess is that he was inspired by this memorable scene from the film “Pulp Fiction.”

Heavy sigh. Nope. Since I first saw this recipe on his site, Difford updated the page to explain that he was listening to recorded music the afternoon in 2008 when he concocted this drink, and that as one particular song ended, one of the musicians said, “Damn it, Jimmy.” Difford can’t remember what the album was, much less the artist or exact song.

I think I still like the Pulp Fiction idea better…