Hanami (sakura viewing) season is upon us, as fruit blossoms are exploding worldwide, if not already. We are celebrating our release of the long-awaited Umami Mart Bitters by Miracle Mile and have been tinkering with it night and day to create a perfect cocktail for the season....
Gins from Japan are all the rage at the moment, within the country and abroad. We've lined up a stellar collection of some special gins and are so excited to announce our second Zoom cocktail event, Summer of Japanese Gin, with our great friend Chris Lane,...
Louis Anderman, founder of Miracle Mile Bitters, used to make Celery Bitters in very limited quantities only. We love his rendition of these bitters, savory and earthy, and have been begging him for years to make this a part of his regular line-up. And it's finally here! Made with celery...
In celebration of Yoko's most recent honey harvest, I've come up with a simple recipe for the iconic cocktail, Bee's Knees, but with a Japanese twist of course. So we'll call it Hachee's Knees! In Japanese, hachi means bee – I can't take credit for the clever...
Our bartender Brad has been with us since we first opened our bar in May. He had been a longtime customer of ours in our old space, and Sake Gumi member! When we started looking for a bartender, Brad naturally came to mind, and we...
Recently, Japanese gin distillery Ki No Bi released Ki No Tou Old Tom Gin, and Ki No Bi Sei Navy Strength Gin, here in California. This is a momentous occasion not just for Japanese spirits, but for the gin world as well. Ki No Bi is...
Ramen Shop in Rockridge, Oakland is our go-to for cocktails, noodles, and an overall good time. We first met J.J. and Sam, two of the owners, on a trip to Japan in 2011, where J.J. lived for many years apprenticing under a ramen chef. Back in Oakland, J.J.,...
It's been super warm these past weeks in the Bay Area - WTF, it's February! Punxsutawney Phil predicted six extra weeks of winter, and by golly I will continue drinking like we're in the depths of winter. That means mulled wine, warm sakes, mixing hot water with shochu,...
Kayoko and I met Kevin Diedrich back in 2011 when we threw the Gift of Food benefit at the Burritt Room for the victims of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. Since being at the helm of the Burritt Room bar, we've visited...
I've been really excited to see the umeshu (Japanese plum infused in shochu) popping up on cocktail menus in non-Japanese restaurants. My most recent experience of having an umeshu cocktail in an unexpected place was at Al's Place in San Francisco. Their approach was very...
Jennifer Colliau is one of Bay Area's greatest bartenders. To use words such as "smart," "talented," or "creative" seem to undermine her qualities. Rather, she is a force in the industry -- ambitious, yet down to earth; knowledgable, yet curious; confident,...
I found this cocktail inside Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails book that we carry at Umami Mart. Aptly named the Mother-In-Law cocktail, it is indeed a stiff enough drink to prepare you for a visit with the in-laws. There's nothing...
This is a refreshing cocktail that is low in alcohol. I hope that it excites and inspires passion and love this Valentine's Day!
A quick and easy guide to what to look for in a mixing glass, and a breakdown of all the mixing glasses and tins Umami Mart carries.
A simple stirred cocktail, made with Cognac, Cardamaro, and Sour Cherry Bitters. Add sparkling wine to make it extra festive.
Annual Gold Rush Sale. Get 20% off 24K gold plated barware and gold-rimmed glassware. Sale starts December 26, ends December 31, 2016.
Chock full of fascinating cocktail history, advice on stocking your bar, and other useful information, this book will be your go-to practical guide.
Step-by-step instructions on how to make a cocktail using with fresh passion fruit, barley shochu, ume bitters, and honey.
The Yukiwa 3-piece Stainless Steel Jumbo Cobbler Shakers hold 27 ounces, 10 more ounces than our standard Cobbler Shakers. Made in Japan.
This elegant sake-based cocktail is light on its feet and brought together with a barspoon of Genepy. Also contains Michter's Rye whisky.
