Aqua Kyoto, the Japanese restaurant on Regent Street, has partnered up with Everleaf – the award-winning non-alcoholic aperitif – to introduce a limited edition menu for Sakura season until the end of April.
Japanese springtime is marked by the blooming of cherry blossom trees. The bar team at Aqua Kyoto, inspired by the famous Japanese cherry blossom, has created three exclusive non-alcoholic cocktails incorporating Everleaf Mountain, a non-alcoholic aperitif made from sustainably sourced botanicals including cherry blossom, rosehip and wild strawberry. The rare Sakura extract in Everleaf Mountain is created by fermenting cherry blossoms that have been hand-picked in the Shizuoka region of Japan between May-August, resulting in a floral and marzipan flavour, with aromatics and a savoury finish.
Available until the end of the month of April will be the Sour Cherry Sour, a blend of Everleaf Mountain, Raspberry Syrup and lemon juice, garnished with foaming bitters and freeze dried cherry; the Sakura & Lychee Highball, a long drink featuring Everleaf Mountain mixed with grenadine, lemon juice and sugar syrup, topped with raspberry and orange blossom soda and garnished with cherry blossom and raspberry twig; and the Blossom Paloma Spritz with Everleaf Mountain, Shashimi torigashi agave, Lime juice and Grapefruit soda, garnished with paint and rice paper blossom. Each cocktail costs £10, with the option to have them with an alcoholic spirit for the price of £16.
To pair with these delicious cocktails, a limited-edition menu has been created, incorporating Everleaf’s rare Sakura extract across a range of dishes, including; a delicate Tuna, Snow Crab, Scallop, Avocado & Sakura Crystal Oshizushi; on the Robata Grill, a luxurious Australian Wagyu Sirloin with Golden Baby Beetroots, Sakurazuke pickles and Cherry Teriyaki sauce, and a sweet Sakura Blossom Tree dessert, with Cherry Panna Cotta and Yuzu Sorbet.
In addition, adorning Aqua Spirit will be a show-stopping Sakura installation running the entire length of the bar, bringing the beautiful florals to Aqua Kyoto. The restaurant, nestled on the fifth floor of the iconic former Dickins & Jones building, stands as one of the capital’s most captivating dining and drinking destinations, with a terrace offering breathtaking views of London’s skyline, providing a serene and elegant setting for guests to savour their dining experience.
Launched in 2019 and one of the bestselling non-alcoholic brands in the UK bars and restaurants, the Everleaf range includes three products anchored to different parts of the natural world: Forest, Mountain and Marine. Since launching, Everleaf has gone on to win many awards, gaining B-Corp status in 2023, marking a major milestone in the brand’s sustainability journey, which has been key to the business since its launch in 2019.