Southside Sips: Sushi by Bou’s Elderflower Sour

Have you been to the summertime omakase in Westhampton Beach, Sushi by Bou, located upstairs at Sydney’s “Taylor” Made Cuisine (32 Mill Road A, Westhampton Beach)? If you haven’t, you need to correct that immediately. This up-close-and-personal sushi show has some of the most phenomenal, crazy fresh, sushi-grade fish you will ever feast on. It’s truly special, so if you’re a sushi and sashimi fan, make a rez pronto.

They were kind enough to share a cocktail recipe with us this week with one of our favorite, lesser-used ingredients: sake. Not a wine, not a beer (although it is brewed), sake is a fascinating rice-based beverage that, when using a quality version, is gorgeous sipped chilled alongside delicate fish. Here, we get a riff on a sour that takes into account good-quality sake’s delicate notes. Combines with a little citrus and some elderflower liqueur, it’s floral, refreshing and a bit on the low-fi side of alcohol content, so you can order a second without worrying about getting woozy.

Lucky for you, not only is Sushi by Bou taking up residence in Westhampton Beach, the nearby Hamptons Wine Shoppe (62 Sunset Ave., Westhampton Beach, 631-288-4272) has a nice little selection of sake for you to try this at home. Pro tip: For a super clean, bright drink, go for a junmai ginjo. If you’d like a little more texture to play with, get a nigori sake, which is a little more velvety and rich (and cloudy, too — don’t be alarmed!) on the palate. Cheers, friends!