Walt Disney World Resort guests visiting Morimoto Asia, the pan-Asian collaboration with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto at Disney Springs, will find a variety of special holiday cocktails for the winter season. Beverage manager Diana Ly notes that drinks have a range of flavor profiles, from sweet to bitter, savory to earthy, spirit-forward or refreshing.
Holiday/winter cocktails include the Yokai, made with Morimoto Knob Creek Bourbon, Monin caramel apple butter, Chambord, MSG and prosecco; Kyuri and Spicy, with cucumber-Infused Espolon blanco tequila, jalapeno, ginger liqueur, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, velvet falernum, lime and Monin agave; Toji Moon, with Absolut Mandarin vodka, sake, Monin habanero-lime, lemongrass, yuzu, and celery bitters; and After Midnight, with Courvoisier VS Cognac, Legent bourbon, ginger, orgeat, grapefruit, lemon, cinnamon syrup and black walnut bitters.
Morimoto Asia ensures that the restaurant stays up to date with trending cocktails and seasonal flavors, and aims to use a variety of spirits when crafting a cocktail menu, Ly says. Drinks are tasted, revised and finalized for more than a month before the menu launches. “We also take a deep dive into our garnishes, as the look is just as important as taste.”
Ly’s personal favorite of the new lineup is the Forever Young, a riff on a Negroni that’s fully barrel aged for two weeks. “I love the bittersweet notes at the end.”
The seasonal cocktails, which range in price from $16 to $19, available now through Dec. 31. Morimoto Asia also offers a Maker Mark Flight, priced at $36, which includes Makers Cask Strength, Makers 46, Morimoto Maker’s Mark Private Select – From Chef to Bar, MorimotoMaker’s Mark Private Select – A5 – Spring Staves.