“The Unspoken Izakaya Etiquette

Along the Path of the Toast”


Kanpai no Michi (乾杯の道)

Menu concept by Bee Leaf 

for Ram & Roll Dubai 


Working with Ram & Roll has brought us full circle back to our roots — years spent creating cocktails in Japanese-style restaurants have shaped this creative journey, and now we are thrilled to present a cocktail menu that is both unique to the brand’s identity and grounded in story.

What is Ram & Roll?

Ram & Roll isn’t just a name — it stands for Ramen & sushi rolls, served in an Izakaya-style setting where the essence of authentic Japanese flavours takes centre stage.

Knowing this meant that our direction for the cocktail programme had to reflect ritual, Japanese identity and respectful homage—not overly experimental, but a pure tribute to culture.

Ram & Roll was born as a food-experience venue, where the drink programme supports and completes the journey. Thus, rather than pairing cocktails with food courses in the usual way, we positioned the cocktail degustation as the beginning and the end of the journey, while the food is accompanied by great wines and sake.

In Japanese culture, every element has meaning—every ritual purpose. So we dug into beverage rituals in the Izakaya tradition and discovered that: yes, the drinking ritual is very much a part of the night.

The Menu Narrative

“The Path of the Toast”

“Every night in a Japanese Izakaya follows a quiet rhythm — an unspoken etiquette passed from one generation of drinkers to the next. You begin with something light and crisp, raising your glass for the first kanpai that unites the table. Beer flows into sake, sake into the grounded warmth of shōchū, and finally into the calming touch of tea. No one explains the rules — you simply follow the path, honouring centuries of custom, the precision of preparation, and the joyful spirit of the toast.”


The Five Golden Rules of Kanpai no Michi
The Unspoken Izakaya Etiquette


Begin with Everyone – Never start the night empty-handed.
The first kanpai unites the table.

1. Begin with Everyone – Never start the night empty-handed — the first Kanpai unites the table.

2. Start Light – Beer is the social handshake of the izakaya.

3. Serve Others First – Pour sake for your friends, never for yourself.

4. Sip with Intention – Shochu is for slow savoring, the mark of the seasoned drinker.

5. End in Balance – Tea or a gentle final glass closes the night with harmony.

 

Why This Matters


By embedding these principles into the cocktail menu at Ram & Roll, we’ve allowed the drinks to become more than just “what you sip between courses.” Instead, they become a story, a journey — one that invites guests to move through ritual, flavour, and cultural nuance. It’s an experience from start to finish.


Final Thoughts

At the heart of this concept is respect for tradition, coupled with the excitement of craft. Each guest at Ram & Roll is invited to be part of that ritual: to raise the glass when the moment calls, to transition thoughtfully through each stage, and to finish with a sense of calm and completeness. The drinks aren’t just accompaniments — they are the frame around this dining experience.

Here’s to the path of the toast
Kanpai!




Opening – Hajimari no Ippai (始まりの一杯) –“The First Glass”
Etiquette:“Never start the night empty-handed - the first Kanpai is for everyone at the table.”

FOREST ERROR - Mori no Ayamari
A sparkling mishap. Prosecco meets Sake, bound by the ghost of the mushroom.
Shiitake nitro infuses Sake, Suze, Dassai Sparkling, Prosecco



Bīru no Kaimaku (ビールの開幕) – “The Opening Act of Beer”
Etiquette: “Begin light and crisp — beer is the social handshake of the izakaya.”

CONTROLLED DETONATION – Seigyo Bakuha
A sake bomb reimagined — precise, playful, and proudly unapologetic.

Ki No Bi Gin, Clarified Yuzu & Toasted Rice Cordial, Sake Rice Beer Foam




Haibōru no Kōkei (ハイボールの光景) - “The Highball Scene”
Etiquette: “The steady rhythm — highbals keep the night flowing, one sparkling sip at a time.”


ZEN & TONIC - Zen to Tonikku

A Gin & Tonic of stillness — built with precision and quiet intention.

Tanqueray N.10, Yuzu Tonic, Sancho Tincture, Yuzu Mist




Sake no Shunkan (酒の瞬間) – “The Sake Moment”

Etiquette: “Pour for others, never for yourself — sake is best served with care.”


BLUE OCEAN WAVES – Aoi Umi no Nami
A wave of clarity. Mexico and Japan converge in silence and precision.
Frozen Casa Lotos Sotol, Chilled Junmai Ginjo Sake, Lemon Zest


Shōchū no Kokoromi (焼酎の試み) – “The Shochu Experience”

Etiquette: “Shochu is for slow sipping — the wise pace themselves here.”


GHOST MUG - Yūrei Magu

Soul of the Izakaya - A Tokyo back-alley classic, reborn through citrus, roots, and ritual frost.

Imo Sweet Potato Shochu, Yuzu, Grapefruit & Sage Cordial, Soda



Cha no Yasuragi (茶の安らぎ) – “The Tranquility of Tea”
Etiquette: “Tea is the reset — the quiet bridge between the night and the journey home.”

THE WAY OF TEA – Cha no Yu
A modern homage to the Japanese tea ceremony, crafted to mirror grace, patience, and reverence.
White Rum, Ceremonial Matcha, Coconut, Rectified Cold Brewed Jasmine Tea, Warm Coconut Foam



Shime no Ippai (締めの一杯) – “The Last Glass”
Etiquette: “End on balance — a gentle finish leaves the best reason to return.”


GOLDEN HOUR - Ōgon no Jikan

A tribute to the perfect Mizuwari — whisky lifted with plum and a hint of fino, chilled to its soul.

Hibiki Harmony, Umeshu, Fino Sherry, Soda




“Kanpai for Everyone!!”

The Non-Alcoholic Path

The Unspoken Etiquette,

Reimagined


For those who walk the path without spirits.


Every izakaya night folows an unspoken etiquette — and that

rhythm belongs to everyone at the table.

These non-alcoholic creations mirror the same Kanpai no Michi,

crafted with the same care, precision, and respect for flavor.

From the golden ilusion of beer to the calm reset of tea, each

glass carries the spirit of the toast, without the alcohol.


🍐
DRAFT PEAR - Nama Nashi
A golden illusion of beer, the social handshake of the Izakaya.
Nashi Pear Juice, Mugicha Tea, Soda, Salted Honey Foam.

💮

HANAMI HIGHBALL - Hanami Haibōru
Strawberry brightness kissed by Sakura blossom, the steady rhythm of the highball.
Tanqueray 0.0, Strawberry & Sakura Shrub, Tonic Water

🍇

WHITE WAVE - Shiro Nashi
A delicate clarity of Jasmine rice and grape, a sake moment served with care.
Jasmine Rice Tea, White Grape Juice, Verjus Blanc

🥥

MATCHA GARDEN - Midori no Niwa
Green apple juice and Matcha in harmony, the tranquil bridge between night and home
Green Apple, Salted Matcha Syrup, Sparkling Coconut water