Thanks to Brandon for this fantastic guest post, inspired by a no-longer-very-recent trip to Japan, the capital of Pocari Sweat and pachinko.
Background
The PS-3 cocktail is rumored to have originated in the gaming dens of 1600's Japan. The men in these establishments needed a drink that would keep them going during the long games of stare down (much like our modern staring game) and the wild rants that would inevitability ensue over who blinked first.
However since the main ingredient, Pocari Sweat, was created in 1980, the fabled drink was probably something quite different.
The true origins of the PS-3 probably came about in the mid 1980's, as many of our modern marvels did. The streets of Japan were getting warm with the hustle and bustle of businessmen and non-business all wearing full business attire. The addiction to pachinko had already driven new gaming halls to include ungodly decibels and enough flashing lights to make the strongest-willed man drop to the floor and spasm like a boarfish out of water. Smoking was still considered a health benefit and this new soft drink, Pocari Sweat, was flying off the shelves as fast as they could stock it. All the elements were in place for the cocktail of the century.
Recipe and Instructions
This is an involved recipe and not for the casual cocktail drinker. Those who try to rush it often find the drink falls flat. Here are the steps:
1. Buy a bottle of Pocari Sweat from a south facing vending machine. Any machine will work in a pinch, but these provide the best drink.
2. Drink about a third of the soft drink while walking to your favorite Pachinko hall.
3. Once in the hall, find your favorite machine and take a seat. You'll need to be there for at least an hour, so plug the machine with 1000 - 3000 yen depending on your skill. We all know this game is based on skill.
4. Make sure that the lid to your Pocari Sweat is off. The first 'S' in the drink name is the Pocari Sweat, and you are about to add the second, which is cigarette smoke. Don't smoke? Don't worry, there is enough of it frothing around the joint from others.
5. Play Pachinko for the next hour. Take small sips of the beverage as you play. You'll start to realize when the base is ready.
6. At about an hour you will have blown all your yen and you'll be extremely upset. Not being able to vent these frustrations as it would be rude, and the fact that these halls are 110 Fahrenheit, you will be sweating profusely. You now have the third 'S'. At first this was an accidental ingredient when people would drip sweat into their drink unknowingly. But the extra salt added something to the beverage and it is now a tradition to swipe two fingers across your forehead and rim the bottle with the sweat.
7. The last step is to pull out your flask with your favorite liquor and drop a few ounces in. Avoid being seen by the hall monitors.
That's it! You now have a PS-3. This fine cocktail will get you back on your feet and moving for that long walk home as you think about the cash you blew in the process of making this delicious drink. Enjoy!
