Choya Umeshu Plum Wine w/Plums

Choya Umeshu Co. is credited with bottling Japan's first widely distributed commercial umeshu back in 1959, transforming what had long been a homemade seasonal tradition into a product enjoyed across the country and eventually the world. Based in the Kinki region, the company has grown into Japan's most recognized plum wine brand, built on a philosophy of using only real ume fruit, sugar, and alcohol, with no artificial flavorings or additives.

This bottling stays true to that honkaku, or authentic, approach, made by steeping whole green ume plums, largely sourced from Wakayama Prefecture, home to nearly half of Japan's ume harvest and the prized Nanko variety, in a base of shochu and sugar for at least six months. The whole plums remain in the bottle, both as a mark of authenticity and a nod to the traditional homemade method this style is built on.

The result is a sweet, comfortably light bodied liqueur with a distinct sweet-tart balance and a subtle almond note running through the finish. Enjoy it neat, over ice, with soda, or gently warmed, and try pouring a small amount over vanilla ice cream or alongside sushi, sashimi, or lightly salted nuts.