Shigemasu Junmai Sake w/Plums and Red Shiso Juice (300ml)

Shigemasu Crimson comes from Takahashi Shoten, a producer based in Fukuoka Prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Rather than following the more familiar route of infusing sake with plum alone, the brewery adds red shiso, an herb long prized in Japanese cooking for both its striking color and its distinctive, slightly peppery flavor, resulting in a plum sake unlike most others on the market.

The base is a premium junmai sake, into which ripe plums and red shiso juice are blended, giving the finished product its vivid crimson hue and a flavor profile that borrows as much from herbal liqueurs as it does from traditional umeshu. The result sits at a lower alcohol content than many plum sakes, making it approachable and easy to enjoy in a variety of settings.

On the nose, look for cranberry, hibiscus, and plum aromas layered with honey and a cooling touch of peppermint. The palate follows with rhubarb, young strawberry, and candied plum, all lifted by a lively acidity that leads into a surprisingly dry finish. Serve it over ice, or lengthen it with sparkling wine or club soda alongside light snacks or fresh fruit.