Tsutsumi Bermutto Sake Vermouth 720ml

Tsutsumi Distillery has been producing shochu in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu, for over 140 years, and stands among a small group of producers certified as authentic Kuma Shochu makers, a distinction that functions much like an appellation designation in Europe. Working with rice and pure water drawn from the Kuma River, the distillery built its reputation on shochu craftsmanship before turning that same expertise toward an entirely new category for Japan: vermouth.

Bermutto, the Japanese phonetic rendering of the word, begins as a Junmai sake base, which is then fortified with rice-based shochu rather than the neutral grape spirit typically used in European vermouth. The liquid is infused with a quartet of native botanicals: yomogi, a bitter Japanese mugwort; yuzu and kabosu, two high-acid citrus fruits; and sansho, a tingling Japanese peppercorn. The result reinterprets a European tradition through a distinctly Japanese lens, echoing the country's history of blending herbs into sake for flavor and restorative purposes.

On the nose, look for grapefruit, peach, guava, and a touch of lavender, with rice and yeast grounding the palate alongside faint plum. Yuzu and sansho add brightness and lift, while yomogi lends an earthy, grapefruit-tinged finish. Serve chilled as an aperitif, use it in place of dry vermouth in a Martini, or pair it with sushi, grilled fish, or fresh oysters.