泉橋 山田十郎 純米梅酒 Izumibashi Yamada Juro Umeshu (1x50cl)

泉橋 山田十郎 純米梅酒 - Izumibashi's Yamada Juro Umeshu, in a 50cl bottle. Umeshu is Japanese plum liqueur: not sake, not wine, a category of its own. What makes this one worth explaining is the 純米 part - the plums were steeped in junmai sake rather than in neutral spirit. That is the more expensive way to make umeshu, and it usually gives a rounder, softer result instead of the sharp sweetness people associate with the cheap stuff.

Easy bottle to have in the house because nobody needs convincing to try it. Also a safe gift when you do not know what someone drinks - it lands with people who normally skip spirits.

Tasting notes

Umeshu is usually sweet with a plum-skin tartness behind it, and the junmai base typically softens the edges. Best on the rocks, or topped with soda for something longer and lighter. Poured over vanilla ice cream it also works as dessert, which is worth trying once.