The name “Brava” is inspired by “Bravo” (meaning “superb” or “excellent”), and honestly, if you’re going to name your drink “Bravo,” it had better have the substance to back it up. In 2023, this umeshu took home the Jury Award (the top prize for plum wines) at the prestigious Kura Master competition in France. Judges described it as “For Gastronomy,” which is high praise indeed.

This umeshu starts with a shochu base, which is then matured in Amarone casks. And those casks are something special—Amarone is one of Italy’s most premium red wine styles, notable for its grapes being naturally air-dried, which reduces their water content by nearly half and concentrates their sugars and flavors. The Amarone casks used here have held this wine for at least two years, absorbing its deep flavors before passing them on to Brava umeshu. So what does that taste like? Let’s find out!

The color is a lovely reddish hue. On the nose, you get clear notes of dried fruits like strawberry, apricot, and grape, with subtle hints of cinnamon, almond, and wood in the background. It’s been a long time since I’ve smelled such a complex bouquet in a plum wine. On the palate, the acidity evokes red wine, with flavors of citrus peel and fig joining the plum sweetness, all layered over a base of gentle woodiness for added depth. The finish is somewhat short, but the complexity of the flavor means you can savor the lingering notes and truly appreciate why this umeshu is worthy of the name “Brava!”

This is a uniquely distinctive umeshu—one that’s unlike anything I’ve tasted before. The packaging is also elegant, making it an outstanding value for such a remarkable drink.