There are many long-aged umeshu and even more umeshu made with sake as a base, but it’s rare to find a sake-based plum wine that’s been matured for many years. Why is that? Over time, aged sake gradually loses its original fruity aromas and crisp freshness, replaced instead by a rounder texture and more layered, complex flavors. When plums are steeped in sake for years, the sake’s own flavor continues to evolve, making it much more challenging to control the final taste.

This special umeshu from Eikawa Shuzo is made by steeping green plums in their own sake for a full 8 years. Those eight years not only imbue the liquid with rich plum flavors, but also endow it with the mature character usually found in aged koshu (vintage sake).

Let’s open a bottle and taste! On the nose, the first impression is a soy sauce-like aroma, common in well-aged sake. After a moment, notes of caramel and sweet plum begin to emerge, creating a very three-dimensional bouquet. The palate is full and smooth, with an oily texture. The plum’s sweet-tart flavor is at the forefront, while hints of soy sauce from the aged sake come through in the mid-palate—a truly distinctive combination.

With such a strong aged character, this is definitely not an “easy-drinking” umeshu for everyone. But for those seeking something different, this 300ml 8-year-aged umeshu could open the door to a whole new world of flavor!