Japanese ume liqueurs are almost always made from “white plums,” as red plum varieties, while beautiful, are smaller, firmer, and much more tart—making them challenging and costly to use. However, there’s one shop in Tokyo—Koubai-en, a traditional wagashi (Japanese sweets) store—that insists on making plum liqueur from genuine red plums.

The store has a storied past: The famous author Eiji Yoshikawa, known for “Musashi” and other classics, spent his final years at this home, surrounded by tall, vibrant red plum trees, which inspired the name “Koubai-en” (“Red Plum Garden”). After his passing, his wife turned their residence into a sweets shop, specializing in his favorite red plum confections. When the shop decided to craft plum liqueur, red plums were the only choice.

Koubai-en’s Red Plum Liqueur is based on brandy, using high-quality “En’ou” and “Tou” red plums, matured with great care to produce an elegant liqueur with both beautiful aroma and color. Production is extremely limited—you can’t even buy it from the official website; the only way to purchase is to visit Koubai-en in person, making it highly sought-after.

Pour it into a glass and enjoy the deep red hue. On the nose, you’ll find refreshing, tart plum notes mingled with the raisin-like aroma of brandy—very elegant. The texture is rich, and as it flows over the palate, the lively acidity of red plum shines through, perfectly balanced by the gentle sweetness of the brandy base. The finish brings a slight tartness and a subtle depth, with no cloying aftertaste—each sip draws you in, revealing more layers. That’s the mark of truly great liqueur!