“One of the best sake-based umeshu out there”—that’s our verdict on this bottle. Although the dark green bottle conceals the beautiful golden color of the wine, and its plain design doesn’t stand out on the shelf, many customers come back for more after tasting it. That’s the true appeal of a great drink!

An outstanding sake-based umeshu not only delivers bright, sweet-tart plum flavor but also expresses the character of its sake base. The body doesn’t need to be heavy, but the mouthfeel should be crisp and clean. Since it’s often enjoyed neat, the sweetness should be restrained. This Omachi sake-based umeshu checks all those boxes.

Pour it into a glass and you’ll see a gorgeous golden hue. The aroma is delicately imbued with Omachi rice, and with a deeper sniff, you’ll pick up the sweet and sour notes of plum. On the palate, it’s refreshingly clean and refined, never cloying. A gentle sweetness glides across the tongue, followed by a crisp, transparent plum acidity and lingering sake rice umami. It’s the kind of drink you can enjoy glass after glass, perfect both during a meal or as an after-dinner treat!

Muromachi Shuzo, the brewer, is located in Akaiwa, Okayama Prefecture. Akaiwa… Omachi… sound familiar? That’s because Okayama is the birthplace of Omachi sake rice. For over 300 years, Muromachi Shuzo has been perfecting sake with Omachi rice, and their deep understanding shines here. They believe the acidity of plum brings out the rice aroma of Omachi sake, so they specifically use unripe Kojo green plums, steeping them in Omachi sake for a year to craft this delicious drink.

If you’re searching for an easy-drinking, refreshing, plum-forward umeshu, this one won’t disappoint.