Bitter! It's rare for a fruit liqueur to highlight "bitterness" as its selling point, but how can you truly know sweetness without first knowing bitterness? The renowned "Yoko Bar" series, famous for its high-quality fruit liqueurs, now introduces a unique creation made with Japanese hassaku citrus, masterfully balancing sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

Hassaku is a citrus fruit native to Japan, mainly produced in Wakayama. It stands out among citrus varieties for its fresh, slightly bitter taste and tangy acidity. This liqueur contains 47% hassaku juice and uses pure junmai daiginjo sake as the base, giving it a clean, refreshing mouthfeel. Whether enjoyed neat or over a bit of ice, it’s a standout—let’s crack open a bottle and try it!

The aroma is fresh, offering a subtle and crisp citrus acidity. On the palate, you’ll immediately notice the signature bittersweet flavor and robust tartness unique to hassaku. The finish is complex—sweetness tinged with lingering bitterness. Despite its 14% ABV, the alcohol is skillfully concealed beneath the fruit’s natural bitterness, making it exceptionally smooth. Unlike many “fruit juice” liqueurs with zero alcohol feel, this one is low in sweetness, with that sophisticated bittersweet “adult” flavor that keeps you coming back for more!

The "Yoko Bar" line is produced by Tatenokawa Shuzo, and every product is overseen by the genius mixologist Ms. Yoko. The story goes that one day, Yoko encountered a man and woman at her bar—the woman was dropping hints of affection, but the man just didn't get it. The lady later started working at Yoko Bar, and together they created this liqueur full of girlish longing and bittersweet emotions. (On the bottle, the person playing the guitar is the object of her affection!)