Have you ever heard of umeshu made with tequila as its base? Most likely not—because it had never existed until the arrival of Tetsuo Kageda.

Tetsuo Kageda is Japan’s first “Tequilero,” a certified tequila distiller whose journey was featured on the Japanese TV program “Crazy Journey.” After over a decade as a bartender, his fascination with Mexican tequila led him to drop everything at age 36 and travel to Mexico to learn the craft. After three months of visiting distilleries, he finally landed a job at CASCAHUIN, a family-run distillery founded in 1904 that only produces 100% agave, premium sipping tequilas.

After initially working without pay, Kageda eventually secured a proper position. Leveraging his unique connections in Japan and Mexico, he made history by creating the first Japanese umeshu using authentic Mexican tequila!

The product, named CIRCUELA (Spanish for “plum”), uses tequila provided by CASCAHUIN, while the brewing is handled by Sei Shuzo in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Sei Shuzo created three variations with different aging periods and strengths. The White Label is aged just 3 weeks and bottled at 22% ABV, making it the most tequila-forward of the lineup. The aroma features prominent almond notes, complemented by a subtle, fresh herbal quality. The palate is rich and full-bodied, beginning with a touch of sweetness, followed by almond and light mint, then finishing with a refreshing plum tartness.